#FitU with Phindi Gule: Enjoying a healthier relationship with your body

In case you missed Tuesday's edition of #FitU with Phindi Gule, listen to it in the podcast; then read more below:

In an article published by the BBC, it has been reported that obese people experience discrimination in employment, education, healthcare settings, and personal relationships. 

It seems that the stigma and discrimination faced by these overweight people may be causing more problems than the actual excess weight does.  

Many people with weight concerns also have a critical attitude towards themselves. Harsh self-criticism usually leads to yo-yo dieting rather than lasting weight loss.

The truth and reality are that health looks different on different bodies, so focus on you.

With that in mind, here are six points that I hope will help you on your journey toward a healthy relationship with your body and food.

Relax

Overall, weight only weakly predicts longevity, it is only one of many health indicators. Quality of diet, stress levels, fitness levels, and many other factors also influence longevity. Stressing about weight can do more harm than good, so find ways to reduce stress in your life and do things that you enjoy and that build you up. Get into an activity that you enjoy. Maybe even consider music or dance classes. 

Establish health goals

Instead of focusing on weight, figure out your own personal goals for health. How would you like to feel? What would you like to be able to do? What does health mean for you? Your goals may be entirely different from someone else's. One should address sleep, fitness, a nourishing and healthy diet, self-esteem, stress reduction, and so on. Make your goals SMART - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Throw out the scale

Weighing in can lead to an unhealthy obsession with numbers and can detract from the pleasures and non-weight related rewards of changing your lifestyle. Instead of weighing yourself, work on self-acceptance and positive self-image - after all, you are stuck in that body so one should find ways to make it work for you

Ditch the diet

Develop a long-term, sustainable healthy lifestyle and way of eating. Eat real food and always a reasonable quantity.

Stop negative self-talk

The next time you find yourself in a cycle of negative self-talk, imagine that you're actually saying these things to your best friend. Change your perspective and realise that the things you think are okay to say to yourself would never be acceptable in conversation with someone else. Why should talking to yourself be any different than talking to a friend? Don't contribute to the stigma of weight by saying things that are negative and critical especially about yourself. Positive reinforcement and attitude work better than punishment when making changes that will stick.

Get support

Don't let weight concerns isolate you. Get plugged into your community and get support in your pursuit of health. Also, remember that you are not your weight - there’s more to you than that and you have a lot to offer as a human. 

Don’t allow your weight to overshadow your other good and positive qualities. Get out there and do something. If you don’t like it, then change it

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For more tips and the answers to all questions about running, find Phindi on Twitter - @PhindiGule.