30 days of self love – trusting your body
Posted: September 4, 2010 at 11:25 amFrom our first breaths, instincts reign in our bodies. To feed when hungry and stop when full. To rest when tired and explore life when awake. To smile when happy and cry when upset. From the first days, our bodies typically function quite well through so many intricate processes and details. The heart knows how to pump blood. The lungs know how to breathe. The stomach and intestines know how to pull nutrients for fuel.
Our bodies are fabulous creations and they know their stuff. Our bodies contain more intelligence than the smartest of computers. Our bodies adapt very well to whatever we expose them. Yet, we show such uncertainty in trusting them. We lose sight of cues our bodies give us – hunger, fatigue, stress, and more. We think we don’t need to listen to them and they will do our will, no matter how damaging.
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Sure, mind over matter acts as a powerful tool. However, we shouldn’t always ignore our bodies’ wishes for personal fulfillment. We need to treat them with respect and the first step to doing so is to trust them. Really listen to what your body tells you. Do you feel hunger? Eat! Do you feel tired? Rest! Do you feel nervous? Figure out why and find a way to calm yourself.
Our bodies provide us with so much information every single day. If we tap into that, we can live the most fulfilling lives. When you care for your body you have the energy in you to pursue life and happiness. Reflect on the many ways your body displays its intellect. Is there an area where you face difficulty trusting your body? Take time today to focus on this area and pay close attention to your body. Trust and listen.
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In what area do you know you need to trust your body more? How do you plan to do so today? For me, I have to determine every single day that I will trust my body’s instincts with food and honor it by listening. After years of binging, it still takes focus. It’s easier but the practice of listening continues. Today I hope to trust my body while at a social event tonight and listen to my body on what it really wants to eat and the appropriate amounts. Social situations are still the scenario where I tend to eat more than I need. I don’t think its wrong or bad to overindulge on occasion and I never feel guilty…but I always prefer to be mindful of my body.
Quotes to Reflect On
There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it. ~Elizabeth A. Behnke
The body never lies. ~Martha Graham
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- Miranda’s Jeans
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- New Adventure into Eating and Life
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Tags: self-love reflections
I never trust my body when I am running. I tense up and worry I’ll get a cramp or a shin splint. I need to trust that my legs will carry me and it will be a fabulous run. I always revert to worst case scenario!
I’m a great sleeper! I never privilege anything over sleep, because I know how difficult it is for me to enjoy life & function well when I’m tired. I listen to my body and always get enough sleep at night, plus afternoon naps when I can fit them in. I used to feel guilty or think I was lazy because of how much sleep I get, but in seeing how some of my classmates (I’m in graduate school) struggle/get sick when they deprive themselves of sleep I realized that I’m just trusting my body when it tells me how important rest is!
Thanks for bringing this up. I know I have trouble sleeping sometimes. I usually have difficulty napping because I can’t shut off my mind…and right now with pregnancy struggle sometimes at night. I need to really focus on allowing my body to rest.
i need to trust that even though I’m gaining weight, and don’t feel secure about myself, my body knows what it is doing to make a healthy baby.
I also have to trust that my body will tell me when enough is enough, especially with the Jewish holidays coming up, and the mountains of yummy food looming ahead!
I read your post today and intended to comment but then had to go bec it was M time. You are doing fabulous! I understand the soft feeling and it is frustrating…but remember that bringing life into the world is more beautiful than that. Your body is providing for that baby and that’s a wonderful thing to trust. 🙂 Great reflection!
Right now I’m having trouble listening to my body. Last weekend I did a relay and my calves got really tight. Monday and Tuesday I pushed myself too hard doing crosstraining, thinking it might loosen things up, but it probably made it worse. Now I’m trying to give my body what it needs–stretching and ice. It’s frustrating but I have to try to appreciate all that my body put up with.
It is so hard to take rest when needed. You know you’re doing the right thing though! 🙂
Training for a marathon has COMPLETELY changed how I listen to my body. If I am hungry, I pay attention to what I am hungry for, or how much I really need. The only thing I struggle more with is giving myself the rest days I need. I’m not running or lifting today and I feel antsy!
Yea. You HAVE to fuel properly for something that intense. I guess try to remember that the rest is just as important as the food. You need a bit more of both.
Trusting my body is something that I’m trying to focus on this month. Trusting it as it comes to food, trusting what my heart says, trusting when it needs rest… when I’ve pushed it too far. After years of ignoring my body and over-training and under-fueling, it’s VERY hard to tap into it and actually listen.
I have difficult trusting my body when it needs to slow down. I feel safe when I am in control, but that need to make lists, stick to routines, and always be available, eventually wears on my body and mind. In my effort to control everything in my life and prove I can do it myself (Wow, I sounded like a small child right there, I can do it myself!), I keep pushing myself until I reach a breaking point. The breaking point is reflected in either eating for I try to avoid (Screw it, I’m deserve this entire carton of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream!), or fights (yeah, it’s best if you stay out of my way at those times), or, if I’m lucky, sleep will suffice.
I need to start listening to the warning signs, sooner rather than later, and take a walk, work out, go for a drive, listen to some music…
Of course, learning to let go would help too.
Have a great Saturday!
Oh how I can relate to that. I’m a very big DO-er. I like being in action. I know I can focus more on trusting my body when it needs to just chill and honoring that. Thank you for reminding me of that in myself.
Somewhere along the way of growing up, you learn guilt. You feel guilty about listening to your instincts. It’s so easy to say to yourself that you don’t need to eat that much or rest. Why is it so easy to play, rest, and eat when you are little, but now it’s almost as if we need to learn how to do all of these essential activities! Today I will listening to what my body needs and maybe take a good nap in the afternoon, or eat more or less as needed.
Thank you for this post!
I didn’t think I wanted to join this challenge, not because I don’t support it, but because I wouldn’t know what to write about. My post today, is totally about self love, so I’m going to add your logo if I can figure it out!
You don’t have to do posts on the topics to participate! You don’t even have to comment. I suggest it because writing it out helps declare it and gives it more purpose…but you can do what you wish. The main thing is to reflect on the messages and use them to learn more about yourself in the process. I look forward to reading your post though!
Once again, your post fits with something in my life! I really struggled with skipping the gym today. I had a very intense week and didn’t get enough sleep and know I am stressed, but the guilt of skipping a workout crept in. I am feeling guilt for not getting in my second day of lifting this week. I know mentally I need a break, (and probably physically!) but the call to go was very strong. I always worry about losing strength, but logically I know I am not going to all of a sudden lost it all. The mind IS a very powerful thing, sometimes for the worse.
I decided to not go and sit and read some blogs with my coffee this morning for a different kind of me time. I think I made the right decision. Reading this post helped affirm that.
I took off from lifting this morning too. My body craved a relaxing walk and spending time with baby M so that’s just what I needed. Sitting with some coffee and blogs sounds about perfect too! 🙂
I definitely have a hard time listening to my hungry and full signals. Now that I am eating more nutritious foods and less processed and sugary foods, I don’t have as many cravings so that helps some. I recently learned the hard way how to listen to my body while training. I developed a hip stress fracture while training for my first half marathon so I am more conscious of things like pain and fatigue while working out.
I just found your blog today. Thank you for sharing this blog post. Something that I really needed! 🙂
I’m so glad you came across it! Thanks for the kind words. I hope you keep coming back and would love to hear your thought on future self love posts.
This is perfect timing b/c I am beginning to trust my body more and ended up trusting it to get me through an awesome 7 mile run. I do need to learn to trust it more in terms of indulging – as in learning to trust when it’s ok and not feel guilty. Hope you’re having a great Saturday friend!
“Really listen to what your body tells you. Do you feel hunger? Eat! Do you feel tired? Rest! Do you feel nervous? Figure out why and find a way to calm yourself.”
Yes, yes, yes! Easier said than done- to stop and really listen- but it works.
Loving this 30 DAYS series.
It does take a lot of effort, but with time becomes easier. You never get it completely though and always need to practice. Glad you love the series! I really am working hard on it because I want it to bring good things to us all. 🙂
Mine is most definitely sleep! For some reason, I’m wired to think that I need to do it all and optimize all 24 hours! 🙂 But, when I get up at 5:30am, I need to trust that my body is tired at 9:00pm not because I’m lazy or miserably failing, but because it needs it’s 9 solid hours. Which I most definitely got this Saturday 😉
I’m the same way. I always am up by 5:30 and sometimes have trouble going to bed as soon as I feel tired because I want to fit in just a little bit more. Usually its relaxation with the husband, but sleep still matters.
I really like the Martha Graham quote in this post! I often think about how as a child, I was just SO intuitive about the way my body felt. I could tell when I was getting sick. I could tell when I was full. I could tell when I was hungry. Now, I feel a certain disconnect from my body. I often feel tired and sluggish, despite not feeling “sick.” I have lost most of my hunger and fullness cues… Sometimes I eat to the point of getting a stomach ache and don’t learn from that mistake…
Today, I made a small change! I have a lot of homework to do and 2 papers to write. I wanted to get 1 done by noon. I was also really tired for some reason. Even though it was 11:30 and I was not done yet… I let myself take a nap! I didn’t set an alarm or ask my boyfriend to wake me up at a certain time. I slept for exactly 2 hours and feel wonderful now. 🙂 Thank you for this post! It really hit home with me.
After years of dieting, restricting, and eventually rebelling and binging and gaining weight, I’m FINALLY at a point where I trust myself with food. Yes, I overeat every now and then and right now I eat a daily treat/dessert, but I want to enjoy my pregnancy – it’s not like you get to do this all the time, haha. I’ll worry about getting off any weight I’ve gained afterwards. And even when I’m trying to lose weight, I want to continue living as intuitively as I have been, with just smaller portions and limit treats and desserts to once or twice a week.
I am still in the process of learning to trust my body. For years I was feeling “hungry” and I would eat and eat and eat. Or, I would feel “full” and I wouldn’t eat (when I should have been eating).
I haven’t treated my body well in a long time. I’m taking the time to do that now — but it is hard work. I know my body knows what it “needs” and I am learning to listen. Sometimes I truly do “crave” and “need” fresh fruit and veggies. Sometimes I need a comforting carb filled meal. Instead of gorging myself, I am learning to listen to myself to know when I have had enough.
I have trouble trusting my body’s strength and balance. I’m often nervous and afraid to participate in adventurous challenges because I’m worried that my body will fail me (for example: my husband wants to go mountain biking, but I’m scared that I will lose control going downhill or fall off the bike). However, I know this thinking is irrational! My body has never let me down! I shouldn’t be afraid to try new things. I need to trust that my body will support me, yet let me know when enough is enough.
I like trying to trust your body so it opens up new and exciting experiences. I can relate to the irrational fear of falling off the bike while mountain biking though. I think I’d be scared of that too with my clumsiness! LOL But…who says you can’t get back up and learn something in the process? 😉
I have never really thought about trusting my body, I think tis something I take for granted, it just knowing and doing all on its own, its pretty neat!
“When you care for your body you have the energy in you to pursue life and happiness.” LOVE that, Tina. That is my health and fitness philosophy right there. Bingo.
Your blog is wonderful! Keep it up! 🙂
After so many years of having a messed up relationship with food, I don’t trust myself to eat intuitively. If I gave my body a choice, it’d say, “Go ahead. Do the Drive-thru.”
Then again, if I started eating better, I might be surprised. It might just say, “Eat some veggies.” 😉
Sometimes that “Oh…now I can eat what I want so junk it is” process is needed. I know when I finally decided to eat what I wanted I did binge for a bit. Then I really payed attention to how I was feeling and wanted that stuff less…and less…and less. Until I get pregnant of course. 😉 J/k!
But don’t put guidelines and rules on your eating in fear that you won’t be in control. You might lose it a bit in the beginning, but with time you will regain it even more than you imagined but in a positive way.
this is VERY timely… I am a runner. a runner who had two pretty bad injuries (not running related) and had to take a few years off. I am just now beginning to run again, and it is going very slow because I am SO AFRAID of re injury. I love to run, I used to love tennis and downhill racing (ski). My two accidents keep me from tennis and skiiing, and I miss them terribly.
Running for me is #1 though, I get to my runners HIGH and could run all day… I’m taking it SO slow and…
this is making me think, I need to trust. I need to listen to my body, of course, but not get freaked out and realize some pain is not injury.
Sorry if I am rambly and long, I think you have given me an epiphany and I’m all frazzled and teary and So Happy.
Thank you.
I read Miranda’s, so I’ve seen her post, but I’m off to read the others now, and I very much would love to be added to the daily mail of these.
Thank you, Tina. You have a new reader in me. 🙂
Thank you so much for your fabulously kind words!! You’re getting me all emotional too because its for situations like this that I stepped out of my comfort zone to start this. I didn’t believe it could help others and fought is so hard. Now, I don’t know why I ever questioned something so positive. If it helps even one person its worth it. So every person who shares their message makes me so happy. I know it is even helping me each and every day too!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I’m adding you to the email list now.
It’s incredible how our bodies give us signals to tell us what’s up. I have learned the hard way to give my body the REST it needs after wearing myself out to the point of exhaustion so many times. With food, it’s become all about how I feel after I eat – when I fuel my body with healthy, good things, I have more energy and feel better all around. When I eat crap, I feel like crap – it’s pretty simple. Of course there’s the indulgence every day, but I’ve learned to savor a little bit (like a small portion of chocolate, or ONE glass of wine 🙂 ) and fill myself up with the good stuff first. Thanks for reminding us to give our bodies the respect they deserve! 🙂
I always savor something as a treat every day too. Much better that way. Then you get to really enjoy it and be healthier too…over just gorging because its there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
What a FANTASTIC post I love it. It’s something that I am TOTALLY getting my head around..honestly. I feel as though I am beginning to REALLY trust myself. When I look at food now, I am asking myself ‘ok, body what would you like to eat?’ For so long I have been feeding my head, emotions, habits and NOT my body. It’s amazing what your body actually wants and how, when you listen to you, you find your balance.
Oh…I like that. Feeding your head, emotions, habits…that’s so true!!!! It definitely feels better to feed the body, huh? It will likely always take practice but at least now we can grow and see how much better it is.
Awesome post! I really struggle with listening to my body about when it actually wants to eat and when I’m just “bored” and eat. I’m getting better day by day but sometimes I still find myself snacking even though I’m not really hungry. However, I trust my body the least when it says it’s sleepy. I find myself tired but I’m scared I’m going to miss out on something if I sleep in too much or go to sleep too early…I guess it’s all just a balancing act that I need to get used to & when the yawning starts…maybe it’s a good time to start heading to the bedroom 🙂
After recovering from my eating disorder, I STILL have trouble listening to my body’s hunger cues. I sleep when I’m tired, I sob when I’m sad, I move when I’m antsy, but eating when I’m HUNGRY instead of when my mind has predetermined meal-times is a huge, huge challenge. And, as you do, I have trouble listening to my fullness cues as well. I can never tell whether I am hungry or full, so I often wait too long to eat and end up needing so many calories that I don’t stop when I am full. This is something I work on DAILY. It’s a lot better than it once was, but there is still room for so so much improvement.
I think its probably something we’ll both always have to face and pay attention to on some level. Always remember how far you’ve come and let that be your determination to keep on being mindful and working at it. 🙂
Gosh, Tina –
Everyday I say this was the toughest day yet. Oh brother! Where are you leading me in these next 26 days? I had lots AND LOTS of thoughts about this topic today but only briefly touched on it on my blog because I have so much to still process through that it would have been a jumbled (10,000 word) mess. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Haha! I didn’t even think or plan to do things progressively more thought provoking. I seriously prayed about it and would write down ideas for topics when God gave them to me. Then prayed again before trying to organize them. He’s challenging us all.
Challenge is good and I’m glad its there. It promotes growth even more.
Sadly, I have never listened to my body 🙁 I always figured that whatever my body wanted was wrong and I needed to push harder and I wouldn’t see results. This ended this summer when I was finally fed up with going through restricting and binging cycles.
Thanks Tina! another great thought provoker.
These posts are soooo beautiful! Right now I am really concentrating on trying to trust my body in terms of EATING. To take the emotion out of it and let my body tell me what it wants!
I shared the 30 days message in my most recent post! It was more general but I tried to put it out there in my discussion of body image.
Thanks so much for sharing! And for all of your kind words. I’m loving what this is doing. I’m just sharing what God has given me over the years and even as I type each post. I truly believe in it. 🙂
I have to listen to my body all the time. Training is very intense and different, meaning I need to rest when it’s tired, eat when it’s hungry, and stop when I don’t feel right. I have to trust that my body knows what it needs. When I listen, I feel so much better.
it’s still definitely difficult to listen to my body…and i try not to overindulge because i do still tend to feel guilty afterwards. i find the hardest part of it all is getting over the flavor/texture factor of wanting food…it no longer fills an emotional void, but now i just want more more more!
i’m so glad that i read this today…today is a new day, today is full of possibilities, and today I am listening to my body and not giving the devil a foothold in my mind!
I’m catching up 🙂
I’ve been struggling for a long, long time to trust my body when it tells me I’m full, particularly since I was raised to think of wasting food as a sin (and I do mean it when I say a sin). I’m slowly, slowly making progress, but I slip up almost every day. So…. that’s what I’m going to work on 🙂
[…] part of 30 Days of Self Love, Tina wrote this yesterday. It really got me thinking about many things I try and do to listen to my body and […]
Posted a day later, but posted none the less. I try to always listen to my body when it cues me that it needs to eat. I try my best but I am not perfect at it, to only eat when I am hungry and to eat every few hours to avoid running on empty.
Check out my blog post – http://www.mirandasjeans.com/?p=3892 – to read more.
I’m sooo glad I’ve found Your blog. trusting my body is the exact thing I’ve been trying to learn lately. I’m the ‘extreme to extreme’ type in general, and in particular when it comes to eating. eating too much and then being hungry…that’s me. but I’m trying to change it, and listen to myself more. I’m also trying to learn to tell the difference between emotional and physical hunger- I would usually eat when sad, confused, stressed or just bored. I should learn to take care of myself emotionally… it’s so dificult sometimes though.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you came across it too. I hope to reach as many people as possible so we can all learn and grow together. 🙂
You’re right that the process is difficult. Keep at it though. Push yourself into that muck of hardness to be able to come through it stronger and more powerful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! I’ve been trying to figure out why I have such a hard time taking diet and fitness seriously and your post made me realize that it’s because I literally don’t trust my body! This is probably my number one issue when it comes to getting healthy and in shape. I just don’t trust that even if I put in the work that my body will show results. God bless you for doing this!
I really believe that all we should do is eat healthily without deprivation and be active in a way that suits us. Then, let your body do its thing. It will usually lead you to a good place you can be comfortable with. 🙂
I need to trust my body to rest. I always always always second guest those all-important rest days, letting my self-doubt get the best of me. I fear I’ll manage to “get fat” because I allowed my body to rest for one day a week. It’s absurd and ridiculous that I allow my mind to control my body versus letting my body lead the way. I need to trust it, its a powerful thing, our bodies. GREAT post. Totally needed this. (as usual!)
[…] on September 4, 2010 by tarynehanson Today is Day 4 of 30 Days of Self Love, and the theme for today is trusting our bodies. Tina points out that our […]
[…] Our Bodies Posted on September 4, 2010 by tarynehanson Today is Day 4 of 30 Days of Self Love, and the theme for today is trusting our bodies. Tina points out that our […]
http://healthylivingadventures.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-days-of-self-love-trusting-your-body.html
I am focusing on trusting my body to push itself even though I have a vocal cord dysfunction ( mimics asthma). I love to compete and this makes it hard for me.
Hi there: Lovely post! Can you please e-mail me daily links to the 30 Days project? I’m not getting notified. Thanks much, and please keep them coming!
[…] you who unplugged again. Playing catch up? Here are the 30 Days posts from Saturday through Monday. TRUSTING YOUR BODY / LOVE FROM OTHERS / DO WE IDOLIZE OUR […]
I have a hard time trusting my body when it comes to food.
I’ve relied on food for emotional support since childhood, living with an alcoholic, moving around all the time, etc. I was going through a depression a while back that took me in the direction of the fridge – and immediately after work. My husband was gone all the time for school, I was going through family issues, and I became best friends with snacking. Unfortunately, even though I’ve gotten over that depression, I still, by habit, hit a point on my drive home where I begin thinking about the food I want to eat. It’s the hardest thing to do: determine when it’s habit and when it’s fuel.
My husband, actually, has become my inspiration. He is, today, one week smoke free. How? He took control. He said he didn’t need them anymore. He literally just up and quit. Why is it that I allow food to control ME? I need to sit back, free up my mind, and listen to what my body is telling me.
Hi, Tina!
I’m playing catch up on my 30 Days entries today.
Trusting my body is something that came in to play during my race I ran on Saturday. I went in to more detail on my blog, but what it came down to was that my mind was holding me back from going fast enough to reach my goal time. I finally relaxed and let my body just go like it felt like it wanted to, and sure enough, I finished right at the time I wanted!! I need to learn to trust when that “hold back” instinct is out of fear and insecurity, and when it is a legitimate reason such as injury or danger.
trusting my body….WOW what a loaded topic! I’ve had problems with this from an early age. In high school I didn’t have a diagnosed eating disorder buy my eating was definitely disordered. I HAD to be the skinniest person in the room. So that meant binging and more binging. Now as an adult I still have problems with eating. I now eat vegan. One would think I could eat anything I wanted and all would be fine. Well now I get so concerned about finding something to eat when we go out that I completely over plan. I’ll pack snacks to hold me over until I get home only to be surprised and find something where we went. But then I get all guilty about packing stuff I didn’t eat. My next biggest problem is resting. I never let my body rest. I workout 7 days a week because I’m addicted to it honestly. I can’t bring myself to skip a workout. What will happen? Nothing…but I still can’t bring myself to have an actual rest day. I used to declare Sunday as rest day only to go for a very long intense walk. I’m working to get better at this.
This is one of the best blogs I’ve read in a long time. Thank you for your thoughtful posts. You can see that you really put a lot of time and effort into each word that is written. It’s so refreshing to find a good daily read. Thanks!
Wow. What a remarkable statement. I really appreciate that last little bit. 🙂
And I’m sure you will continue to find your way to more balance. I believe you can and will root you on. Thanks for all your comments and I look forward to hearing more from you.
[…] Trusting Our Bodies: do you trust yours? […]
[…] challenge is about trusting our body. From our first breaths, instincts reign in our bodies. To feed when hungry and stop when full. […]
Wow! This was a hard one for me because I don’t. Trust my body I mean. In my response I describe that I hardly look in the mirror if I can help it.
But ignoring my body hasn’t worked so far and – frankly – resulted in my recent peak weight of 129.1kg. So, perhaps I need to start trusting my body more. And for me there are two very obvious areas in which I need to listen to my body: when I am (or am not) hungry; and when I am (or am not) sleepy.
http://dietschmiet.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/30-days-day-4-trusting-your-body/
Deborah
[…] topic of thought on the series I am working through is Trusting your Body and listening to its cues for food, rest, etc. I am notorious for being a total dunce when it […]