tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45187906587339401242024-03-13T03:33:17.979-04:00Rambling, Ranting, Rebuilding and RunningA long winded tale of a girl running through life and learning lots about herself in the process.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-20482511078691703342015-10-04T18:34:00.000-04:002015-10-04T18:34:48.627-04:00The Paradox of #WeighThisA friend of mine posted a link on my fb timeline today, asking if I had seen it and called it amazing. Below is the link, so you know what I'm talking about:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1I_hFwzOYA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1I_hFwzOYA</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Go ahead and watch it. I'll wait.<br />
<br />
If you chose not to watch it, SPOILER ALERT...<br />
<br />
It shows women coming near a scale and an unseen narrator telling them that she wants them to approach the scale, asking them if they would like to weigh themselves. Then, the narrator says that she is not going to weigh them and asks instead, "What is your greatest accomplishment?" This is followed by a 50 something woman who went back to school, another person who is celebrating 24 years of marriage, another woman celebrating her divorce, and a tearful woman who is a single mom that made the dean's list. There are a few more heartwarming stories that are designed to tug at your heartstrings. The video then shows these same women putting their "accomplishments" on the scale. When asked what it weighed, one woman replied, "It's just not measurable" while another one said, "I'm more proud of what I'm doing than what my weight is". The description on the youtube clip reads: If you’re going to weigh something, weigh what matters. Share how you want to be weighed with the hashtag #WeighThis.<br />
<br />
Aw. It's touching, right? Did it make you tear up? Give you goosebumps? Get you all emotional?<br />
<br />
Welcome to the amazingly powerful world of advertising which, defined, <span class="_Tgc">is a form of
marketing communication used to promote or sell something, usually a
business's product or service. I have to give it up to Lean Cuisine for using the scale tactic to hit you right in the feels. After all, they certainly do know their target market (women) and manipulated their emotional nature to elicit a response. I can imagine women everywhere watching this and applauding, exclaiming loudly, "oh! They get me!"</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>
<span class="_Tgc">Not so fast. I may sound like a cynical, jaded killjoy, but this has to be said.</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>
<span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc">Did you know that the dietary guidelines set forth
from health.gov estimates total calorie needs for adult women to be
between 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day? Sedentary women aged 19-30 need between 1,800-2000. SEDENTARY WOMEN. Quite a far cry from what Lean Cuisine offers. Their Creamy Basil Chicken with Tortellini offers 230 calories. How about the Cheese & Tomato Snack Pizza? This one comes in at a paltry 160 calories. The Lasagna with Meat Sauce looks hearty in comparison weighing in at 320 calories. So, if we were to average these three meals, we are talking about 235-240 calories per serving. Multiply that by three and you get a grand total of 720 calories. Hell, I'll be generous. Multiply that by six (if we adhere to the three small meals/three daily snacks "diet" staple) and you get a whopping 1,440. For.The.Entire.Day.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc"> </span>May I remind you what Lean Cuisine does? They sell low calorie, prepackaged diet food which is specifically marketed to women. They are the Diet Industry. They ARE. They want to you get by on as little nourishment as possible so you can shrink yourself down. They claim to be an ally for Women's Wellness, but how can that be when they are clearly representing diet culture? They also say that they are here to make food that helps women thrive, but do you realize HOW MUCH of their food you would have to eat in order to "THRIVE" and be satisfied, particularly if you are active? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">Ladies, please don't be fooled by the touchy feely, warm and fuzzy approach used in this youtube clip. They may be deemphasizing the scale, but they are certainly aligning themselves with every other facet of diet culture, particularly low calorie, portion controlled "meals". How can you take their message seriously in light of who they are and what they promote? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">You don't need "lean" cuisine. You don't need pre-portioned, pre-packaged meals that leave you hungry ten minutes later. You need to take your power back. You need to trust yourself. You need to think critically about these sneaky, subliminal messages that the diet industry is feeding us. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">So, that's my opinion. Feel free to #WeighThis. </span><br />
<br />
<br />Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-74410551624020401312015-10-02T07:00:00.000-04:002015-10-02T07:00:03.703-04:00COMPARISON IS MORE THAN THE THIEF OF JOY We've heard the above expression countless times, haven't we? And
it's true: Comparison IS the thief of joy. So often, we measure
ourselves against photoshopped images, fitness bloggers, people on
instagram, and supermodels. We feel like failures because we haven't
reached their level of "beauty and perfection."<br />
<br />
That's been talked about quite a bit, as it should. We do compare our behind the scenes to other people's highlight reel<span class="text_exposed_show"> and it's not serving us. But, there is another aspect of comparison that is equally troubling.</span><br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, I was working with a client. She and I have been
together off and on for two years. We had sessions to help her heal her
relationship with food and body image as well as personal training
time. As I took her through her workout, she told me that she was
starting to become more accepting of her body and wasn't being as
critical, which is GREAT. But then, she said, "I mean, I look at other
women and I say to myself, 'hey, I'm not half bad'.<br />
<br />
Seems pretty harmless. I'm sure we have ALL done this. I know that I have. And I was WRONG.<br />
<br />
Do you see why that is problematic? If she is comparing herself to
other women and coming to the conclusion that she isn't "half bad", what
does that say about the other women? That they ARE bad? In other
words, she is still judging other people's appearance and bodies. It
may seem like I'm nitpicking here, but think about it this way: how
would you feel if YOU were the criteria someone was using in order to
feel BETTER about themselves???<br />
<br />
Make sense?<br />
<br />
So, what's the
answer? What is the solution? Well, it starts with us "being the
change". We need to STOP placing so much emphasis on APPEARANCE. It
gets WAY too much of our attention and there are so many other things
that are more deserving of it. We are visual creatures and, of course,
you are going to formulate an opinion based on what you see. You may
not be able to control the thoughts that come in to your head, but you
can certainly control what you do with them.<br />
<br />
What if we just
stopped comparing ourselves to others for ANY REASON, period? Because,
let's face it, we are all different and it makes no sense to do it at
all. And maybe, just maybe, if we really took some time to be still and
question whether or not we are still in judgement of our bodies, we
wouldn't feel the need to compare at all.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-22011943609092143272015-10-01T09:45:00.005-04:002015-10-01T09:45:57.060-04:00The Problem With "No Excuses"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
The phrase "no excuses" gets a lot of airtime these days.
Particularly in sentences like:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That's it, I've had it. From
now on, I'm going to do meal prep for the week on Sundays. No excuses!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I have to get my lazy ass out
of bed so I can hit the gym before work. No excuses!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here's a question: does that
strategy ever really work for anyone, forever? Like beyond the first week or
two at the most?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thing is, we are hardest on
ourselves than anyone else. You know it's true. If our loved ones talked to us
the way we speak to ourselves, we'd have no loved ones left. So, to add insult
to injury, we add the "no excuses" caveat after beating ourselves up
for not being Superwoman (or Superman for the males who are reading this). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is another question: How's that working for you??? I
don't know about you, but it's never done squat for me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe you're overworked,
overstressed, overcommitted and overwhelmed. Those sound like pretty valid
excuses, if you ask me. You don't need a mantra of "no excuses". You
need a heaping dose of TLC and you need it STAT. You need to take a deep breath
and relax more into your life. You need to be kinder. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No excuses!" or "I'm
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which one FEELS better???</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Letting go of the compulsion to
shame and guilt yourself into change is the first step to seeing those
"excuses" through a much softer lens. </span></div>
<br />
Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-777769796235365012015-09-28T13:10:00.002-04:002015-09-28T13:10:34.652-04:00THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS Consider taking some time today to FORGIVE.<br />
<br />
Forgive yourself first and foremost.<br />
<br />
Forgive yourself from withholding affection, approval and unconditional
love for who you are. Fill your cup up and allow those feelings to wash
over you. Bask and bathe in that powerful sensation of relief.<br />
<br />
Now, take a mental inventory of the people in your life who didn't accept or love you unconditionally.<br />
<br />
Maybe it was your mother. Your father. Your siblings. Your teachers. Your boyfriend. Your girlfriend.<br />
<br />
Think back to the condemnation, criticism, and disapproval. And,
forgive yet again, while telling yourself that people hate, judge, and
make fun from a place of fear. It's THEIR fear. See them as scared,
little children who are just trying to survive in society.<br />
<br />
And send them blessings and love with your whole being.<br />
<br />
Revel in the knowledge that you now have awareness. You know you can be
in control of your life and your happiness.<br />
<br />
You don't need their
approval. You only need your own.<br />
<br />
Release everyone from the responsibility of fulfilling you.<br />
<br />
Set yourself free. Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-12492473661864239592015-09-25T11:33:00.000-04:002015-09-25T11:33:00.490-04:00WHAT IS YOUR LANGUAGE LIKE AROUND FOOD?<br />
Did you know that your
words are very powerful? How you talk about food and the ways you use
to describe your eating habits can dramatically affect how you feel
about it.<br />
<br />
For example:<br />
<br />
if you say you should "eat
clean", then you will always feel "unclean" if you eat foods that aren't
considered "clean". Being "unclean" doesn't feel good.<br />
<br />
If you
say you want to have a "cheat meal", then you will associate certain
foods with "cheating", which implies that you are being dishonest when
you eat certain things. Being "dishonest" doesn't feel good.<br />
<br />
If
you refer to food as a "reward", then the underlying implication is that
you need to earn the right to HAVE IT. Feeling like you have to prove
yourself or earn your food doesn't feel good either.<br />
<br />
Do you see what I mean?<br />
<br />
No matter what you eat, it CANNOT make you dirty or "unclean".<br />
<br /> No matter what you eat, it CANNOT make you "dishonest" or a "cheat."<br />
<br />
No matter what you do, or do not do, you have the RIGHT to eat food if
you want to. There is nothing you need to do in order to obtain that
right. You were BORN WITH IT.<br />
<br />
Today, pay extra special attention
to how you talk about food. See how your words affect how you feel
about food and yourself. I think you'll be surprised by what you learn.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-31890488971668670442015-09-16T19:58:00.000-04:002015-09-16T19:58:02.032-04:00Breaking Free From RulesLots of us have gone on and off diets. We are sucked in by the
flashy infomercials, the sculpted people pushing the products, and the
promise that we too can FINALLY lose the weight and have the bodies that
we have always wanted, because, HAPPINESS.<br />
<br />
We try diet #1 and
last for a while. Then, life happens, and we fall off. This is
followed by intense amounts of guilt and shame for being so out of
control. The solution? Diet #2, which is followed by #3, #4, #5...<br />
You get the picture?<br />
<br />
The very thing it is that we THINK we need is what causes us to rebel.
We are told by the gurus that we can't be trusted. So, we buy a
structure, a system, that tells us, "if you do what we say to the
letter, you will lose weight." We WANT someone to tell us what to do.
We desperately WANT it to work. But, it never does. The diet model
comes from a "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" type of mentality.<br />
<br />
We are not
ONE SIZE FITS ALL people. We are delightfully specific and unique
individuals that require a specific, unique course of action.<br />
<br />
Enter the "NON-DIET APPROACH": No calorie counting, no macro
restrictions, no measuring, and no specific meal or snack designations.
Just focus on eating when hungry and stopping when full. Brilliant!
Right?<br />
Well, sort of.<br />
<br />
We are fed up with dieting and want
to break free of the rigidity of rules. So, we embrace the free form
nature of eating intuitively. But, sometimes, this can fail us too.
Why?<br />
<br />
BECAUSE WE TURN THE NON-DIET APPROACH INTO A DIET.<br />
<br />
"Eat ONLY when hungry. Stop ONLY when satisfied, but not stuffed."
This is good advice, don't get me wrong. Food does taste better when
you are hungry and eating past fullness doesn't feel so good. But, we
don't give ourselves any flexibility when trying to figure this all out.
God forbid we don't get it right. We really let ourselves have it,
don't we? By doing this, we have essentially traded one set of rules
for another.<br />
<br />
Take sleep for example. The Sleep Foundation
Organization recommends 7-9 hours of sleep for adults 26-64 years of
age. Well, what if you get 6.5 one night and 9.5 the next? Do you
obsess about it? Do you think you are "sleeping wrong"?? Does that
mean you failed??? Of course not! It just means that you probably
don't feel as well rested when you get less, so your body compensates by
getting a little more the next day.<br />
<br />
Think about eating
intuitively the same way. Life happens. Some days, you'll be in tune
and other days, not so much. Maybe you'll be offered some birthday cake
at a party when you're not hungry. Maybe you'll get caught up in work
and skip lunch when you are. Be aware of how your body feels when in
these situations, take the feedback it gives you and then, let it go and
move on. What if you just extended yourself some compassion instead of
judgement? What if you just realized that you are human and you
acknowledge that you are doing the best you can with what you currently
know?<br />
<br />
Just do your best. It's enough.<br /> Enjoy your life. You only get one.<br /> Be in the moment. It's all we have. Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-51047148904142555692015-08-28T09:52:00.003-04:002015-08-28T09:52:38.632-04:00EXTERNAL SYSTEMS VS. BODY WISDOM/INTUITION If you have ever been caught up in the world of dieting, then you
might have experience with taking someone else's advice over your own
body's wisdom. "They" may have told you what to eat, what to avoid, when
to eat and how much of it you should have. And, you probably went along
with it...for a while, because it was easier than trusting yourself. It
was better, for a while, to let someone else drive, because then you
wouldn't have t<span class="text_exposed_show">o be responsible. </span><br />
<br />
But, it didn't last forever. It couldn't. Because it wasn't sustainable. It wasn't YOU.<br />
<br />
That is because you are a unique individual with your own unique
preferences. Did you know that? You have your own internal blueprint
telling you what is appropriate for you in taste, timing and quantities.
Who could POSSIBLY know you better than you??? Certainly not the diet
guru "expert of the week". I have been employed in the fitness industry
for several years. I used to put clients on meal plans. And yeah, they
did what I said...for a while. But, it got old. And, eventually, they
rebelled. Can't say I blame 'em. Had I spent my time and energy
empowering them to make the right choices specific to their own body
chemistry, things would have turned out differently.<br />
<br />
Are you
afraid? Are you afraid to let go and trust yourself because you don't
think you'll make the "right" choices? Maybe you won't...in the
beginning. Who cares! We all have to start somewhere. Think about the
first time you wrote your name. The letters were probably misshapen and
sloped "downhill". But, you kept doing it. You kept practicing. Now, you
can write your name effortlessly without even thinking much about it.<br />
Learning to trust your hunger, preferences and satiety signals are no
different. It's a process, just like learning to walk, writing your name
or driving a car. Lots of things can be unlearned, and learned.<br />
<br />
Give yourself a chance. You're worth the effort!Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-22526719166699389432015-08-21T19:00:00.002-04:002015-08-21T19:00:12.926-04:00Revering Weight Loss...At All Costs?When I was fully entrenched in the "dysfunctional dieting mentality",
I remember revering the occurrence of weight loss, no matter what the
circumstances surrounding it happened to be. For example, I had the flu
one time. I was sick for about four days. But, guess what? THE
NUMBER ON THE SCALE WENT DOWN. I actually welcomed the sickness because
it made me lighter. It was worth puking my guts out because WEIGHT
LOSS.<br />
<br />
Imagine that?<br />
<br />
I ran into someone over the weekend that<span class="text_exposed_show">
I haven't seen in a while. I immediately noticed she looked smaller,
but kept that to myself because I've been working on not commenting on
people's appearance. After a while, she called attention to it by
saying that she lost 30 lbs. I told her that I thought she was
beautiful at any size and my only question was, "Are you OK?" She
replied that it was family stress that caused the weight loss. (In
addition, she also has an auto immune disease.)</span><br />
<br />
Do you see anything at all wrong with these two scenarios that I described?<br />
<br />
We would rather be SICK and STRESSED if it means we can be SKINNY.
That is not healthy. That is DISORDERED. That is the caustic effect of
our culture relentlessly bombarding us with images and messages about
our bodies being unacceptable.<br />
<br />
Our bodies are not unacceptable.<br />
<br />
We are not unacceptable.<br />
<br />
But the pressure to be someone that we are
not and the idea that weight loss is healthy no matter the method is.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-90151330665162921052015-08-03T16:31:00.000-04:002015-08-03T16:31:00.069-04:00The Illusion of AppearancesIt is so easy to look at celebrities and think that they have it all:
looks, money, a passionate relationship, etc. How many times have you
read a magazine or watched a show on television while thinking, "wow,
they have everything. I wish my life was more like that."<br />
<br />
Let's
take the relationship part in particular. What is more alluring and
hypnotic than "two beautiful people" being "beautiful together"? Then,
you hear about the breakups. Ben and Jennifer, Blake and Mira<span class="text_exposed_show">nda and, the latest celebrity casualty, Will and Jada. </span><br />
<br />
We hear about this and we are SHOCKED. Our heart sinks and we die a little inside. We cry, "but they looked so HAPPY!"<br />
<br />
Did you catch that last line? They. LOOKED. So. HAPPY. But, they
weren't in the long run. At least, they weren't happy together or else
they wouldn't be separating. Their looks, money, and passion just
weren't enough to hold it together. And yet, we can't accept that. We
are so disillusioned because we are under the impression that all we
need to be happy is a beautiful face, a killer body, a model spouse and a
big, fat bank account.<br />
<br />
Do you get sucked into the comparison
trap? Thanks to technology gifting us with the internet and television,
it's pretty damn hard not to. We are virtually assaulted with hundreds
of images on a daily basis. The media, social and otherwise, teaches
us how to fall in love and worship illusions. We so desperately want
the fantasy of flawless beauty and perfection because they make it look
so freakin' appealing!<br />
<br />
Appearances mean nothing.
Absolutely nothing. You cannot judge a book by it's cover. No matter
how good something may look on the outside, there is no guarantee that
it's good on the inside. How things look in public is not an accurate
representation of how they may be in private. We assume that what we
SEE is how things ARE. But, they usually aren't.<br />
<br />
Instead of
watching people in Hollywood on the internet, what if we paid more
attention to our own lives? Instead of wishing we had what other people
have, what if we took care of what belonged to us? What would your
life be like if you no longer measured it against the lives of your
co-workers, favorite, actors, family, friends, or peers?<br />
<br />
Food for thought. Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-47008956378305748682015-07-31T06:19:00.004-04:002015-07-31T06:19:51.651-04:00I wrote a guest post for Adios Barbie regarding the topic of aging. It was published on their website yesterday! Below is a sample paragraph from the piece:<br />
<br />
"My early impressions of aging were, of course, procured by watching my
parents deal with it. Both of them have their fair share of hang-ups
when it comes to appearance. Mom would spend almost two hours fussing
over her hair and make-up. Dad went so far as to dabble in cosmetic
surgery. It seemed like the emphasis was on preserving any semblance of
youth in order to be deemed acceptable. God forbid you let the world see
a wrinkle on your face or a gray hair on your head."<br />
<br />
For the entire article, go here: 5 Unexpected Truths About Aging No One Talks About: http://www.adiosbarbie.com/2015/07/5-unexpected-truths-about-aging/ Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-57446238989082253112015-06-17T14:10:00.001-04:002015-06-17T14:10:43.519-04:00My Love Your Body Project InterviewA few months ago, I was asked by Patricia, Editor of www.beutifulmagazine.com, to be featured in their June magazine. The interview is now available online! Click on the link below.<br />
<br />
My story begins on page 60:<br />
<br />
https://issuu.com/beutiful/docs/beutiful_-_the_swimsuit_issue_-_201?e=0Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-77266496397776525922015-05-27T08:46:00.001-04:002015-05-27T08:46:15.217-04:00My PledgeI am thankful for my body.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for my birthmarks and moles, for they make me unique.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for my scars, for they remind me of my ability to heal.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for my genetically predisposed shape, for it pays homage to the parents who created me.<br />
<br />
My body is a temple, a sacred temple, that houses my soul.<br />
<br />
I will treat it with love and care.<br />
<br />
I will give it food when it hungers and drink when it thirsts.<br />
<br />
I will rest when it's tired and move around when it's vibrantly awake.<br />
<br />
I will celebrate all of the things that it can do. I will make good
use of my two arms and two legs, <br />
remembering that I am blessed to have
all moving parts in working order.<br />
<br />
I will recommit myself to this every single day, because it's important.<br />
<br />
I will not give up on myself.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-1129665509616932122015-05-26T08:06:00.006-04:002015-05-26T08:06:54.705-04:00Balance and NormalcyHello, Tuesday. Welcome back to normalcy.<br />
<br />
Not only was this a holiday weekend, but, for me, it was also our wedding anniversary yesterday.<br />
<br />
We had a GREAT day.<br />
<br />
My husband and I w<span class="text_exposed_show">ent
to a wonderful restaurant in Newburyport, MA with a great view of the
water. I sipped wine while we dined on calamari for an appetizer
followed by lobster pie for me and a lobster roll for him. </span><br />
<br />
After lunch, we walked around the downtown area (which is so quaint) to
check out the sights. There was a lot to see, both people, and
vendors, since it was a holiday.<br />
<br />
We got home around 4 pm and
opened a bottle of champagne to toast each other to 14 years of
marriage. Our day was topped off by frozen yogurt sundaes for dinner.<br />
<br />
I will say it again: it was a GREAT day!<br />
<br />
So, now it's back to "normalcy". What does that mean for me these
days? Well, it no longer means "atoning for the sins of the weekend" by
restricting my food intake and doubling up on exercise. It means
listening to my body and honoring my hunger and fullness cues as best I
can. You see, nothing is off limits for me anymore. Nothing is
forbidden, so I choose what I want, enjoy some or most of it (I rarely
finish a full portion of anything since making peace with food), and I
move the hell on.<br />
<br />
Think about Christmas for a second. There is
such a huge build up to this holiday every year, isn't there? For
about a month before, there are holiday songs on the radio, decorations,
parties, holiday themed beverages and rich foods to enjoy with friends
and family. There is a huge build up that culminates into a fun and
festive day.<br />
<br />
Now, imagine if every day was Christmas. Yeah,
that's right, you heard me -- pretend every day was a holiday. Do you
think it would hold the same magic and meaning if it was the norm
instead of the exception?<br />
The point of that analogy is simply
this: all food can be good food and all food can be enjoyed no matter
what day it is. If nothing is ever demonized, deliberately withheld or
off limits, then you can choose more intuitively based on what your body
is asking you for. I'll tell you this much: mine doesn't ask me for
champagne in the afternoon or frozen yogurt sundaes for dinner every
day. I used to worry it would back then because I had such an "all or
nothing mindset". I bounced between the extremes of restriction and
binging. Once I let go of the food rules and the diet mentality, I
found my balance.<br />
<br />
Learn how to eat with your heart and not your
head. Decide your body can be trusted. Stop fighting your appetite and
let everything be on the table. Be flexible with yourself. It's a
practice. We don't need to make it a "perfect".Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-2339020289092085722015-05-22T15:08:00.000-04:002015-05-22T15:08:08.614-04:00How to "Be the Change"The legendary Mahatma Gandhi has been famously quoted as saying, "Be
the change you wish to see in the world." This means you must embody
the characteristics a<span class="text_exposed_show">nd principles that matter most to you. </span><br />
How does this apply to spreading the message of body love, neutrality
with food and self-acceptance? It means choosing to be part of the
solution instead of continuing to contribute to the problem.<br />
<br />
Here are a few ways to do that:<br />
<br />
** Consider the cessation of commenting on people's appearance
COMPLETELY. This can be done innocently enough; you see someone out and
about and notice a significant change in their size. We have been
taught to revere thinness in this culture, so your first reaction is to
praise this person for reducing their weight. Remember, you do not know
how healthy someone is by looking at them. A noticeably smaller person
could be healthy. They could also be in the throes of an eating
disorder. Or undergoing chemotherapy. These may sound like extreme
examples, but the fact is, it can happen.<br />
<br />
** As a follow up to
the first, ask yourself if you are unknowingly participating in body
shaming. Saying things like, "oh, you are so skinny. Why don't you eat
a sandwich?" or "Must be nice to eat whatever you want and be rail
thin" or even "Gee, I wish I had your discipline. I'm too busy having
fun and living life to the fullest to have the abs you do." These kinds
of comments are just as damaging as criticizing someone who may be
considered overweight. I have known people who are genetically
predisposed to be thin. Sometimes these very same people don't like
being that thin or wish they could have more curves, build muscle, etc.
I have also known some people who are excessively exercising and
obsessively trying to construct the perfect body...and it's slowly
KILLING them. Think before you speak. And remember: ALL BODIES ARE
GOOD BODIES. We all don't have to look the same<br />
<br />
** Eat for
enjoyment and nourishment. Feed yourself well and take pleasure in your
meals. This also means respecting the eating habits and food choices
of others. We are not supposed to be the food police, here. I don't
know where the idea that commenting on what is on people's plates is
socially acceptable, but guess what? It's not. And it's rude. Don't
do it. And, if someone does it to you, feel free to tell them politely
that you appreciate their concern, but you don't need any help figuring
out what to eat.<br />
<br />
When in doubt, always be part of the solution. Always.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-30649370196821684232015-05-21T08:17:00.000-04:002015-05-21T08:17:07.060-04:00You Are Where You Need To BeSometimes, we tend to forget what it was like to be where we were
when we dieted, purged, restricted and self-loathed.<br />
<br />
More importantly,
sometimes, we have contempt for our former selves...not wanting to
accept that we could have been that lost, that confused, or that sick.<br />
<br />
It's not so much that we forget...it's that we DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER.<br />
<br />
Maybe we haven't forgiven that part of ourselves. Maybe it's something
else entirely.<br />
<br />
I think what I have been learning to do is to b<span class="text_exposed_show">less
my journey instead of curse it. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I never want to forget where I came
from or what my impetus for change was. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">A wise person once told me we
teach what we most need to learn. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">By staying connected to who I was at
the height of my disordered thinking, I can be more compassionate and
understanding to those who are at the height of theirs right now. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I can
remember that lots of people tried to talk me down at various points and
I didn't have the ears to hear.</span><br />
<br />
So, wherever you may be right now, know that it's exactly where you are
meant to be.<br />
<br />
Be proud of where you came from, who you are at this
moment and joyfully anticipate the insights and wisdom that's waiting
for you when you are ready.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-55730541694498973322015-05-20T09:24:00.002-04:002015-05-20T09:24:41.668-04:00Just Say No to GuiltWe have learned how to mistrust our bodies because so many experts
saw fit to give us advice, as if they knew what was better for us than
we did.<br />
<br />
We rejected our body wisdom for the latest New York Times
Bestseller on how to be thin.<br />
<br />
There is nothing sexy about tuning into
your hunger and satiety cues.<br />
<br />
I know it's scary for people to
grasp, particularly in the beginning. The thought is, 'if I let go of
all my food rules, I'll be out of control. I'll eat junk food all day,
ev<span class="text_exposed_show">ery day.' </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">This is why it's CRUCIAL to
legalize ALL foods, putting them on a level playing field. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Food is
neither good nor bad. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">It's all FOOD.</span><br />
<br />
Ultimately, I believe we are meant to eat what feels good in our
bodies.<br />
<br />
We are meant to innately know what those foods are when we pay
attention.<br />
<br />
But, in order to do this, we MUST let go of the guilt.<br />
<br />
How does guilt make you feel? Has anyone ever ENJOYED feeling guilty???<br />
<br />
If you never let go of the guilt surrounding food, HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHAT FOODS FEEL GOOD TO YOUR BODY????<br />
<br />
Make the peace.<br />
Eat the food.<br />
Ditch the guilt.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-59886058413960806402015-05-19T08:31:00.004-04:002015-05-19T08:31:33.392-04:00Get Angry!Do you want to stop feeling powerless around body, food and weight?<br />
<br />
Here's a tip: GET ANGRY<br />
<br />
Get angry at the diet industry who insists on telling you that you
can't trust yourself.<br />
<br />
Get angry that you bought into the lie that you
need an external source to tell you when, what and how much to eat.<br />
<br />
Get
angry that the media doctors up pictures of women and then uses this as
an insinuation that all of us should conform to it.<br />
<br />
Get angry at the lies you've been told.<br />
<br />
Get angry that our beloved
sisters pick themselves apart over a few pounds.<br />
<br />
Get angry that the
number on a clothing tag holds so much significance.<br />
<br />
Get angry that we
care more about back fat and muffintops than we do about the depth of
our soul and character.<br />
<br />
Get angry that you are slaving away in a
gym for two hours instead of going for a walk in nature with a dear
friend, having a heart to heart talk.<br />
<br />
Get angry. I did. In fact, I was FURIOUS!!!<br />
<br />
So, yes, be angry. You deserve to feel that righteous indignation.<br />
<br />
And then, get over it. Move forward in love and peace. Life is too short to be in bondage.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-25347850839388867982015-05-18T12:57:00.000-04:002015-05-18T12:57:27.553-04:00NumbersNumbers used to rule my life. Whether it was the number on the
scale, the number on the tag in my jeans or the amount of miles I ran
each week, I lived by them<span class="text_exposed_show">. I
relentlessly pursued perfection by using numbers as milestones. If I
could weigh a certain amount, wear a certain size or boast a certain 5K
time, I was bound to be happy.</span><br />
<br />
Right?<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
It was an empty pursuit. I didn't find perfection when I hit the
milestones I set. Numbers didn't make me love myself. In fact, quite
the opposite happened on many occasions. If the dreaded weigh ins did
not reflect the desired result, I plunged deeper into self-loathing. If
I didn't PR (personal record in running lingo) at every race I ran, I
was a complete and utter FAILURE. If I DID hit my goal of weight, size
or speed, my happiness was fleeting. In that split second, I felt the
excitement of achieving something I had worked so hard for, but it never
lasted. Like an addict with their drug of choice, I was on to the next
weight goal, the next size down, the next fastest time.<br />
<br />
After
hitting rock bottom, I realized I had to let the numbers GO. They
weren't serving me. They only served to LIMIT me. I finally understood
that that it didn't matter how much I weighed, what size I wore, or how
fast I ran. The only metric that I could possibly rely on was how much
love I could give my body and my soul. I had to stop DOING and start
BEING.<br />
<br />
Maybe you are like I was back then. Maybe you have all of
your hopes hung on a number. Maybe you are obsessively measuring
calories burned or calories consumed. Maybe you have put your life on
hold until your "number" comes up.<br />
<br />
But the thing is, when it
does, you'll find something else to criticize, something else to blame,
something else that you find unacceptable. We strive for the holy grail
of impeccability and are so busy trying to achieve that we forget to
enjoy the journey. We can't celebrate who we are, because we are too
consumed with TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE.<br />
<br />
Let it go. Just stop
striving and trying so damn hard. Decide that today is the day you will
choose differently. Today can be the day that you celebrate where you
are.<br />
<br />
And you are so much more than a number.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-24585598442617507742015-05-12T10:55:00.001-04:002015-05-12T10:55:27.814-04:00You Can Have It ALL!!!I see lots of women who are just overloaded. They have a full-time
job, children to raise, a marriage to maintain, other family members to
deal with, social obligations and Lord knows what else. Growing up, the
message for some women was, "you can have it all!" And so, we thought
that was the ideal to pursue: having it ALL.<br />
<br />
These same women
desperately try to make it all work as perfectly as they can. And they
are so HARD on themselves because they aren't Superwoman. You see, they
have ALL OF THAT responsibility that I listed above and then wonder why
they can't muster up more energy to work out five days a week and look
like a fitness model.<br />
<br />
"But, look at Susie over there! She has
just as much on her plate and can do it! She can go to Zumba five times
a week!! And she wears a size 4!"<br />
<br />
"I commute an hour each way,
am responsible for feeding my family, have to help my kids with their
homework, and, well, I know I'm just making excuses, but...I'm just too
tired to go to the gym. I wish I weren't so lazy."<br />
<br />
BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL LADIES! YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE!!<br />
<br />
Well, what if I don't WANT IT ALL?? What if I can't HANDLE it all???<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the idea that we have to "have it all" hurts us more than it
helps us. It causes us to put unrealistic expectations on ourselves.
It makes it easy to fall into the comparison trap. We look at others
who "seem to have it all and make it look easy" and we wonder what the
hell is wrong with us.<br />
<br />
Stop. Stop thinking you have to "have it
all". You don't. We all have our own individual threshold for what we
can and cannot handle and that's okay. It doesn't matter what Susie
over there is doing. That's her business. Besides, you can't judge a
book by its cover. Appearances aren't always what they seem. Public
lives and private lives don't always match. You don't know what is
happening behind closed doors.<br />
<br />
Instead of keeping up with the
Joneses, ask yourself: What are YOU doing? What do you want YOUR life
to look like? That is where the focus needs to be.<br />
<br />
And, for
heaven's sake, be a little kinder to yourself. Yes, an exercise routine
can be part of a healthy lifestyle, but not when it's a "should" or a
"have to", not to mention it is more stress on the body which, if the
body is already stressed, will hurt more than it will help. It's not
healthy when we are already burning the candle at both ends and then try
to add something else to the mix.<br />
<br />
Take a deep breath and let
yourself off the hook. Figure out what part of "having it all" makes
sense to you and then just let the rest of that crap go. You don't have
to be Superwoman.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, having it all is realizing that you
don't. And that's just fine.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-88940139498607071372015-05-11T07:55:00.002-04:002015-05-11T07:56:06.147-04:00Monday, Monday...Can't Trust That Day...Or Can You???Hello, Monday, my old friend. Long time no see.<br />
<br />
When I was
dieting, Mondays were always THE day. That was when I would "start" my
new regime, whatever it happened to be at the time (hint: it was a diet
cleverly disguised as a "lifestyle change"). I was filled with hope
and resolve, because this would be the beginning of my new life! This
is where I would shed the body fat that was the cause of all my misery
and I would FINALLY have the life that I always dreamed of!<br />
<br />
How <span class="text_exposed_show">many
of you read that passage, shaking your head up and down saying, "uh
huh" or "you did that too???". I bet there are a lot of you. And here
we were all thinking that we were such special snowflakes. <u><i>(wink, wink)</i></u></span><br />
<br />
This honeymoon period with the diet du jour could get you through a few
days or even a few weeks, but it could never last, could it? It was
all sizzle and no steak (throwback to the days of high carb...remember
when pretzels and fat free everything was considered health food?? But,
I digress). You had the excitement and the novelty of something new
which would quickly be replaced by the realization that you couldn't
stick with this new plan either. You were too weak willed, too lazy or,
even worse, too hungry.<br />
<br />
What if a Monday could be like any
other day?<br />
What if there were no extremes to bounce between?<br />
What if
we could just learn to eat when we were hungry and stop when we were
satisfied?<br />
What if we figured out the types of exercise we genuinely
enjoyed and just did that because we wanted to???<br />
What if you made
peace with the body you have right now and decided to just stop saying
mean things about it?<br />
<br />
Oh, is it you Monday? Back again? I hadn't noticed. It's just like every other day.<br />
<br />
Say yes to normalcy. Say yes to balance. Say yes to Monday.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-14201184645331023412015-05-08T13:00:00.002-04:002015-05-08T13:00:52.480-04:00Eyes On Your Own...In the course of my daily life, I often hear people talk negatively about food or their bodies It may be statements such as:<br />
<br />
"I really have to drop about 10 lbs. My thighs are getting HUGE."<br />
<br />
"Oh, I could never eat pasta. I couldn't be THAT bad."<br />
<br />
"Can you believe what she's eating? No wonder she has a weight problem!"<br />
<br />
Considering my history of body dysmorphia, chronic dieting, disordered
eating and excessive exercising, you can imagine how I feel when I hear
women (or sometimes even men) say these kind of things. It takes a
little mindfulness and a whole lot of restraint, but the best response
to comments like these is: nothing.<br />
<br />
See, these are things I
"overhear". They are not said directly TO ME. None of these people
have asked for my advice or opinion. So, I do my best to stay silent.
Yes, it's hard. But, I really believe it's the best thing to do.<br />
<br />
There can be nothing more obnoxious than a reformed "something or
other". This person had the habit, the weight problem, the "whatever"
and was able to overcome it. Good for them. No, seriously, good for
them. But, they have such CONTEMPT for the behavior, body or habit that
they left behind. They never accepted themselves for having been the
way they were, which is why they regard other people with that same
contempt. It's easy to put on an air of moral superiority when you
can't possibly understand why they can't just "get over it" -- how
someone can possibly respect themselves for being "less than" when you
couldn't.<br />
<br />
But, hear this: IT IS NOT HELPFUL.<br />
<br />
The world
would be a much better place if we tended to our own gardens instead of
hopping the fence and plucking our neighbor's weeds.<br />
<br />
Think about it.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-6774690522328607592015-05-02T10:49:00.003-04:002015-05-02T10:49:35.610-04:00Shifting the FocusI remember having conversations with friends back in my dieting days.
Sometimes, we would get together for lunch or dinner, and decide to
share a dessert, because a) we had worked out for a few hours that day
and "earned" it or b) we would run double digit mileage the next day to
"work it off". Sometimes, we would bond over self-deprecating comments.
I would insult my thighs, my friend might complain about her belly, or
vice versa. We would plan and plot for our next big <span class="text_exposed_show">weight loss campaign, trying this new meal plan or that new workout routine.</span><br />
<br />
Once I started healing my relationship with food, this was something I
let go of. Don't get me wrong, I still love to bond with friends over
food. It's a beautiful, celebratory way to share time with someone you
love. Dining out is one of my favorite things. But, I no longer have
to "do this" (workout a ton, not eat all day, etc.) in order to "get
that" (delicious, nourishing food). And the self-deprecating comments
had to go. That's never helpful, period.<br />
<br />
Wouldn't it be nice if
women could bond over how smart, successful, and talented they are
instead of exchanging negative comments about their bodies? What if we
cared more about what we did with our lives than how we looked in a
bathing suit? What if we realized that there is more to us than our
appearance?<br />
<br />
Something to think about.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-23328389187936469282015-04-28T11:52:00.004-04:002015-04-28T11:52:42.535-04:00In the Name of Health?<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
In my coaching practice, I see lots of women who say they want to lose weight "for health reasons". Sometimes, this is a valid reason, so, then I ask them what health concerns they have. Then, they look a little confused. "What do you mean?" I then reiterate the question, and ask them specifically about their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver profile, sleep habits, relationships, work/life balance, etc. The majority of the time, most of these markers are wi<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">thin the normal range. (This is typical with women who say they want to lose 10-30 lbs.)</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Then, I say, "You told me you wanted to lose weight to be healthier, yet you seem to be healthy already. So, why do you REALLY want to lose weight?"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The answer: We have been taught to associate skinny/thin with healthy. In fact, we are so deeply entrenched in this cultural notion that we are willing to engage in UNHEALTHY measures (extreme caloric restriction, diet pills, excessive exercise) to achieve a "healthy body". These women aren't consciously lying to themselves about why they want to be "thin". They really believe what they have been told!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Does that sound a little misguided to you?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Sometimes skinny/thin DOES equal healthy if THE PERSON IS GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED TO BE SKINNY. Not all of us are and that is okay. Don't try to make a cat a dog. If you have to resort to unhealthy measures in an attempt to be skinny, that is exactly what you are trying to do and you will find nothing but frustration and misery.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We need to learn how to pick apart these cognitive distortions about what is healthy and what isn't. We need to learn how to embrace our own unique body type and honor it by feeding it well and giving it ample amounts of movement and rest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
There is nothing healthy about trying to be something other than who you are. There is nothing healthy about self-hate.</div>
</div>
Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-17034204579956687712015-04-23T18:30:00.002-04:002015-04-23T18:30:42.519-04:00The Joy of...Aging???<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Imagine for a moment a woman in her early 50's, 60's, or even 70's, watching a twenty-something year old girl and saying things like, "I wish I looked like that. Why can't I be more like her?"</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
This kind of stuff happens, particularly in gyms. I work in one, so I witness this. A lot.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
We are only meant to be twenty-something once. It's just a mere stop along the road of life. Why are we so hell bent against getting older? Is it the messages of the media, which is co<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">nstantly pushing "anti-aging" products, sending us the message that growing older is unacceptable? Are we that afraid of losing our youth??</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Okay, I get it. Once upon a time, your body may have been tighter. Your skin may have been smoother. Your hair may have been less gray.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Once upon a time, I was twenty-something. My body was tighter, my skin was smoother, my hair was not gray (actually, it still isn't, thanks to genetics, but I digress). I was also insecure about my body, unsure about life and my place in it and questioned myself all the time. I was constantly in need of approval and validation. I needed to be noticed. I needed to be loved. I needed others to build me up.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Then, I turned 40. At that moment, things began to change for me. I no longer wanted to look "twenty-something" simply because, I wasn't. I was ready to move forward. I was ready to embrace the next stage of my life. It was going to happen anyway, whether I chose to go along with it or not, so why fight it? I owned my 40 year old body, my 40 year old skin and my 40 year old hair. I also realized I was more secure with my body and more sure about life. I had my own approval which meant more than anyone else's, for the first time EVER. I felt love deep in my core. I felt validated just by my own existence in the world. I'm now 43 and it just keeps...getting...better.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Trading a tighter body and smoother skin for all of that amazing stuff? I would do it ten times over without a single backward glance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Let yourself BE where you are. Relish it. Live your life on purpose. Aging is not a curse. It's a reward. It's your time to step into your own power. Realize that the physical part of you isn't the most important. It's the knowledge contained within that is.</div>
</div>
Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4518790658733940124.post-92803020254244092015-04-21T11:56:00.002-04:002015-04-21T11:56:21.779-04:00Be KindWe're too hard on ourselves. We expect to have the perfect body, the perfect diet, the perfect job, the perfect relationships.<br />
<br />
The perfect life.<br />
<br />
Life is not perfect.<br />
<br />
Life is about growing into your fullest potential. Life is about
discovering who you are and why you are here. Sometimes, it's hard.
There are days where you just don't like who and where you are. It can
be real messy.<br />
<br />
But, hear this: nothing in life is permanent. Everything is temporary. Sadness won't go on forever. Neither will happiness.<br />
<br />
We experience each at different times in our lives for very important
reasons. If it weren't for the sadness, we wouldn't appreciate the
moments of happiness. If all we had was happiness, we might take it for
granted and stop trying to become more. It hurts to hurt, but that's
how we grow. Some of the most painful times in my life led to some of
the most amazing parts of ME. The lessons I learned and the wisdom I
gained wouldn't have come to me otherwise. Pain is a gift to bring us
to joy.<br />
<br />
So, today, whatever you are doing, and wherever you are
doing it, please remember to be kind to yourself.<br />
<br />
There are lots of
people out there who are willing to make you feel unhappy, unloved and
unworthy.<br />
<br />
Don't help them.Cyndi Springfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16982957478484459266noreply@blogger.com0