Women often come to me seeking ‘the answer’ to their body problems (a.k.a their weight loss troubles).

I’m usually one of the last stops along the way after Weight Watchers, South Beach, Atkins, Medifast, Paleo challenges and hair pulling and they are still obsessing over their weight and can’t stop thinking about food all the time.

If I had ‘the solution’ I would be a gagillionaire.

If I lacked integrity, I could probably be a gagillionaire too.

If you’ve struggled with body and food troubles, there is ‘no solution.’ 

WHAAAAT???

Let me explain…

We are obsessed with quick fixes and finding that one superpower that’s the missing link to all of our problems, like the Thighmaster.

The problem with craving a ‘solution’ is that you deny yourself the reality of the journey. You get stuck on this idea that ‘things will be better when’ or ‘if only I could fix X’ instead of accepting that it’s a process.

Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to keep things in perspective and deal with them. ~ Steve Maraboli

You have to learn how to ride the waves of life, which are unexpected, rocky at times and filled with highs and lows.

Wanting to eliminate the source of your bad body thoughts completely and make yourself bullet-proof in a society that body-shames and is filled with discrimination towards certain fruit shaped body parts (Melon = good. Apple = bad) is a pipe dream.

You need to shift your desire for a ‘solution’ to a desire to obtain ‘practices’ that will enable you to ride the rough waves.

You need to be committed to making it a daily practice so that over time you become more resilient.

I’m going to let you in on a secret. I still feel bad about my body sometimes. I still over-think food sometimes. I still get exercise obsessed occasionally. But, it’s WAY WAY WAAAAAAAAAY less than I used to and now I have the awareness and tools to manage these situations. I get to choose how I respond and move forward.

My clients and the women doing the 21 Step Body Image Remix get tons of light bulb moments and it’s those light bulb moments that reinforce the fact that they’ve obtained a new tool to help them in their journey.

It’s those habits and mindset shifts that bit-by-bit form the foundation for a newer better you.

But, they are not the be-all-end-all… they are just building the board that will help you surf the waves like a pro.

Learn new tools and cultivate daily practices.

Celebrate every small win along the way.

Always remember where you came from.

Have patience.

Commit to the journey for life and ride those waves.