Is Your Body a Temple or an Amusement Park?

Alisa Daglio  Body Makeover Expert

     Some people spend their hard-earned money on status symbols like designer clothing and expensive automobiles. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, consider what life might be like if you treated your body as you would a Ferrari.  You would clean it meticulously, tune it up religiously, and provide the engine with the high-grade fuel that allows it to run at an optimum level.  No one with an expensive sports car would dream of depositing the incorrect fuel in the tank.  Once in a while may not harm the vehicle but when done on a regular basis the engine will suffer damage.  A Ferrari engine requires a certain burning ratio to the fuel, so if abused over time the engine will suffer a loss in power and a shorter life span.  Which do you think is worth more--a Ferrari, or your body? Do you feel that you are worth the time and energy that it takes to keep your body running at an optimum level? Or, are you someone who takes care of the car but ignores the driver?

     With a few simple lifestyle changes you can have your body running like a sports car in no time.  The first thing that must shift is your thinking. Perhaps the reason many people take their bodies for granted is we simply were given one when we were born.  Thomas Paine once said, “That which we obtain too cheaply we esteem to lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value.”  Fine objects are dear to us on some level because usually we have to work hard and sacrifice if we want them--rarely are they just “given” to us. Thinking of your body as a dear treasure is the first step.  The better care you take of yourself on a mental and physical level, the more rewards you will reap.  In addition, you may also notice that others are treating you better.  This is because when you take care of yourself you are sending a message to the world as well as yourself that you are worth it!

     One change that has an immediate positive benefit is consistent adequate sleep.  People tend to overeat and reach for the junk food when they are stressed out and exhausted.  Obtaining sufficient rest will enable your body to release weight, help regulate stress, provide you with renewed energy, and enable you to greet the day with an improved mental condition.  Frame of mind is critical when you are trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle change.  If you are well rested, you will likely have more energy to engage in other positive activities such as exercise.  Ample sleep will also arm you with the mental fortitude to stick to a healthier meal program.  Exercise creates endorphins (neurotransmitters produced in the brain that reduce pain and induce euphoria) that help improve your mental attitude and reduce your bodily stress.  By adopting healthier sleep, exercise, and eating habits, you will feel, look, and think better!