March is a month of hopeful expectation. While the snow and ice may linger still, many of us day-dream of warmer weather, time off work and lazing around on the shores of Grand Bend or Georgian Bay. For some readers, these dreams are filled with relaxation and serenity. For others, they are haunted by insecurity, anxiety, and the dread of what others could be thinking. In my mid twenties, I felt that dread often. There were even times that I counted calories and exercised religiously. At that point, I worked as a youth pastor. My diet included late night pizza stops and weekly restaurant lunches. Needless to say, the scale that I stepped on matched the lifestyle I lived. Looking at myself in the mirror became difficult and I knew something needed to change. It was then that I attempted to take control over food, rather than letting food control me. Little did I know that I was entering a toxic relationship with an essential ingredient of life. I began obsessing over everything that went into my body while avoiding seeing certain friends because of the places we would go to. This resulted in my depression (rooted unrealistic expectations) deepening and my anxiety around trying to control the outcome of my body size rising through the roof. After a lot of wasted time and missed social opportunities, I came to realize that it wasn’t the food that was the problem but the unhealthy relationship that I had with myself. With the gentle guidance of a few people in my life, I realized my greatest need: a realistic evaluation of what was sensible eating and a much-needed acceptance of myself as a whole person—even if that still meant a few extra pounds. Body image struggles are common for both men and women, and spans across life-stages. And while there is no magic pill or simple 5 step process to fix it, a good start to recovery is the love and acceptance of who you are in this moment while understanding how healthy lifestyle choices could benefit you in the long run. In our region, there are many people who can help in your journey—from dieticians, to personal trainers to even your friendly neighbourhood psychotherapist.
Spring is almost here. And that means summer’s just around the corner.
Here’s to a happier, healthier you—just the way you are!