3 Things you THINK are Problems (But Actually Aren’t)
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Are you ready for some REAL talk, sister? Because I’m about to bring it in this episode! If you’re unhappy with the body you have now, I know you probably blame at least one of three things: your body, what you’re doing, and what you’re eating. I’m here to tell you that these three things in fact are NOT the problem. Say what?! Check out this episode to find out why, and what the actual problem IS.
If you loved this episode, then I know you’ll also love episode 89: The 3 M’s for Honoring your body. Because if you think these three things are problems, then I know you haven’t been honoring your body…you have been punishing your body and it’s time you learn how to actually HONOR IT.
TRANSCRIPT:
Hey, hey, beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you, but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Ledbetter. I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace a real, let's get it. Let's go.
Hello. Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode of the Embrace Your Real podcast. Today, I'm bringing you some real talk because there are three things that us women love to blame for us not having the body that we want. But in actuality, these three things are not to blame. So if you're unhappy with your body, these things are not the problem and I'm not only going to tell you what those things are, but what actually is the problem. First, I have to share this super-sweet review. It comes from Gabby. She says, "Truly inspiring. This podcast has been helping me tremendously. From someone who suffers with anorexia, this has helped me try and shift my mindset that I don't need to be super skinny in order to love my body. It's going to be a long road, but Julie's story and podcasts are such a big help. Keep being you, Julie. You're amazing." Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for this review.
These are my why. These are why I show up week after week for you, and I'm just so grateful that you guys share these messages with me. Thank you. If you haven't already rated and reviewed the podcast, you can scooch over to Apple podcasts and do that now. It takes less than 30 seconds. Thank you so much. Okay, so back to the episode. What are these three things that we think are the problem, and the reason we don't have the body that we want?
Number one, your body is not the problem. I know we think our body is the problem, but in reality, it's what we think of our body that's the real problem. There has never been anything wrong with your body ever. It's always just been your mindset around your body. So let me repeat this again, your body is not the problem. Your body is not something that needs to be solved. Your body just is. It is the way... God created your body the way that it is. What needs to be solved is the way that you view your body.
I have to be real with you. If you're searching for more confidence, more self-love, more validation, more worth, no matter how much you weigh, no matter how much you lose or gain muscle, no matter how skinny or toned you get, you will not feel more confident, loved, validated, or worthy if you don't first start in your mindset. And if you do without first starting with your mindset, it's only a temporary feeling. It's not real confidence or real love for yourself, because if it were real, it wouldn't be based on the way that you look. If it were real love and confidence, you wouldn't have to change your body to get there.
I want to make one thing clear. I don't believe that there's anything inherently wrong with wanting to change your body, but I don't believe that changing your body needs to be a prerequisite for loving your body and yourself. There are girls that are the exact same size as you with more cellulite, with more body fat, with more quote, "imperfections," that are way happier, more confident and more at peace with their bodies than you because they don't look at their body as the problem. They don't see it as a problem at all. It is you and your mind that is creating a problem, a problem that isn't actually there, a problem that doesn't need to be a problem. So, you need to let it go. If you want to love your body, you have to start focusing on your mindset around your body. I know there is a lot in there, but you have to really get that concept. Let me repeat. Your body is not the problem. Your body is not something that needs to be solved. Your body just is. What needs to be solved is the way that you view your body.
Number two, what you're doing is not the problem. I hear way too often, "I work out. Why isn't it working? I eat healthy. Why isn't it working? I need to change up what I'm doing because it's not working." Sure, these are all valid questions, but what's also a valid question is how long have you been doing it? How consistent have you been really? Most often, it's not what we're doing that's the problem. It's the lack of patience and consistency that is the real problem. We blame the workout plan instead of blaming the fact that we aren't being as consistent as we should be, or being as patient as we know we need to be.
But we have to understand that the body that we want is not built over night. It requires us to be consistent in what we're doing to actually see results. You won't have a flat stomach after one ab workout. It takes months of cardio and weight training to strengthen your core, so stick with it. Remain committed, and stop focusing on seeing the results. Just keep doing it day in and day out and trust the process, and most importantly, enjoy the process.
I think that's the biggest thing that I see women missing is when they're just so focused on the end result, they miss enjoying moment after moment. The fact that there are so many people right now in this world that would give anything to do a workout, and here you are complaining because you want to see the results tomorrow. There are people in this life right now that would do anything to just move their body. So look at every single opportunity to move your body as a blessing and stop looking at the end result and only fixating on that, because that will only make your journey more miserable.
Number three, what you're eating is not the problem. It's not the food. It's the relationship with food and the quantity of food, but not the food itself. It's never the food. It's not the ice cream that makes you eat the entire pint. It's not the tortilla chips that make you eat the entire bag. It's not the cookies that make you eat the entire box. These quote, "unhealthy foods," are not the problem. The problem is that you are labeling them as an unhealthy. Remember that food is not inherently good or bad. It's us labeling them that makes them good or bad. This becomes a problem because when food becomes off limits, it triggers us to overindulge.
We don't know when we're going to allow ourselves to eat it again, so we might as well eat as much as we can. That's the unhealthy relationship that you're creating in your mind. This is why we have to give ourselves permission to eat whatever we want. We have to be intentional about our mindset behind food, because when we do and when we are, we realize that we don't need to eat the entire pint, bag, or box because we can have that same food tomorrow and the next day, and the next day. When we stop labeling food as good or bad and start eating whatever our body is craving, we realize that it isn't the food that is holding us back. We actually realize that it's our relationship with food that is holding us back. So the next time that you think, "I can't eat it, it's unhealthy."
I need you to reframe your mindset and allow yourself to eat it. The more you allow yourself to eat whatever it is that you want to eat, the less control the food will have over you, and the less of a problem food will be in your life. If you love this episode, I know you will also love episode 89, "The Three M's for Honoring Your Body." Be sure to tune in there. I give you three foundational pieces that are critical when I believe starting the journey of embracing your real, which really starts with honoring your body.
So, be sure to tune into that episode. I have linked that in the show notes so you can easily go listen now. Thank you so much for tuning in. I hope that you found this message helpful. If you have a girlfriend or a sister or a friend or a coworker that you really feel like they would benefit from this episode. I just ask that you share it out. You can copy this link. You can text it to them in a text message. You can post it up on your Facebook. Post it up on your Instagram story. I love connecting with you guys. Be sure to tag me, Julie A Ledbetter, and be sure to tag the podcast account, Embrace Your Real. We love you so, so much, and I will talk to you guys in the next episode.
All right, sister. That's all I got for you today, but I have two things that I need you to do. First thing, if you're not already following me on the gram, be sure to do so, Julie A Ledbetter. Yes. It's with an A in the middle for that daily post-workout real talk, healthy tips and tricks, and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing, be sure to subscribe to Apple podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world, and I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface, so go out there and embrace your real because you're worth it.