Dear Body, I apologize

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Today I loved Vanisha's apology to her body. It got me thinking.

I need to apologize to my body. In Cambodia, we were lucky to get good western food 1-2 times a month.  So when we got to that glorious western restaurant we gorged. We ate literally until we couldn't eat other bite. It didn't matter because we'd walk a mile or so back to the guesthouse because it was cheaper than paying a tuk tuk and we'd just spent a days wages ($5) on that glorious western meal. We got a lot of exercise. Our only mode of transportation at site was our bicycles.

Then we came back to America, the land of western food. The land of food that I was used to gorging myself on. The problem started when I got a desk job. I wasn't riding my bike a kilometer uphill to work every day. I was driving in a car and eating really rich food. And all of the sudden I had this extra bit to my butt that had never been there before.

I was really harsh on myself. In the words of another returned volunteer "I hate the things America has done to my body." That's how I felt. I've always been a thin person and I had this extra weight that I had never had before. I didn't care about the number on the scale. We don't even own the scale so I didn't even know the number. I cared how I felt in my body and in my clothes and I wasn't happy. I was mean to myself.

But then I realized being mean to myself wasn't going to help me get to where I happy with my body again.
I started doing yoga again. Yoga is the ultimate exercise for me. I love the connection between my spirit and body that yoga brings. I love pushing myself and seeing the progress I can make from my hard work.

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Even though my body isn't back to where I want it to be, just going to yoga a few times a week makes me a lot happier. Creating a positive body image by doing an exercise that I love has made a huge difference. Yoga isn't about comparing yourself to others. It's about getting out of yourself, and trusting your body. I love that, it has helped me heal my negative body image.

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So body, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I was so negative towards you. It didn't serve me, and it didn't serve you at all.

Check out my friend in real life, Heather's blog You're Beautiful. It's all about confronting our negative body images and turning them into positive ones.

Today in addition to yoga, I'm starting the 30 day shred challenge with my sisters. Want to apologize to your body and start a positive relationship with your body? Join us in the challenge!