Things that make me feel confident

brittonymiller

So I have been thinking about this a lot since starting the whole healthy lifestyle change. When overweight, I have major problems feeling pretty and confident. This plays a role in how successful I am when dieting. When I weigh-in and only lose a fraction of a pound (which I understand is good, but I have lofty ambitions), I just look at myself in the mirror and feel like a fat, ugly cow who has a realllllly long way to go before looking good again. That is when I want to give up.

What I want to do, besides eat healthy and exercise, is other things that make me feel prettier and more confident. Things that I may normally shirk on because I just don't feel like doing them. Examples would be: make sure my toenails are painted and cute, maintain lovely sculpted eyebrows, shave my legs more regularly, moisturize regularly with luxurious lotions that feel like a treat, exfoliate my face more often, floss, wear my retainers so my teeth look straighter. I'm sure there are plenty more.

I really want to address my confidence issues with my new lifestyle change and would like to do whatever I can to make sure I don't feel like giving up. What do you do to make yourself feel good about yourself?

debnu1

I agree with you! I want to feel more confident also--that is part of my journey...Most of mine is mindset. I am working on a confident, happy mindset to go with my happy healthy body. Healthy mind, healthy body!

junebug523

Actually, lately it's been working out! For so much of my life I've been inconsistent with my exercise, but in the last couple of months I've completed the 30 Day Shred, adding running into my walks with increasing intensity, and started another Jillian Michaels DVD. I pretty much never feel like working out when I start--I have to con myself into starting. But every time I start grudgingly, I get more and more into it as I continue--to the point that I always give 100%, I always finish the workout, and I always feel incredible!

It's not just the endorphins--although those are worth it in themselves! It's the feeling of pushing my body farther than I used to think it could go...it's getting into a rhythm with my jogging, realizing I've been going for 7 minutes and don't feel like stopping yet...it's feeling the sweat literally coat my body as I complete the second half of a workout DVD, because I'm capable of working THAT hard.

bbblue92

That sounds about right to me as well! Most of the time sooo busy doing other things, don't do those little things to take care of myself and that's also very important! I agree 100% (don't do it myself, feel like I never have time, but I know I should!!)

CreativeRedhead

Ooh great post. I still struggle with this on days, it's all a mental thing. On those days, I look in the mirror and am like "Oh god...I'm hideous!". That is sooo true that these thoughts and this type of thinking sabotages your motivation. To be honest, I haven't felt really pretty in a loooooonnnngggg time but that's starting to change now. I do some things that make me feel attractive and pretty because I do think that helps. I get up do my hair and makeup even if I'm just going to be home all day. I grew my nails out again and paint them from time to time. I wear the smallest stuff I have now....:grumble: even though now everything is too big. But wearing more form fitting stuff feels sexier than big baggy sacks! Sometimes I wear next to nothing when I'm alone or just with my husband. When I do go shopping, I plan on buying sexier stuff to wear. I smile more...I can't explain it but when I smile more I feel better and people respond by smiling right back. I accept all the attention gladly....let others help you feel prettier or sexier! Even when exercising I feel good now, dripping in sweat on most days, I can still allow myself to think "yeah I look good!" :laugh: The best advice I was given and can give is to push all the negative thoughts out! You are pretty and you are very much worth it! :flowerforyou:

SoliQ

I feel the same, I know I'm not going to see big numbers on a week, and yes little things do help, I had stop doing things for myself like a pedicure, etc, but I have commited to give me time to do it again. Thank you I know now that I'm not alone and just think if you are happy the people who loves you are happy. :flowerforyou: