DAVID KIRSCH IN A NEW YORK MINUTE

The courageous Portia De Rossi is a wonderful testimony to the importance of honoring your body and in doing so, achieving your best self.

In her autobiography Unbearable Lightness, released last week, she exposes the entirety of her self-destructive eating disorder – a disease that debilitated her and consumed her life. Given the prevalence of disordered eating in our society, it’s this kind of honesty that we need to ultimately promote a healthier outlook for our children.

Why is it that some of the most beautiful people in the world end up sabotaging their own health in a quest to look like someone else? What can we do to help free our friend or family member from this dangerous thinking?

As a fitness and wellness trainer for more than 20 years, I’ve faced this head on. I’ve found that many people focus solely on physical appearance when setting goals and assume that looking better on the outside will ultimately help them feel better on the inside. But, after a few training sessions with me, they soon realize that it is just the opposite.

Looking good begins on the inside. I believe that self-acceptance and self-empowerment are as important to achieving beauty and wellness as exercise and eating right. If you have a killer body but feel miserable all the time, what good is it? 

I work very hard to help my clients learn how to make sound choices. Soundness of mind and body comes through honoring a philosophy of daily wellness. It comes from the way we eat, exercise, think, behave and by what we believe. Eating is not about deprivation. It’s about nourishing from the inside out and strengthening from the outside in.

I try to teach my clients that the ultimate goal is to look and feel the best they can- not to look like some model, actor or actress. Prioritize internal health, happiness and wellness. Your best body is the one you were born to have.

In recovering from self-destructive behaviors, the difference may merely be one of attitude and gratitude. Cosmetic flaws, wrinkles, and body types are all parts of life. The sooner you decide to embrace your body, the faster you will experience the far greater benefits of sound thinking. The exercise and healthy eating habits you adopt will do more than help you look your best; they will boost your mood, burn off stress, and improve your overall well being. And that’s what’s really at stake.

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