The Mummy Tummy

I was chatting with my sister who just had her first baby 2 months ago, and she asked me how long it takes for your uterus to shrink back down and your stomach to look normal again. I looked down at my mummy tummy, realized that it's been almost five years since I gave birth, and decided to change the subject. After the phone call, I got out a bag of chips and tried to drown my sorrows (yeah, chips will help!) Not to make this all about me, but seriously, this little pouch that goes everywhere I do is kind of mortifying. I saw a picture of myself at the beach last weekend and it wasn't pretty. I milked the "I just had a baby" excuse for as long as I could, then I tried every ab exercise known to man, but the dang thing won't go away. So then I tried ignoring the mummy tummy, thinking if I did it would once again return to it's normal state (whatever that was, I don't remember). A friend of mine once suggested I get a tummy tuck, but I simply refuse to alter my body in that way.

So, my answer now is: learn to love my mummy tummy! I have never been perfect and don't believe anyone on earth is. What I do believe is the people who are the happiest with their lives are those who can learn to love themselves just the way they are. Since I'll undoubtedly need some guidance down this path, here are a few tips:

• Pay yourself a compliment each day.
• Do simple daily exercises to boost your bloodstream. You will feel better, your mood will be more positive, and the more congenial you will be with other people. If you give out positive energy, the more beautiful you become - and the more people will be inclined to return positive vibes to you, too.
• If there's something about your body that you dislike, find out what's causing you to smirk at it. Chances are, the reasons are very shallow and superficial. The realization of this will help you attain a better self-image and teach you to appreciate yourself more.
• Set aside time once a week to do something just for you. It could be anything from watching a cheesy movie to walking your dog in the park. As long as it's time for you in doing what you want to do.
• Wear nice underwear. This sounds silly, but it works! Wearing really cute knickers does make you feel better and a lot more confident about facing others. Don't believe this? Try it!
• Get away from people who put you down. You know these kinds of people. They simply can't stand the fact that you're okay with your life and will always try to dampen your mood. Avoid them at all cost, because they'll never make you feel good about yourself.
• Do something good for someone else. You will find that things like volunteering at a homeless shelter or even a simple thing like helping somebody who is lost by giving proper directions will make you feel good for the rest of the day. You will be doing something worthwhile and when you see how badly off some people are, you will start to appreciate your life more and be grateful for what you have.

tips adapted from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee

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