Healthy living is about nutrition, fitness, and the inner experiences of well-being. Dr. Halbert L. Dunn contrasted good health—the absence of sickness—and high-level wellness, which he defined as "a condition of change in which the individual moves forward, climbing toward a higher potential of functioning."
Visualization is a powerful tool. Great performers use it to paint a strong mental picture of themselves at the moment of success. To know, and strive for, a target self is an excellent starting point for all the wellness best practices. For most people, perhaps the single best way to tell if you are thanking your body is if you are maintaining a correct body weight. A first step is to determine a target body weight. There are many online calculators to do this.
Like any internet source, these tools have to be used cautiously. It is best to work with your primary care physician and to do so mindful of other important metrics like blood pressure. Although it poses challenges for many people, hitting your target body weight need not be a mysterious process. You can select a numerical goal like "140 pounds." Just as important, you can also do things to inspire your efforts, like getting an outfit for the body you want and hanging it in your closet. It is mostly about balancing caloric intake against how many calories you burn. Eat better, eat less, move more.
Talking to your coach. Tell your coach once a day, but more often if it helps, that you are mindful of the body that you want. Also mention that you know that getting it involves eating right, exercising, drinking plenty of water, and sleeping right. Making the journal entry will stimulate your thinking. Your coach will ask questions, not expecting an answer, but rather ask questions with ideas to sustain that mindfulness.
