Do you consider eating and fitness part of your beauty routine?
Do you consider eating and fitness part of your beauty routine? Why/why not?
It’s not part of my day-to-day, core routine, as in “can’t not do it,” because frankly, I hate exercising. I wish I was one of those people who had to run in order to relax. I wish I was more prone to exercise than going to Starbucks. (Side note: instilling a desire for physical activity in your young one from the get-go will help them so much more in adulthood!!) I do consider eating healthy (or healthier) part of my every day beauty routine. It doesn’t mean I starve myself or I only eat salads; but it means I know I can’t eat macaroni and cheese everyday or have a giant carrot cake all to myself. It means if I want a sliver of birthday cake, I aim for a lower calorie intake on my meals for the day. I’ve struggled with weight my entire life, and I’m about 15 pounds heavier than I’d like to be, so I have been trying to make lifestyle changes in the past few months. I still try and want to be more active, but some days are better than others.
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Unfortunately, I hate exercising also. However, if I DO exercise (and I try) I do tend to start looking different. At first, exercise is horrible for my skin because I break out everywhere and badly :/ But after a bit, my skin tends to clear up and I end up looking more fresh and alive, with more of a flush in my cheeks and that sort of thing.
As far eating, it’s not so much that I consider it part of my beauty routine but there are clear results if I eat healthier that I’m fully aware of. I’d say the smart diet choices I make have much more to do with wanting to avoid disease, pain and suffering brought on by years of bad diet choices. That said, I firmly believe in the notion that eating right causes changes to how one looks. Looking back on photos, I can always tell what kind of diet I had during the period the photo was taken based on how I look. I’ve never had more beautiful, clear and glowing skin and clear, bright eyes and luscious hair than the year of my life that I ate the healthiest and gave up processed foods.
I just started dieting recently. Ive been using caloriecount and already lost 15 pounds in one month. I don’t like exercising but since ive started the pounds are really starting to drop off. If you have an ipod try getting a season of a tv show on it and only watch the episodes when you work out. If you really want to see what happens, work out more. 🙂 I find it helps.If it would make you feel more comfortable in your own skin its worth doing. Im about 60 pounds heavier than I want to be but Im feeling hopeful that I can do it.
I don’t consider it part of my beauty routine but I keep trying to consider them just part of my “regular” routine. I was doing well and getting into exercising a few times a week, but then I got a chest infection that didn’t go away and somehow became asthma, so I’m still trying to get that under control and am afraid of going back to the gym until I’m sure I’m okay 🙁
See, this is a tricky one for me, because I’ve suffered from an eating disorder in the past, so my food intake was, yes, part of my “beauty” regime (in the most warped sense possible), but it was also much more than that.Nowadays I’m mostly recovered, and I like to think that diet and fitness are still part of my beauty regime but in a much healthier way. Not only do I count calories to maintain/lose weight, but I also pay attention to the nutrients in the food I’m eating – just because it’s low calorie doesn’t mean it’s going to be any good for my body! So my beauty regime now includes things like trying to drink plenty of water and eat lots of fresh foods, keeping processed or ready meals to a minimum, and not smoking. I’ve also recently started going to the gym, and I can already start to see a small difference in my muscle tone.So in conclusion (whew), yes eating and fitness are a big part of my beauty regime, but they are an even bigger part of my treating-my-body-well regime! PS – Christine, it may not mean much coming from a total stranger but I think you have a gorgeous figure!
A clean diet, multivitamins, and daily exercise are a large part of my beauty routine, though I do not look at it as a “beauty” routine, per se. Incidentally, as a child, I was slightly overweight and loathed physical activity. I began regular exercise the year after I graduated college (I am now in my 30s), and I am hooked. I have a desk job and need the physical activity at the gym or I go crazy. I enjoy caring for myself in this way, as it helps me psychologically at least as much as it helps me physically. I also struggle with insomnia and it helps me sleep better, helps to manage anxiety, helps me to feel balanced and energetic.
It’s not a part of my beauty routine in the same way that vitamins and water are, but a healthy, realistic diet and exercise are important to me. Even lame little cheats, like not parking near my destination, make it easier to get my 10,000 steps in.
Yes, dieting is my part of beauty routine. I am not into exercise, i just don’t enjoy it like others. I have been struggled with weight for the last 20 years. I enjoy food very much, so i only allow myself to have the comfort/fatty food once/twice in every week. The most of time i only eat low fat salad or turkey sandwich in Subway.
I consider exercise and eating as part of my beauty routine. I do an hour of cardio exercise 5-6 days a week and really watch what I eat. It’s helped me lost ten pounds and tone up nicely. Still want to drop a little more weight, but we’ll see–I’m currently pretty happy where I am.
I used to hate exercising, too and still do at times. But once I get through that first fifteen minutes, I thrive on it. The strain is worth the high after. Great bodies don’t just happen and it is worth all the sweat and sore muscles.
I’m the same way. It’s always way harder getting myself to start exercising than it is to keep going once I get started. Once I get going it’s either enjoyable or at least not that bad.
I guess it’s more accurate to say that I hate starting to exercise. :p
I weigh 15 pounds more than I would like to as well. Some of my girlfriend’s can eat whatever they please! I have to constantly watch what I eat and exercise just to keep from not getting heavy. I can relate to your struggle!
Exercising and eating well for me has always been part of my mental health routine, not beauty routine. I was one of those annoying super active people who couldn’t sit still for a minute and who did not feel mentally nor physically well unless I was getting some form of intense exercise. I used to ride multiple horses in a day, take the dogs for an hour walk, and then run 10 miles for the fun of it. My illnesses have taken a serious toll on me in this regard and my ability to do the things I used to do has changed dramatically. It’s been sheer hell and an enormous challenge for me to overcome. I simply do not know how to go at things halfway and it has changed my very sense of what I am and what I value about myself. Now that my doctors have some control over the progression after almost 4 years, I am able to do light exercising, but not on a daily basis. I must say, my moods have improved and I am also eating better once again. I have never been a person to believe ‘my body is my temple’ which has a somewhat self-absorbed spin to it, but I do believe that exercise and eating well are a big help in the mental heath department. Take the ability away and you will understand what I mean. Now where the hell is this carrot cake?? I have always had a weakness for desserts.
My skin reacts to my stress level and what I eat. I especially try to drink plenty of water to keep my skin hydrated. If I eat too much “junk”, and if I get stressed without taking time to have yoga or pilates, I can guarantee a break-out on my face. So I guess I do! 🙂 As far as weight is concerned, I’ve been free from anorexia/bulemia for about 3 years now, and am at a normal weight for my height. More importantly, I think that what I see in the mirror is beautiful, despite the number on my jeans or the scale 🙂 (Some days are easier than others, overall; I very much get what you’re saying there, Christine.)
” I wish I was more prone to exercise than going to Starbucks.”… this really makes me laugh. 😀 that s so me too! I can’t live without starbucks and am totally addicted to mocha cookie frappuccino at the moment.
I totally get eating and fitness are very important for beauty but it is really hard to put them into life routine and to keep up especially for someone like me who hate all excises and almost all foods which are good for beauty and health. I can’t “force” myself to exercise (tried but fail) but lately i have been “forcing” myself to have one bowl of fruits instead of cakes after lunch..( I totally get how children feel when they have to finish carrot or bracolli on their plates.) and I try to drink more water and less soft drink. I became a bit too thin to my liking because of this change but I have much less spots below my jaw and my skin and lips colour are obviously less dull. I even think my cuticle is less dry too. the best part is I have lots more energy in the night then before. well.. nothing is prefect.. but it totally worth it.
I don’t consider weight issues as part of a “beauty routine,” per se, but it’s absolutely critical to how I feel about myself, my “beauty” and my morale. I’m tiny (5 ft), so any extra weight *really* shows up on me. Even my nose gets bigger and fleshier! (I’m not kidding.) My weight really ties into how I feel about myself; it shouldn’t, but the reality is that it does. Unfortunately, like you, I despise exercising; it feels like being tortured via boredom, and not something that makes me feel better or energized. After being a pudgy teenager and some ups-and-downs as an adult, I’ve finally gotten to where I’m happy with my weight. I’m a size 2 (or a 0 in some brands, 4 in others) on the bottom and I’ve managed it by following my *own* rules about food.
I eat what I want, within reason, when I want and to hell with the usual rules. So, if eating breakfast makes me feel sick, I don’t do it. If I feel like eating at 2 a.m. before going to bed, I do it. That said, I never eat fast food, *never* have soda that’s not diet, usually avoid all processed or pre-made foods, don’t have desserts, only eat chocolate when highly stressed, don’t drink (because it doesn’t help my anxiety, so why incur all those calories?), have a lot of fresh vegetables, don’t eat a lot of heavy red meat, really only eat one *big* meal a day, and have as much bread as my little bread addict heart desires. I’ve actually found that (my version of) the Subway sandwich diet is ideal for me a lot of the times. It fills me up, lets me have my beloved bread, and helps keep the weight off. (Plus, I genuinely love sandwiches!) But, if I feel like having a slice of chocolate cake, I’ll have a small one. If I feel like having a hamburger, I’ll have one. But I’ll make it myself and sometimes have it be a turkey burger. All that said, I *do* live a lot on Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke. I have *SO* much (like 4 liters a day!) that I get endless lectures about it. I know it’s not great to have so much aspartame/Nutrasweet but…. <shrug> I like it, I’m happy with where I am and I would drink that much regardless of whether I was 50 pounds or 500.
One last thing: I think quantity control is key. IMO, it doesn’t always help one, psychologically, to totally deny yourself something; verboten food just becomes more alluring and makes subsequent restraint harder. For me, it works much better being able to eat everything but in small amounts. So, if I want those French fries or fried calamari, I’ll have a handful and then either physically remove them or myself. BTW, I am NOT saying any of this will work for others. Food and dieting are personal, and subject to a whole *host* of factors, from lifestyle, work schedules, body metabolisms, genetics, health issues, etc. But this is what works for *me.*
@Kafka I do agree that severely limiting diets can be really hard – some people thrive on rules, but for a lot, it seems to enhance the cravings (psychologically). I did Atkins for 3 or 4 years, and Atkins was a pretty easy diet to do, honestly! I lost 45 pounds on Atkins, and it took me about 5 years to gain back 20 of those–and for awhile, I really wasn’t watching what I was eating. (Part of me was like, “It was so worth it!”)
Watching how much I’m eating and making healthier than not choices seems to be a good happy medium for me. I don’t even feel like I’m on a diet – and that’s OK, even if I lose weight a little slower than a more aggressive diet. I want to make lifestyle changes.
Tonight we’ll be having Indian for dinner, which means lunch will be a small, lower calorie endeavor 😉
@Christine (Temptalia) You clearly are NOT a bread addict or you could never do Atkins! <grin> The thought of being without my beloved bread horrifies me to the point that I even travel with a loaf in my suitcase, just in case. ROFL.
I think it’s really smart that you avoid aggressive or extreme diets. The sort of weight loss one gets from them always comes back, sometimes two-fold. Lifestyle changes are definitely the way to go. One thing though about the exercising: though you hate it, you did seem very happy when playing tennis a few times a week. Hopefully you can go back to that soon or at least when it gets cooler. And enjoy your Indian food tonight. It’s one of my favorite cuisines. Lamb Saag. Mmm. And the bread, the bread! Aloo parathas and naan. <swallows saliva> 😉
@Kafka I loveee bread and pasta! I also love juice, which was hard to give up.
I could eat Indian food everyday. I don’t like rice as much as naan, so I usually eat primarily with naan and skip the rice 😉
Hey Christine, your response really mimics the way I feel. I try to eat healthy, but I know that life happens and if it’s my best friend’s birthday and we’re going out for dinner, I eat healthier for the rest of the day. I found that exercise was always the last priority for me, because it didnt make me feel that great. At the end of a long school day, All I wanted to do was go home, watch tv, and then get some sleep. I found that once I was done school, I was able to try things I liked (hot yoga, got back into dance) and then i started going to the dreaded gym. But I like the strength that I’m gaining, and I get a real sense of satisfaction with being able to do things I’ve never done before, like being able to hold a pose in yoga instead of falling on my face (literally. smacked down on the floor…). I’ve been doing this for about 6 months, and strangely, haven’t lost a pound. But my body shape has changed, and I feel so much better about myself. Even though I should be 15 pounds lighter to be at the average BMI for my body, and am still technically classified as overweight, I am happy.
My diet is key to maintaining clear skin…unfortunately. I have to eat clean, so no simple carbs, dairy or soy. Eating clean helps control my weight, but I run and lift regularly. If I don’t workout, my clothes fit tighter, I’m more self-conscious and it won’t matter how my makeup looks.
I’ve always been pretty active. My entire life, I did three types of dance, figure skating, and soccer. Eventually I chose to commit to just one and in the summer seasons (“off” season) I noticed my energy levels completely plummit and along with it, my skin! That was sort of my breaking point when I realized that healthy eating and exercising would help me look my best as well. I try my best to eat healthy but more than anything, I try to get out and walk or run whenever I run.
Yes!!! Exercise and diet affect your skin in such a big way. Also I feel more beautiful when my body feels healthy.
Christine, I can’t help but commend your honesty. =) Stay beautiful. =)
Yes, definitely. I try to exercise as much as I can (and that amount changes depending on whether or not I’m at school, at home, or jumping between internships in between, like I am now!). I love how exercise makes me feel afterwards, even if I don’t absolutely *love* doing it. I try to be careful with my diet — I became lactose intolerant over a year ago, and I noticed that once I started avoiding/eliminating dairy from my diet I dropped about eight pounds fairly quickly. My weight’s gotten worse since I’ve started working a full-time job (and an hour+ commute each way), since it’s so hard to fit in time to exercise, so I’m looking forward to having a little bit of vacation before I go back to school where I can get back into the exercise groove!
Yes, but i still need to more than than I do. Diet and exercise affects my skin so much.
I exercise off and on just enough to keep my body looking good, in the past I use to be a fitness nut but I’m not so extreme now
Christine, you are beautiful. Inside and out. Girls, and guys, you are beautiful, too.
What I want to add to this topic…If you can’t lose weight, and changing up your exercise and diet doesn’t seem to be working, and you feel like there is something wrong…GO TO YOUR DOCTOR, and DO NOT let them bully you. If you think something may be wrong, there probably is something wrong.
Exercise and diet are definitely parts of a “beauty” routine, but more importantly they are parts of health.
Definitely they are part of my beauty routine but also for my health it needs to come from inside . I also think /belive that you heart ( soul) makes you also beautiful.
Not really, although I know I should be eating better and exercising. Being healthy is always beautiful. The only thing I’m trying to do right now is eat less dairy and refined carbs because evidence is mounting that those things really can aggravate acne.
I do my best in eating well and exercising for the sake of my health and well-being. If I feel like I look more attractive because of it as well, awesome.
I am an athlete (competitive swimmer), so I have to go swim at least 2 hours Monday-Friday, weight training if I have time and if I don’t have 10 hours a week in, I have to make up going to Saturday. I have to eat healthy too. But that’s not really part of a beauty routine for me. Rather it severely affects my beauty routine because I have to waterproof everything. I don’t wear make-up as much because it’s bad to wear foundation doing workouts and even if I’m going into water- it’s going to come off. And I have to take care of my natural skin.That and the chlorine dries out your skin… and the swim caps tugging at my hair when I take them off resulting in split ends on top of my chlorine damaged hair!
I do wear some make-up, but that’s only in competition, with a waterproof eyeliner. But barely even on the weekends… kinda sad because I like to start putting some more on.