Beyond going to the gym and eating right, we also need to stoke and stroke our body confidence. According to Judith Beck, author of The Beck Diet Solution, feeling great about your body -- no matter its size -- can provide the motivation and energy to actually head to the gym and reach for healthier foods.

In today's Parade, Beck offers four tips to give our negative body-esteem a jolt of positive:

• Don't tie your self-worth to results on the scale: Do I ever need this advice -- sometimes my entire morning mood is controlled by the number that pops up on that blinking digital screen. A heavier daily weigh-in inspires me to reach for more fruits/veggies and go for a jog, but I should not simultaneously allow the scale to spark feelings of self-loathing.
• Stop putting your life on hold: Don't wait to lose the weight before joining the gym or buying new clothes. Stepping out on a 20-minute walk today can jumpstart a host of positive body chemicals to keep you moving toward your dream weight.
• Release the pressure valve: You do not have to workout like Lance Armstrong all the time. I've gotten much better at accepting my occasional bouts of aches and pains and taking a leisurely stroll instead of pounding the pavement on those tough days. Be more forgiving, but modify as needed to keep moving -- safely.
• Congratulations are in order: Okay, maybe like me, you've only lost a couple of measly pounds since your spring shape-up began. Celebrate your progress, whether it's eating less ice cream or losing just a fraction of your body weight. If you're changing diet and exercise behaviors for the better, even on the lazy days when the only good news is you're slurping down water instead of soda while running errands, give yourself credit. It's like throwing a bunch of mini-parties to honor your oft forgotten body confidence!

Source