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In honor of National Women’s Health Week, let’s chat more about health and what it means to us.

Another part of being healthy, I think, is listening to your gut.

You know how we try to tune into our bodies’ internal cues of hunger and satiety, and respond accordingly?

Well, it’s also important to tune into our inner voice when it comes to life in general.

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Do you know what today is?

It’s the third day of National Women’s Health Week! Which is:

“…a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2011 is ‘It’s Your Time.’”

So today I wanted to talk about what it means to be healthy.

Of course, I think the definition is individual. I also think that it’s important to take some time regularly to consider what being healthy means to you and to assess if you’re living your version of a healthy life.

Mondays can be rough for many of us, and this doesn’t create the ideal environment for building a better body image. To help you turn that around, every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit to help boost your body image – and kick-start the week on a positive note.

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

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When your body image is in the pits, it’s safe to say that you probably hate having your picture taken.

I can relate – a lot.

I’d think to myself, “See, that clearly proves how big, ugly (insert other negative words) I really look.”

It was painful to look at my picture. I’d always find a flaw, or two, or five.

Dieting is not only unhealthy, but it makes us deeply distrust ourselves. Which I think is one of the saddest consequences.

That’s why I’m thrilled to highlight International No Diet Day – which is today!  It was started in 1992 by Mary Evans Young in England. And now is celebrated all over the world.

Sharon Haywood, co-editor of Adios Barbie, has a fantastic post on the site about this day. It gives readers more details about the day and what it means – and why dieting is damaging.

She writes:

Since 1992, May 6th has been designated International No Diet Day (INDD). This body-loving campaign is associated with combating eating disorders and honoring the people who have suffered because of one. For this day, we can thank Mary Evans Young, a UK feminist, the founder of the British anti-diet movement, Diet Breakers, and author of the best-selling book, Diet Breaking: Having It All Without Having To Diet (Hodder & Stoughton, 1995).  She started INDD after recovering from anorexia, although the day isn’t just about eating disorders. This movement draws attention to the fact that a great many of us suffer from disordered thinking regarding food and our bodies, not just those afflicted with anorexia and bulimia.

INDD is more about not depriving yourself for a 24-hour period. It beckons you to make peace with your body and your relationship with food. And not only for your mental health. Various studies show that yo-yo dieting has been found to be damaging to one’s physical health in conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, and clogged arteries.[1] What’s more is that investigators have evidence that illustrate a significant correlation between thinness and shorter lives.[2]

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I was inspired by Jenna’s post yesterday at Eat Live Run about the 25 things she’s learned in her 25 years.

Since I’m the big 2-8, I figured I’d list 28 things that I know to be true both about body image and life.

Be sure to check out Jenna’s post! It’s wise and hilarious.

I really enjoyed writing this. (Hopefully, you’ll enjoy reading it! )

1. Forget about being clever or cool. Just strive to be you. (Pretending has never worked for me. Trust me, I tried, but I just end up feeling and looking really awkward.)

2. Eat what your heart, mind and body desire. Sure, sometimes, it’s tough to tell, but if you truly listen, you’ll hear what you want.

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After my dad’s passing in August of ’09, I’d say that for the most part, I’m OK.

I go about my day just fine. Create a to-do list. Happily check items off. Take breaks. Go work out. Run errands. Hang with loved ones. And live life.

But sometimes the grief breaks through.

And I have to tell myself to save it because I can’t fall apart right now. I have things to do.

We’ve talked before on Weightless about the importance of feeling our feelings. That we emerge liberated, relieved and unstuck. Unburdened. The overwhelming release from your brain and body.

Mondays can be rough for many of us, and this doesn’t create the ideal environment for building a better body image. To help you turn that around, every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit to help boost your body image – and kick-start the week on a positive note.

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

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We’ve already talked many times about the importance of self-love for a positive body image. Of course, self-love is important for all areas of our lives.

Without self-love, we might be stuck, feeling negative, making choices that don’t suit us (or worse dishonor us), over-stretching ourselves (and not respecting our boundaries) and just not taking fantastic care of ourselves.