Perfectionists are their own worst enemy. If it isn't perfect, it's no good! Perfectionists can never relax because there's always something they can do to make it better. So learning to deal with perfectionism is important in stress reduction.

How often have you heard your friends say that they are too fat to be seen in a swimsuit? If we don't look like Cindy Crawford, we won't go to the beach. If everyone felt that way the beaches would be empty! Learn to accept YOU and all your imperfections and try to like the way you look even though you aren't model perfect.

A few years ago my husband and I went to the Caribbean for a vacation. We were walking along the beach. I was in my swimsuit (some cellulite, a few extra pounds and inches here and there). We saw a young woman walking towards us. Tall, tan, beautiful face and figure-a fantastic figure-she looked like the girl from Ipanema. And, of course, she was wearing a thong and nothing else. After we passed her (which seemed like an eternity), I turned to my husband, pointed at myself, and said, "Sorry, hon, this is the best it's ever gonna get for you!" And we both had a good laugh.

Hey, I am the best he's ever going to have and that's pretty good. I mean he's not exactly Tom Cruise. I like the way I look because that's the way I look! If I don't look like myself-who will?

We spend so much time trying to look good that we forget about feeling good. We can't even enjoy a walk. We put weights in our hands and on our ankles so the walk has a PURPOSE. Can't have a pleasant walk-not when we can lose five extra calories, be miserable and feel like we accomplished something. If we don't suffer, we have somehow failed! Give yourself permission to enjoy yourself!

We exercise, sweat, and diet like crazy so we can get back to the weight that we used to be when we thought we were fat!

Perfectionists miss out on a lot of fun.