Research shows health and body image are important to how rate our own beauty. These 7 steps to a positive body image show you how to love your body, yourself and your natural beauty.
We’ve put together 7 healthy tips to switch body image loathers back to body image lovers!
Feel positive about yourself as a whole person
Don’t dwell on your imperfections, or the occasional diet slip up – instead concentrate on your good points, and your achievements. Are you a good friend? Is there a particular hobby you’re good at? Is there something you’ve been successful at? By focusing on your good traits and achievements, you’ll begin to feel good about yourself, your health and your body again.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to lose weight too fast
For a healthy weight loss, you should be aiming to lose 1kg or under from your body per week. Try some gentle lifestyle changes to boost your new routine.
Hide those scales – don’t check your body weight daily
We recommend you weigh yourself once a week. Resist the temptation to weigh yourself every day, as this will only cause you distress – as your body weight can fluctuate drastically throughout the day and week due to water retention, etc – regardless of any weight your may be losing. And be wary of behaviours that can affect your weight loss .
Try to fit in healthy exercise regularly
Studies have shown that endorphins (‘feel good’ hormones) are released during healthy exercise and can boost your confidence, lift your mood and may help to make you feel better about yourself and your body. Taking part in some sort of regular exercise may also help you feel less anxious about food and more positive about your body. Choose something you will enjoy or try something new and challenging for your body, such as yoga, meditation, pilates or dance. You never know – you may have a hidden talent! Just remember to drink plenty of water .
Surround yourself with people who love you…
…for who you are regardless, who will help to boost your confidence and make you feel good about yourself and your body. If you find your friends are unsupportive of your health and diet plan, or make you feel uncomfortable – they are not true friends. Give toxic friends the boot and find new ones!
Try to be realistic about your body…
…and come to terms with the shape and size your body is meant to be. We all have a natural body shape that is influenced by our genes. Wear clothes that complement your body . If you’re having a bad day, try wearing your favourite outfit as this will help lift your confidence and make you feel better and healthier. An instant body image booster!
Don’t let the media influence your body image
We’re constantly bombarded with images of beautiful thin models or celebrity mums who’ve already got their pre-baby body back in glossy magazines, on television and on billboards. These images can distort our image of what the ‘ideal’ person is supposed to be, and are not an accurate representation of a healthy body or body image. When you look at those mags remind yourself: the photographs will no doubt have been air-brushed to reduce inches from waists or thighs, and remove any imperfections the celebrities may have too. And they really do have them.
If you continue to tell yourself something, you’ll soon start to believe it’s true – so say to yourself every day: ‘I love my body’. It may sound silly at first, but you have to believe it to change your attitude. Positive thinking works! So take some time out and start loving your body now!
What’s your top tip for feeling confident with your body?
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There are some fantastic tips here and although I’ve now had two children and only 10 months post partum, I feel relatively happy with my body as it is. I would like to get more exercise in though and could definitely do with a little toning up especially as summer is now here.
It gets so hard with social media as well, we have people defining what body image is supposed to be like and information, or comments and the like can cut as quick as when spoken. I love the point here that says to surround yourself with people that love you because these are the people who know who you are inside and out.
This is a great read, I was really bad at stepping on the scales on a daily basis but have now grown to love my body just the way it is. My hubby always tells me my body is beautiful (stretch Mark’s and all), it grew and
gave life to our 3 precious kids. My tip is to surround yourself with positive people who love you for who you are not how you look.
Yes i agree… time to accept and be happy with oneself. Good health is important but so is being content in your own skin…both are equally important.
My top tip is – stop comparing yourself with others.
I turn 48 in Dec and am really starting to think more like “who cares what people think!” I try clothes on now and when I used to think mutton dressed as lamb, or I’m too old for this – I know go, you know what? Who gives a toss, if I like it I’ll wear it!! Need to really care less and be happy!!!!
Before you can love others you have to love yourself. Before you can look after others you have to look after yourself. You need to take time to look after yourself, rest, eat when you need to. You can’t run a car when its got no fuel in it so how can you run your body if you don’t look after it?
This is a great article, I dont like the way I look most of the time, having 6 big babies has taken a toll and everything seems to be stretched out of shape, I have to remember to stay positive and not to expect too much at once, its a gradual process!
I love all these tips they are very true. It’s hard not to step on the scales though and check your weight too. My top tip is exercising is important and we try and go for walks on the country roads and staying positive, fresh air is great. If you sit inside all the time I think you tend to think about the negatives more than positives.
These tips are so good.. And so true! I need to remind myself of a few of them.. I have a very distorted view of my body and it can get in the way of losing weight successfully and self esteem deff could do with a boost… I liked how the article said to focus on the good things about yourself and this will in turn help to feel better about your body.
My top tip would be to not care who says anything or judges you for your weight as we are all our own person and some people have medical reasons as to why they are bigger so why not just let people live their life and be happy. I loved this read as I’m going to start getting into the gym side of things with my husband so this was a great read and Love the part saying don’t look at the scales each day because thats my biggest fall.