How to build a positive body image
Our world is obsessed with diets, the latest quick fixes, and unrealistic beauty standards. But you might have noticed over recent years that the anti-diet culture movement is gaining momentum. Many have realised that it’s time to shift our focus from getting as small as we possibly can to actually curating a positive body image. And if we can’t be positive about our bodies, then we at least can try getting to a point where we feel neutral.
It’s time to reject harmful diet culture, cultivate a healthy relationship with yourself, and embrace the body you have! Read on to find 4 ways you can do exactly that!
1. Embrace body diversity
Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and no two are the same. It’s SO important that we recognize beauty is not confined to one single ideal. The body diversity in our society is something for us to celebrate!
Start by appreciating your own beautiful body and what it does for you as well as respecting the diversity in others. No one fits into a mould, it’s about feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin.
2. Say NO to diet culture
Diet culture promotes the idea that your worth is determined by your appearance and that slimming down to the smallest version of yourself - at whatever detriment to your health - is the path to happiness. This is such a damaging cycle that is affecting hundreds of thousands of us and it’s time to break free.
My best advice to you on this is to stop jumping from one fad diet to the next and start nourishing your body with whole foods and moving in a way that you enjoy. Shift your mindset from weight loss to overall well-being and prioritize sustainable habits that support a healthy lifestyle!
3. Be kind to yourself
If you are spending your days looking in the mirror, picking yourself apart, and constantly telling yourself you need to lose weight to be happier, you’re going to be miserable. Building a positive body image starts with self-compassion.
Treat your body with love and respect by looking after yourself. You can practice positive self-talk, challenge negative thoughts that arise, and do things that make you feel good physically and mentally. And remember, your worth is not defined by your appearance but by your unique qualities and strengths that make you who you are.
4. Focus on your health
If you find yourself constantly fixated on achieving a certain size or weight, shift your focus to creating a healthy lifestyle with sustainable habits that work for you. This can mean finding exercise that you enjoy, that energizes you and makes you feel strong. It can be nourishing your body with balanced and nutritious meals that fuel you in the best possible way. Prioritizing your health over size creates the best foundation for you to create a positive body image.
Breaking free from the wrath of diet culture is the first step to embracing a positive body image. By putting all the above into practice you can start to create a better relationship with your body leading to self-acceptance. You are worthy of love and respect just as you are!
If you need guidance on how to work with your mindset and your body together to create sustainable habits you can apply for my 1:1 coaching here, or check out my content on Instagram all around nutrition, exercise, and creating a healthier lifestyle and mindset.
