When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Or
are your first thoughts about dieting and how to rid yourself of that muffin
top? Or how much you "hate" your nose, your hips, the cellulite on
the backs of your thighs? Stop and take a closer look!
Being body confident can help to
improve all areas of your life.
People lives can change when
they make positive changes to their bodies and their health. As people become
fitter and stronger, their posture improves and they seem to grow taller as
they stand up proud.
Improving your fitness and
strength will give you the confidence to try new things such as joining a gym,
going for that new job or even trying new clothes and the great thing is that
you will have the energy and stamina to carry out new activities with real vigor
and zest for life!
Knock-on effects:
Feeling negative about your body
is bad news, but the problem tends not to end there. Body dissatisfaction can
have just as serious an impact on physical and emotional health as excess
weight. There is undoubtedly a link between negative body image and eating
disorders, but body image disturbance is also associated with depression,
anxiety, and social introversion, as well as feelings of low self-esteem,
failure and irritability. That’s a high price to pay for being at war with your
body! But how can we get out of this vicious cycle? Certainly not by dieting,
sweating and pummeling your body into the shape you think it should be…
The body beautiful:
We've probably all spied on
someone walking down the street, turning everyone’s head as she passes. We may
not think that he/she is particularly attractive, but if they feel good about themselves,
they will ooze body confidence and sex appeal. How we see ourselves is not a
reality but an illusion. Body image exists only in our mind’s eye, and it
changes from moment to moment. That’s why you can feel ‘fatter’ ten minutes
after eating a slice of cake, when in actual fact you couldn't possibly look
any different. Accepting this is an important first step in becoming more body
confident. You could then try the following exercises, which will also help you
on your way to boosting your body image.
Get active!
Research shows that people who
regularly exercise generally have better body images than those who don’t.
Experts think this is partly down to being more ‘in touch’ with their bodies
through being active – but exercise also ensures that you experience your body
from the ‘inside’ rather than the ‘outside’, and helps you to appreciate its
myriad abilities. If you exercise more then you’re also likely to become less judgmental
of others’ body shapes and sizes. However, you should beware of seeing physical
activity as simply another way of manipulating your body into how it ‘should’
be
.
Be positive!
Become more familiar with your body – for example by looking
at your body in the mirror after you've had a shower – and focus on aspects of
yourself that you like. Acknowledging something you like about your body will
shift the emphasis away from the bits you may not like. Also, reflect not only
on the parts of your body that you like, but on why you like those bits as
well. This will help to challenge your thought processes on what makes someone
beautiful or acceptable.
Look after yourself:
Spend some time looking after your body and making yourself
look good. You may not be able to slink into a pair of size eight jeans, but
that doesn't mean you can’t have fabulous hair or killer nails! Whether it’s
self-administered care, such as rubbing in a luxurious body lotion or keeping
your legs stubble-free or external maintenance, such as a soothing massage or a
wash and blow dry at the salon, taking care of your body will tell your
subconscious mind that you care about your body and respect it.
When following these tips, remember that boosting your body confidence doesn't mean that you can’t want to lose weight or tone up or improve your
fitness – it simply means that when you do so, you’ll see your body as an ally
rather than as the enemy.
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