Creating a Positive Body Image

Hey Everybody!

Today I am going to talk about what most of us don’t have and that is positive body image. I won’t lie I struggle with this every single day BUT I am getting better at it. I know so many people that I think look unbelievable that look at themselves and think the opposite.

This is hard for me to share but I saw this Victoria’s Secret ad and while I was in Hawaii last year, I decided to recreate it. When I saw the pictures of me, I wanted to cry. It honestly made me depressed. Here I was the most fit I have been in my entire life. I looked NOTHING like the girl but guess what, I’m not her. Nor will I ever be and that is just fine!

It’s so easy to compare yourself to others but guess what? You will NEVER look like any one else. You physically can’t! Your DNA is completely different from anyone else. So, we need to learn how to love our own bodies. Do you know how many people look at your body and wish they had what you have? Yes, I am talking to YOU. I know that so many people would! I know this because of my own experiences. I have looked at pictures that I have even posted and had the thoughts, “wow I don’t even look like I workout” or “look how fat my stomach looks”.  On these same pictures I get comments like: “abs of steel” or “you are always so gorgeous”.  I am definitely not telling you this to brag, it’s the simple truth. So many people would kill to have your body and on the other aspect of things there will ALWAYS be someone that you think looks better than you!

Our bodies are incredible!! Think of all the amazing things they do on their own, without you even thinking about it. They break down what we put into it and turn it into energy. They can create and develop another human. They can regulate their own temperature. They can heal themselves over time. We have our senses. We can hear, taste, smell, touch, and see! We can learn anything; our minds are so powerful. That is only to name a few!!

So how can we learn to appreciate our bodies?

Here are a few things that I do:

• Give yourself credit!
  • When I lift more at the gym than I did the week before, I celebrate! I am getting stronger each day!
• Stop the negative self-talk
  • When I look at myself in the mirror and have a negative thought pop into my head. I shut it down immediately. I replace it with something like “I am beautiful” or “I am not defined by my body”
  • Focus on what you love about yourself
• Replace your comments with compliments you’ve gotten
  • I look so fat : I have abs of steel!
• Remember that no one is perfect
  • That girl you think has the perfect body is struggling just like you!
  • Also, they are most likely using a filter or editing
• Practice positive affirmations
  • Check out my post on this (it deserves its own page)

I love the quote “To me, beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It’s about knowing and accepting who you are”. I challenge you to try these things for a week and see how it works for you. I promise that over time these things really can help you!

Give me some tips that you use to combat this in the comments below! I would love to hear them!

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