Everyone struggles with body image. Even men. They may not say it but they do.
There are so many issues that we can struggle with. Height, weight, hair color, winter white skin, hair in places we would rather not have it. Thanks dad for the dark hair on my arms.
Those beautiful girls in school who seem to have all the friends. Or the women who you think are prettier then you or you wish you had their body go through the same thing.
Even girls who seem to have perfect bodies struggle with the way they look on the outside. If you ask any one of if they love every part of their body I am willing to bet they would hesitate.
The New Body Positivity
When it comes to body image today the message is telling women that they are beautiful and you are enough the way they are. Which is true. You are enough and you were created by the only one who matters.
BUT I also think it is our job to take care of the body we are given.
I want to give you some actionable steps you can take to pull your self out of that feeling of darkness.
Figure Out Why You Are Struggling With Body Image
You are ignoring the problem if you are pushing your feelings aside.
What triggered that icky feeling. You know the one. Sometimes they last for a day and other times it lasts for a few weeks. Nothing really changed but your opinion of yourself fell through the floor.
Ask yourself why are you feeling this way? Are you wanting to look good for someone else? Is it something someone said that causes you to feel that way?
It could have been things that people said or did not say to you as a child. Whatever the reason I want you to dig deep and find out why you are having those negative thoughts about yourself.
There is a saying that I heard on a podcast that I highly recommend you try out that goes like this.
“Our thoughts cause our feelings, which cause our actions that cause our results.”
So to break it down into more simple terms, the things you are thinking cause the way you feel. You can’t have a feeling without a thought that causes it. The way you feel causes what you do and the things you do cause the results of your actions.
So for example, if you are trying on clothes at a store and you think to yourself you are too tall or the clothes are not fitting your curves quite right. Those thoughts are causing yourself to feel bad about yourself. Those bad feelings make you go home and indulge in a big container if ice-cream.
Then that adds to your feeling of insecurities.
Do You REALLY Want What They Have
Do you really want a body that looks like that? Will your life allow for the time it takes to get the definition you are craving? I know for me I don’t care if I can do pushups or some crazy lung through thing.
A perfect example is those fully toned people on the workout videos. They are so defined and the things they can do seem almost impossible. You want to be like that and start the workouts and a few weeks later you are feeling defeated. What is easy to overlook is that they realizing that it is their JOB to look like that.
Really look at their body structure and shape. Is that something you really want? Some of them have more muscles then they need for day to day life. The work and time it took for them to get there is more then you or I can do in this season of our life. We have a home to manage and bills to pay
Sometimes the things we covet are not things we can realistically attain. Or want to for that matter. We beat our self up for trying to do things that are not possible for us to do.
Tips To Change Your View Of Body Image
Like I said before sometimes those feelings will last for a day and other times it will last for a few weeks. Sometimes you just have to ride out the feelings of not loving out selves and other times we need to take steps to make ourselves feel better. So here are some of my favorite things to do.
Essential oils
here are several options and you have to see which ones work for you. To decide which brand is right for you, I would suggest doing some research and seeing which ones stand out to you. Just remember that expensive does not always mean better.
Find an oil that will help uplift your mood and even give some energy.
Healthy Food
If you are feeling like you are a size bigger then you should be (hint- it does not mean you are. We all feel that way sometimes. ) I want you to go find a healthy snack that you can have the next time you are hungry. Tip- Before you eat your next meal don’t eat just because food is on your mind. Push yourself to wait till you actually feel a slight hunger. Not until you are to the level of starving because you will over eat if this is the case.
Don’t want to forget this information? Save it to your favorite Pinterest board with the image below so you can find it later.
Purge The Junk
Get the crap out of reach This will make a HUGE impact on you body image and how you feel. If you don’t have the bed foods in reach you can’t eat them. It is far easier to resist bad foods at the store because you are going to have to pay for them before you can eat them. But if they are in your home there is nothing stopping you.
It is ok to have some stacks but don’t have a never-ending supply. My husband eats so much processed food it is not even funny. But he is also a natural six-pack which is VERY annoying. Anything he eats, for the most part, goes to work and sits in his drawer.
Get Up And Move
Now I am not talking about a workout. Just go for a walk or find a way to stand up while you are doing something that is otherwise sitting.
Being a blogger and running a business online I am on the computer A LOT so I try to put my laptop on the counter so I am not sitting all day. Get creative and find ways to put more action in your day.
If you get to the point of doing a work out then do it. There is nothing wrong with that.
Beauty Routine
If you are just feeling blah and you have a little bit of time? Go take a shower, do your nails and put fresh makeup on curl your hair if that is something you like. As my dad would say beautify yourself. Do things that make yourself feel good about the way you look.
There is nothing wrong with making yourself feel good for you.
Related post: Simple self care and how to make yourself feel beautiful.
We all struggle with body image no matter the shape or clothing size. When those moments come don’t beat yourself up for feeling bad. Don’t let those feeling ruin your day. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
Love who you are but if you are feeling not so in love with your body then take action.
