Improve your Body Image

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TV and magazines showcase fashion models and celebrities with “perfect” bodies and faces.  These women and men that we see glamorized in the media do not accurately represent the way most other people are.  They have personal trainers, spend hours at the gym & salon, have stylists who choose their clothing to fit their bodies perfectly, and more often than not are STILL airbrushed or “touched up” in some way to look even more perfect than they really are.

I saw a video awhile back that showed how much they modify the photos of the Victoria’s Secret models before the catalogue goes to print and I found it absolutely shocking.  Not only were they airbrushing the models, but they were actually cropping away small parts from their waist, thighs, etc, lengthening and stretching parts of the photo to make the models’ legs look longer, and on and on. It’s no wonder our body image can get damaged when we compare our bodies to bodies that don’t even truly exist in reality!

To put a more realistic spin on things try taking a look at some real women and men. The next time you are the grocery store shopping or out for a drink with friends glance around you and notice everyone else’s bodies. Now, it’s not healthy to compare yourself to others, but it’s OK to notice the world around you. You’ll see a wide variety of body shapes, heights, weights, bust sizes, muscle tone, etc. etc. You’ll also probably notice there are no “perfect” bodies or faces anywhere to be seen.  The next time you are feeling down about your body think back to reality instead of the make-believe world presented by the media.

Here are a few more tips on how to improve your body image:

1. Buy and wear clothes that fit and compliment the body shape you have rather than the body shape you want. Any size or shape of body can look fantastic when it is dressed correctly. Trying to fit into clothes that are too small or too revealing can make your body image worse by making you feel fat or unattractive, or making you feel larger than you actually are. On the other hand, wearing clothes that compliment your body, show off your best features and make you feel comfortable and attractive can go a long way toward improving your body image. Check out our article on dressing for your body shape in our fashion section for tips.

2. Exercise doing something fun that you enjoy. If you like walking, take a walk in a beautiful park. If you like to rollerblade, go rollerblading. It doesn't have to be anything stressful or difficult - just something that gets you out and moving a little. Exercise not only is good for your body, but it is good for your mind and can help you to think more clearly and have more energy. When you do exercise, focus on how much better and happier you are going to feel instead of making exercise about losing weight or changing your body. There's no better mood lifter than exercise!

3. Lose your scale. If you are the type of person who weighs themselves often and puts a lot of importance on the numbers on the scale, this can really hurt your self esteem. Instead of weighing yourself focus on how you feel in your body and all the amazing things your body is capable of. Appreciate all the things you can do with your body and love your body for what it is capable of instead of for how much it weighs.

4. Find one thing that you like about your appearance...it can be anything - your eyes, your fingernails, your ankles, etc. Spend time each day admiring this part of yourself and focusing on it. Think of that part of yourself often and feel proud of it, especially when you start to have negative thoughts about any other part of yourself. Gradually try to increase the parts of your body that you like and stay focused on those things instead of on the parts you don't like.

5. Pamper yourself and take care of the body you have. By treating your body with love and kindness instead of with hatred your feelings toward it will gradually change to a more positive view. Get fancy lotion, take a long hot bath, get a massage. Your body does so many things for you that it is only fair that you treat in with love, respect and kindness in return.