In this world we live in today, it almost feels impossible at times to have positive body image. Now, no single article will help turn all those negative thoughts into positive body image, but hopefully this will help support your journey there.
Positive Body Image in Focus
Part of us KNOWS that most (or all) photos and advertisements out there have layers of filters and edits over the real thing… but after being exposed to all these perfected images from early on whether it be on TV, on billboards, or now even all over social media — we tend to internalize them as real, attainable, and the only way to be “right”. And it almost seems hopeless to have positive body image with your imperfect life.
It almost seems like a daily battle of having to continually remind yourself that it’s not real, to somehow find love for your own body and life. And even when you remind yourself of the artificiality of them, it doesn’t help the case for the negative self talk going on in your mind. “If only….” Fill in the blank with that body, that life, that relationship — that you see someone else have on social media and find yourself secretly envious of.
Not any single one thing I say will give you instant positive body image, but through being a normal woman growing up in this society and having my own insecurities, I’ve discovered some things that have really helped me. And as a dietitian and 1-1 coach to people online, I’ve also had to help many of my clients overcome this exact thing, and seen these strategies help a lot! But as a disclaimer, it doesn’t happen overnight. And it doesn’t mean you still won’t have days where you don’t feel great about your own body.
One thing I DO want to note as a dietitian, as a life/business coach to many online, and simple one who loves helping people reach their potential: Now focusing on positive body image doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to take care of your body through daily movement and nutrition — or that you shouldn’t try to become a better version of yourself. I think ALL of us always have room to grow and get better — and we should want to work on ourselves constantly! But I’ve come to feel that loving yourself and desiring to change yourself for the better are two sentiments that should be able to peacefully coexist. It’s just about wanting to become a better version of YOU versus trying to become somebody else. 🙂
But let’s get to the good stuff and discuss the
Top Ten Strategies for Positive Body Image
that I’ve seen really help both my clients and myself
See yourself as a whole
Rather than an object with certain physical qualities, focus on yourself as a whole human being. One that has a lot going for them in many different areas. One that has purpose. One that has special talents that can help people in ways that no one else can. Try to prevent yourself from picking out little things that “aren’t quite right” about your body that you rather have different, and instead, see yourself as a beautiful whole!
I made a video about that right here:
Be mindful of & combat negative self talk
Be mindful of negative self talk that goes on in your mind about your size, shape, flaws — or even others’ appearances. Sometimes we are so used to it, that we don’t even recognize how often we do it! The first step in ending it, is to become aware and mindful of it. Then, combat it with positive statements about yourself! Yes, even when you don’t feel like. When I was stuck in a very negative valley mentally, I’ve some close people in my life make me combat every negative thought with 5 positive thoughts/statements out loud. And even though I felt silly for saying positive things and hardly even believed them as true, the power of your thoughts and words are very powerful — and will eventually take residence as truth in your life!
Choose health over dieting
Instead of falling into diets like “lose 10lbs in a week”, create a sustainable, healthy lifestyle through regular movement & nutritious foods, that is individualized to your specific schedule, preferences, likes and goals. This is what I do with my 1-1 clients as a dietitian and trainer, and it makes it WAY more fun, encouraging, and healthy to work on a better version of yourself this way.
Be concerned with being pretty
Well, pretty strong, pretty caring, pretty loving, pretty encouraging that is — rather than just being focused on being pretty 🙂 Hopefully got your attention with that subtitle. But we get SO caught up in being pretty, why not harness in that energy and point it towards being pretty awesome in other areas.
Create a healthy WHY of exercising
Have a WHY for moving your body that goes deeper than just losing weight. Focus on being STRONG instead of skinny. Focus on doing it to challenge yourself and in order to feel strong, instead of just to get skinny or lose weight.
I created a video on finding your WHY right here!
Focus on what matters in others
In conversation, don’t focus on appearance – give compliments that go way past someone’s physical qualities. When you’re focusing on other attributes and qualities in others, such as their personality, their humor, their ability to love, to serve, to help others in specific ways, you’ll begin focusing on those qualities in yourself more too (instead of only the ones you can see in the mirror).
Clean your feeds
Do a “feed cleaning” instead of spring cleaning. Unfollow any social accounts that make you feel bad about yourself, and find accounts that focus on body positivity through hashtags like #selflove #bodypositivity and others. If you find yourself feeling negative about your body or life after scrolling — it’s a sign you need to do some cleaning. There are SO many great people out there and things I love about social media, but it’s just important to push out the bad with the good.
One time, I did a social media detox of actually getting OFF COMPLETELY, for one month. Even the business side for me. It was the best experience ever, which you can hear more about here.
Love what is unique
Being body positive goes way past weight. Begin admiring and loving all the thing that make you unique: your freckles, dimples, yes even stretch marks, and all the other imperfections or “beauty marks” as I like to call them, that make you, YOU!
Check out this post for some good quotes to reframe that mindset 🙂
Remember that filters and apps exist
It’s always a good reminder that most photos you see, yes even those from “that perfect girl on IG”, use filters and editing apps. No one is perfect. And most of the people in their photos don’t even look like their photos themselves in person. Try not to get caught in comparing your behind the scenes, unedited self, with others’ highlight reels.
Create a winning environment
Who you surround yourself, both in person and virtually, matters A LOT! Make sure you’re picking people to hangout with and follow that talk positivity about themselves and others, along with simply make you feel happy, and encouraged. If they aren’t bringing you up, they’re bringing you down, whether you realize it or not!
My family, fiance, closest friends, and entrepreneurial masterminds/coaches I surround myself with, do that for me! Who are YOU surrounding yourself with?
BONUS:
I have a pretty cool announcement. I launched my own store! And to help remind you weekly that it’s all about progress and not perfection, I invite you to purchase a tank or tee you can wear – as you DECLARE SELF LOVE, no matter what part of the journey you’re at <3 But shhhh, only you who are part of the blog community have heard about it yet! I haven’t talked publicly about it yet anywhere else!
(there’s lots of colors and other options available if you click right here!)
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Summary on positive body image:
Actual body positivity isn’t reserved for people under a certain size, or people who eat or exercise a certain way. It’s not just for people with curves or people without them. Actual body positivity includes everyone.
No matter what body you have, it’s important to work against the “normal” feelings and insecurities we all have – and push out the negative with the positive – rooting yourself in what truly matters. Yes, take care of your body through nutrition, daily movement, and other self improvement habits/routines. But do it in the name of becoming a better version of yourself instead of feeling you need to become somebody else or need to “fix” something. It’s ok to have days you don’t feel so great about your body, that’s normal. The important part is not letting those feelings and emotions take residence in your mind. Keep them as visitors, and shorten their stay by pushing them out with positive self talk, and surrounding yourself with the right people.
Hope this helps you in your journey to self love and positive body image! I’d love to hear from you by coming over to the FreshFitNHealthy insta community and letting me know how this helped or what you’re committing to applying from this!
About the author:
Sarah Grace Spann is a registered dietitian, personal trainer, author, believer and founder of the healthy lifestyle blog and Instagram account Fresh Fit N Healthy. After realizing that she wanted to create a greater impact globally, Sarah Grace decided to step away from the typical dietitian route and instead created her own business online by offering 1-1 health coaching. After finding quick success with that business, she formed business, lifestyle, and branding mentorship programs as well.
She now works privately with clients worldwide in creating their best lives and reaching their potential, while she also builds and sells online courses, e-products, and physical goods such as her new fitness 12-week journal. She consistently shares free content on her blog, Instagram and youtube channel to help people rediscover what it truly means to live a healthy lifestyle.
Find her on IG: @freshfitnhealthy, and her blog, www.freshfitnhealthy.com