10 Steps to Positive Body Image

I found this list on the National Eating Disorders Association website. It's helped me, and I hope it can help you too! This list can help you think of new ways to look more healthfully and happily at your body! The more you do that, the more likely you are to feel good about who you are and the body you naturally have.

1. Appreciate all that your body can do. Every day your body carries you closer to your dreams. Celebrate all of the amazing things your body does for you --running, dancing, breathing, laughing, dreaming, etc.

2. Keep a top 10 list of things you like about yourself -- things that aren't related to how much you weigh or what you look like. Read your list often. Add to it as you become aware of more things to like about you.

3. Remind yourself that "true beauty" is not simply skin-deep. When you feel good about yourself and who you are, you carry hourself with a sense of confidence, self-acceptance, and openness that makes you beautiful regardless of whether you physically look like a supermodel. Beauty is a state of mind, not a statue of your body.

4. Look at yourself as a whole person. It's easier to feel good about yourself and your body when you are around others who are supportive and who recognize the importance of liking yourself just as you naturally are.

5. Surround yourself with positive people. It is easier to feel good about yourself and your body when you are around others who are supportive and who recognize the importance of liking yourself just as you naturally are.

6. Shut down those voices in your head that tell you your body is not "right" or that you are a "bad" person. You can overpower those negative thoughts with positive ones. The next time you start to tear yourself down, build yourself back up with a few quick affirmations that work for you.

7. Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you feel good about your body. Work with your body, not against it.

8. Become a critical viewer of social and media messages. Pay attention to images, slogans, or attitudes that make you feel bad about yourself or your body. Protest these messages: write a letter to the advertiser or talk back to the image or message.

9. Do something nice for yourself -- something that lets your body know you appreciate it. Take a bubble bath, make time for a nap, find a peaceful place outside to relax.

10. Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying about food, calories, and your weight to do something to help others. Sometimes reaching out to other people can help you feel better about yourself and can make a positive change in our world.

*This list was taken from the NEDA, where they grant permission for this information to be reprinted or copied for educational purposes.
"National Eating Disorders Association." National Eating Disorders Association. 2005. Web. 03 June 2012. <http://www.NationalEatingDisorders.org/>.

Sign the Seventeen Body Peace Treaty

I just signed the Seventeen Body Peace Treaty, where I pledged to do things like:

• Stop joining in when my friends compare and trash their own bodies
• Not let my size define me. It’s far better to focus on how awesome I look in my jeans than the number on the tag
• Respect my body by feeding it well, working up a sweat when it needs it, and knowing when to give it a break
• Remember that even the girl who I'd swap bodies with in a minute has something about her looks that she hates

... and more! Take the body peace treaty with me, you'll feel empowered and ready to take on the world! :)

To take the Seventeen Body Peace Treaty, go to: http://www.seventeen.com/health/tips/body-peace-pledge

Own it Girls!

Ellen DeGeneres talks to the beautiful plus-size models featured in Glamour magazine a few years ago. I love how she emphasizes the fact that they represent REAL women, or the "average" woman. These women are healthy and confident with who they are and continue to inspire women everywhere. Ellen also tells the crowd that they are not supporting being unhealthy, but reminds them that these plus-size models are healthy and that women come in all shapes and sizes.

So what is body image anyways??

Body image is...

• How you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind
• What you believe about your own appearance (that includes your assumptions, memories, and generalizations)
• How you feel about your height, shape, and weight
• How you sense and control your body as you move (how you feel in your body, not just about your body

Negative body image is...

• A distorted perception of your shape-- when you perceive parts of your body unlike they really are
• You are convinced that only other people are attractive and that your body size or shape is a sign of personal failure
• You feel ashamed, self-conscious and anxious about your body
• You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body

Positive body image is...

• A clear, true perception of your shape--you see the various parts of your body as they really are
• You celebrate and appreciate your natural body shape and you understand that a person's physical appearance says very little about their character and value as a person
• You feel proud and accepting of your unique body and refuse to spend an unreasonable amount of time worrying about food, weight, and calories
• You feel comfortable and confident in your body

People with a negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss.

We all may have our days when we feel awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies, but the key to developing a positive body image is to recognize and respect our natural shape and learn to overpower those negative thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming, and accepting ones.

*Definitons and information taken from the National Eating Disorders Association. I do not claim to have created these definitions.
"National Eating Disorders Association." National Eating Disorders Association. 2005. Web. 03 June 2012. <http://www.NationalEatingDisorders.org/>.