It’s summer and that means more time spent at the beach, the pool, and the park. It’s time to de-layer and dress for the heat. It’s also the time when many people feel that they do not measure up to the idea of a perfectly tanned, trim, beach body.
If you feel that way, you are far from alone. In fact, according to a recent survey, 80 percent of Americans are unhappy with the way their bodies look. They would be willing to give up almost anything to have a perfect body like the slim attractive photos found on social media.
These photoshopped images distort people’s ideas about their bodies and if they measure up, reported Forbes. “We tend to see only a narrow depiction of the human body being celebrated, body image coach Jessie Barnes told Forbes.
The way to counteract that is to cultivate your own body confidence. But what exactly is body confidence? According to health coach and body confidence expert, Tiffany Ima, “Body confidence is the ability to feel at home in your body, no matter your size or shape.”
When you achieve body confidence, you can free up all the energy spent on negative thoughts and focus on your goals, your family, and your own wellbeing.
Be your own cheerleader
One of the best ways to think positivity about your body is to have a positive view of who you are, according to the organization Well Being Trust. Your traits, your talents, and your positive attributes. So be your own cheerleader and give yourself encouragement and reminders of how terrific you are, with some positive affirmations like, “I believe in myself,” or “I am worthy just the way I am.”
Think fit
Don’t frame your fitness goals according to numbers on a scale. Exercise to get healthier and to feel your best. That doesn’t mean doing a punishing workout at the gym every day. It can be as easy as taking a walk during your lunch break, or riding your bike to work instead of driving. You can get fit while doing activities that you enjoy doing.
Eat healthy
Eat healthy nutritious meals and skip the fad diets that promise you beach bodies in a short time, reported The Guardian. We need to get away from the boom or bust mentality that often comes with weight loss,” nutritionist Emma Bardwell told The Guardian. “I see a lot of women embarking on faddy, restrictive diets and extended fasts, declaring they will ‘cut out sugar completely’ and ‘only eat after midday’. This is difficult and unsustainable.” Instead, make small sustainable changes in your eating habits and you could feel better physically and mentally.
Dress for you and not your shape
Wear the clothing that makes you feel good and fits you now. Don’t shop for clothing that is too small in the hopes of fitting into them by your summer vacation or buy clothing that is too large so that you can hide your body in them. That comes from body insecurity and negative thinking.
According to fashion psychologist and the author Marleen Beevers, your clothing style and colors should represent you. “Our style should be about expressing what we think of ourselves,” Beevers said, “Who are you? And what do you want in life? Focus on your personality strengths. Challenge your negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Limit your exposures to negative triggers and social media campaigns.”
Ignore numbers
Ignore numbers, like your weight, your clothing size, the calories in your favorite foods, because none of these things define who you are, reported Forbes. Barnes told Forbes that you should listen to your body instead, eat when you are hungry, get enough rest, move your body in ways that feel good, and you will look and feel your best.
Don’t compare yourself to others
Don’t compare your body to others. According to Well Being Trust, accept that people come in all shapes and sizes and people are not the same. Wishing that you were taller, or thinner will only lead to negative self-talk and feeling bad about yourself. You are not supposed to look like a famous fashion model or an Olympic athlete, you are supposed to look like yourself.
Do something nice for yourself
Part of body positivity is taking care of yourself. So give yourself the gift of a massage, a pedicure, a long afternoon nap, or anything else that makes you feel uplifted. Remember that your body isn’t just a decoration for people to look it, it is what allows people to move, and breathe, and live.
