How To Improve Your Body Image – as featured in the Times of India

Your body image is in your head and not your body. There have been many large movements internationally to help people re-learn that a great body image is not about having a stereotypically thin body or a six-pack. Sure if that is really what you are striving towards for yourself, then I believe that you can achieve that too, but whatever you look like on the outside, the true conquering of your self esteem and body image is in the way you think and talk to yourself and in how you feel on the inside. Read on to find out how you too can improve your body image.

How healthy is your body image?

Firstly ask yourself how many things and activities are you stopping yourself from enjoying because of the way you feel about your body? For instance: I did not learn to swim as a child and had always skipped my physical fitness classes in school because I did not want to be seen in a swimsuit or in shorts.

Your life is not a dress-rehearsal for when you have lost 10 kilos, have a flatter tummy or a smaller behind. Each minute, day, week that you spend in this “wait” is gone and if your body image is keeping your form living your life now, then you really have to do something about the image.

5 easy steps to do just that:

Step 1: Write a list of all the things that you love about yourself, inside and out. Are you fun, funny, loyal? Do you have beautiful eyes, hair, teeth? Remind yourself daily by looking at this list that here are the things that make you truly attractive. Dwelling on the things you don’t like will only drag you down. When I lose weight, then I will be beautiful. If I can just get my abs toned, then I can wear that short choli or a bikini. All this is waiting, start knowing and feeling gorgeous now.

Step 2: Show love to your body by indulging in pleasurable activities. Get a massage, to let your senses reconnect with your body. Buy lotions that feel and smell good and spend time each day, loving your body. Go for a pedicure or facial and truly love your skin. Regular massages can really help you heal your senses and connect positive feelings with your body.

Step 3: Challenge yourself to do one thing every week that you were waiting to only do when you think you had the body you desire. Exercise, walk or dance and connect with your spirit through movement. The media has given you the impression that only thin people are beautiful enough to express themselves with their bodies, this is in reverse though, when you are willing to start expressing yourself now, the way you are, you will feel better and you will also be on your way to having a healthier mind and body.

Step 4: Watch your self-talk. Replace any mean or critical things you say to yourself with positive affirmations. Focus your attention consciously all the time on the things you already have and appreciate. Write in a gratitude journal every day and say some powerful affirmations to yourself. Be like a watchman of your thoughts and self-talk. If you spoke to a friend the way you speak to yourself sometimes, I am sure you would be offending and hurting them terribly, so offer yourself the same kindness you would your friends. Don’t pick on yourself! Meditate and breathe deeply in a quiet space with yourself and repeat the positive affirmations of self love and give thanks for all that you already have. Be grateful for your body and the beautiful experiences your body is serving to you.

Step 5: Love your body. Be aware of what you eat and drink during the course of the day. In these days where information is at your finger tips, it does not take a nutritionist to tell you what is good and healthy for you and what is not. Exercise and be active. Use your body and love it like your best friend. Give it what it needs and protect it from any abuse, physical, intake and bad talk. The above steps involve loving your body as it is right now. Not later.