Every Monday features a tip, exercise, inspiring quote or other tidbit to help boost your body image. For many of us, Mondays are tough. We may feel anxious and stressed out, anticipating an arduous week, especially if we didn’t get much rest and relaxation during the weekend. These kinds of feelings don’t create the best environment for improving one’s body image. In fact, you might be harder on yourself and easily frustrated. You might even feel like you’re walking on egg shells – with yourself! With these posts, I hope you’ll have a healthier and happier body image day, that’ll last throughout the week.
Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. It can be anything you do that’s healthy and helps boost your body image. I’d love to hear from you!
I used to think that a healthy body image was all about being OK with how you look, or better yet, being happy with how you look.
And I wasn’t. So I thought that I had to somehow become happier with my hips, thighs, belly and essentially all of me. My initial idea for a path to a positive body image was losing weight.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
I love this because you emphasize that having a positive body image is about so much more than what you THINK…it’s also about what you DO. We can have and display a positive body image through our actions.
@ Katie, absolutely! Your comment also reminds me that even though we might have automatic thoughts from time to time like “I wish I were thinner” or “Ugh, look at my thighs,” we don’t have to buy into them. We can choose not to listen and instead focus on self-care and other aspects of a healthy body image. We can focus on eating well and moving our bodies. Basically, we might not be able to choose to have more positive thoughts at all times, but we can act on positive behaviors.
Shannon
12:10 pm on
August 23rd, 2010I agree – I just had abdominal surgery and my entire body is unrecognizable to me. And I have never felt more love and care and genuine concern for my body’s wellbeing than at this time. I am not at all disturbed by the changes but rather so admiring of my body’s strength and resilience. As I read your notes on what a healthy body image means to you I realize I am practicing all of these things right now – perfect timing for your message today and THANK YOU! 
@ Shannon, I love that! Thank you for sharing your experience. It makes me think of when women get upset after giving birth if they don’t “bounce back” fast enough to their pre-pregnancy shape, or they feel like they don’t recognize their bodies. I wish our society could focus more on the amazingness of childbirth, and view our bodies with even more love, concern and admiration, instead of viewing them with scorn and disappointment.
I hope you’re recovering well!
Susan
1:51 pm on
August 23rd, 2010Great post! I tend to take “positive body image” a bit too literally, and forget all that it encompasses. This was a perfect reminder. Another one to get posted in my cubicle!
@ Susan, I used to do the same thing! My definition of a positive body image was very narrow (like my definition of a beautiful body, oddly enough), but today that definition has evolved a lot, mostly because I’ve been reading and writing about it.
Thanks, too, for the sweet words! And I’d love to see a pic of your cubicle.
Thanks, Margarita! Love the post. These are things I need to remember!
You’re welcome, Lacy! And, of course, I loved yours, too!
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1992-2012 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 25 May 2012
|
