Body Image

A healthy body image is having a true perception of your body's shape and size. You also feel comfortable with your body. You are not preoccupied with how your body looks.

It boils down to what you "imagine" your body looks like. We all know someone who we think is in good physical shape. Yet, in their own mind they think, "I just wish I didn't look so fat".

Crazy right? No, not really. No matter how in shape a person is, if they don't believe it, it doesn't matter.

So what about someone who really is overweight, is it possible to have a healthy outlook on their body?

Yes, yes, and yes! We all can love the body we already have. You must accept and love your body before it can begin its transformation.

If you believe your body is fat and ugly, then why would you take the time to nurture it with healthy food and engage in other activities? Take the time to attain a healthy body image now, it's the only time you have.

Be patient and love yourself. It's taken a long time for you be at the point you are right now. Don't expect immediate results, start with one step and move on from there.

• Stop weighing yourself. This was one of my biggest downfalls. The last time I was trying to lose weight I would weigh myself every morning and record it once a week. But when that little scale didn't read in my favor, I felt depressed and I hated myself and my body.

  I have now put my scale out of sight and I only weigh myself every month or so. This has given me freedom to truly accept myself without that "number" playing mind games with me.

  Don't let a number on a scale dictate how you feel about your body! You have been blessed with a body that functions and gets you where you need to go.

  I'm not saying you need to throw your scale away. Just put it in your closet for a while. You can dust it off every once in a while to see how you're doing. But don't become obsessed with your weight.

  Just let it go, you can decide to not make that number on the scale so important. It's liberating. Give it a try.

• Learn how to honor your body. Your body is giving you signals of what it needs all the time. But do you know how to recognize them?

  If you're overweight and/or tired, then you're probably not tuning into the cues that your body is sending you. You may have to re-learn this and it could take a while.

  Start by finding out when you're really hungry. Sometimes we eat because we think we're hungry. When in reality it's our minds searching for something to help us escape our current situation (whether it be a grumpy boss or busy kids).

  Take a moment and stop before you eat. Ask yourself what's really going on. Are you physically hungry? Or are you just munching on something for comfort. Be absolutely honest with yourself. You may find that the majority of the time you eat is when your mind tells you to, not your body.

  To achieve this, a journal may be helpful. Whenever you feel the urge to eat when you are not hungry, write it down. Continue writing whatever comes to mind. This is a great stress reliever. It also helps you identify what your emotional triggers are.

  You will find that by tuning into your body, you uncover the real reasons you are eating. It may be in response to your boss that is a bit too assertive for you. So instead of eating, you may need to work on putting up boundaries and clearly stating the things you want. Or it may be in response to your child. Instead of eating, you could learn how to be consistent in your parenting.

  If you are writing in your journal instead of eating (when you're not hungry) you will begin to see a difference both emotionally and physically.

  Don't beat yourself up if you still choose to eat. That is okay. Just make sure to write it down. It will still serve as a great resource for you in overcoming binge eating.

  You will begin to see patterns in your journal.

  In order to make a plan that truly works you need to know where you are starting from. Knowing where you are right now is essential in making a plan to reach your "destination".

  It's no different than a map. You need to know both point "A" and "B" in order to chart a course.

• Start a physical activity that you enjoy. Exercise doesn't have to be painful. Pick something you enjoy doing or would like to try. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
  • Walking
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Swimming
  • Sports
  • Take your dog for a walk
  • Ride your bike
  • Play with your kids
  • Dance (or learn to)

  I do understand that exercise is not possible for all of us. So if you are not physically able to, don't sweat it. There are other ways to work on your body image.

• Address the real reasons you have a poor body image. If you never look your fear in the face, it will never go away! You may want to explore the link between binge eating and self esteem. The beliefs you have about your body are more than likely incorrect. You may look in the mirror and not see what is really there. What you truly are and what you see are VERY different.

  Get real about your body image, and love whatever you have. Acceptance of your physical body will enable you to truly love yourself more.

  When you care deeply about yourself, you begin to take care of your body without even trying to!

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