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Six Steps to a Positive Body Image
Kristin Gerstley
A positive body image is one that we should all strive for.
This is when you know yourself and who you are. You have a
very true perception of your size, shape, and weight. You
see yourself as you are in the present. You accept yourself,
even though you may be overweight. You believe in yourself
and love yourself while still striving for something better.
When you have a positive body image, no time is spent obsessing
about food, weight, calories, exercise, etc. You are proud
of who you are and feel comfortable in your own body.
Many people that suffer from binge eating disorder do not
have positive body images. Instead, they have very distorted
images of how they see themselves. Here are six ways to create
a positive body image for yourself.
1. Create a list of people that you admire. Write down why
you admire each person. As you are writing the characteristics
you like, take notice of what you are writing down.
For example, let's say that you have a high regard for Oprah.
Your list might include her generosity towards people, her
willingness to support what she believes in, and her strong
character that went for success no matter what background
she came from. You do not admire Oprah because of her looks;
you admire her for the difference that she has made in the
world. For her contribution to society. How she has touched
and changed so many lives.
2. Remember a time in your life when you felt great about
yourself.
Travel back in your life to a time when you were happy with
your body. Maybe this was high school or college. Whatever
the time, just close your eyes and remember how you felt.
Let these good feelings radiate within you.
3. Write down what you like about yourself now.
Take out a piece of paper and write down everything that you
like about yourself: your legs, your eyebrows, your smile,
your hair, etc. The key here is to focus on the likes of yourself
instead of the many dislikes. Start appreciating what you
do like about yourself. This will make you feel better overall.
4. Notice how you carry yourself when you walk.
Do you walk with your head down looking at the ground? Do
you slump your shoulders? Perk up! Start walking and making
eye contact with people. Hold your head up high. Walk with
your shoulders held back.
5. Start exercising.
If you haven't exercised in a while, start off slow. Go for
a walk outside on a nice day. If you are used to exercising,
keep it up and change up your routine so that you don't get
bored. When you exercise you begin to feel good about yourself,
even if it is for 15 minutes. Start off slow and work your
way up.
6. Hang out with positive people.
Take a look at the people closest to you. Are they positive
or negative people? Chances are if they are negative this
attitude will reflect on you and your attitude. Try to limit
your time with any negativity as this will only make you feel
bad about yourself. You will focus on the things that you
do not like about yourself.
Start feeling good about yourself and learn to accept yourself.
Little by little you will notice changes that have occurred.
Learn to be on your side instead of always being against yourself.
Put your shoulders back and quit thinking about what you're
not. Love the person you are and the person that you are becoming.
Kristin Gerstley is a former binge eater that now
has a healthy relationship with food. She is also the owner
of www.endbingeeatingnow.com
which is a site that helps people overcome Binge Eating Disorder.
She publishes a free newsletter offering tips on how to stop
binge eating and regain control of your life. Notice to publishers:
you have rights to republish this article on your website
as long as you keep all links in tact and clickable. Thank
you.
Article Source:
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