Better Body Image

Do you want to have a better body image, but you aren't sure where to start? Remember, having a better body image isn't a simple change. It's more of a journey. There are many things you can do along the way to help you improve the way you see yourself. 

 

Lower Social Media Consumption

 

Do you spend hours scrolling through photos of hot models on vacation on social media? This behavior needs to stop. This doesn't mean you have to give up all social media; it just means you need to mute people who make you feel envious. Jealousy and envy aren't healthy for your body image. Instead, you should try to follow people who inspire you to love yourself just the way you are. 

 

Create Reminders For Yourself

 

Get some sticky notes and put reminders and compliments on them for yourself. Then take the time to place them all over your house for you to find at a later time. You can even place them in your wallet and around your workspace at work—wherever you think you need a little encouragement.

 

Do Things That Make You Feel Good

 

Sitting and staring at the mirror and wishing you were someone else is never going to change anything. Instead, it would be best if you did active things which make you feel good. Take a class at your local gym, go for a walk in nature, or spend time with friends. All of these things will help you to feel more positive about yourself. 

 

Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

 

Whatever you do, comparing yourself to others needs to stop right now. You are your own unique person, and there is no one out there quite like you. No one has done the exact things you have done in the exact way. In that same manner, you will never look exactly like someone else. It's time to look in the mirror and know you are looking at someone who is uniquely you.

 

Learning to have a better body image is no easy task. And it certainly won't just take one step to get there. You will probably need to do all of the things on this list to have a better body image - and maybe more. But once you do, you'll be glad you chose to take the journey and learned to love yourself just the way you are. 

 

How to Be Happier in Your Own Skin

You can change many things about your life, but your skin is not one of them. This is why you need to learn to be happier in your own skin. The problem is, this is often much easier said than done. Below are a few ways you can learn to be happier in the body you have.

 

Develop Positive Affirmations

 

Grab a stack of sticky notes and write down all the things you love about yourself. Then place these sticky notes in places where you will find them later. These places could be on your mirror, in your wallet, or even around your desk at work. Then every time you see them, you can be reminded of what an amazing person you are.

 

Quit Scrolling Social Media

 

Social media creates unrealistic expectations of the human body. If you feel uncomfortable in your skin because of social media, it's time to stop participating. Instead, it would be best to find more body-positive media to engage in, such as books, music, and TV shows that make you feel great about who you are.

 

Work On Your Body Language

 

Believe it or not, your body language can play a huge part in feeling comfortable in your own skin. Every time you find yourself hunched over with your arms folded, how does this make you feel? Not very good, right? Exactly. It's time to walk with your shoulders pulled back, and your head held high—you'll be surprised by how much this small change affects your mood.

 

Ensure You Love The Clothes You Wear

 

If you are wearing clothes which don't make you feel comfortable in your own skin, then it's time to get clothes that do! Aim to find clothes that fit you and are flattering for your body. This will help ensure you feel great about yourself. It can help if, while you are shopping, you resolve not to look at the sizes and rather try on things that look like they will fit you and decide from there. 

 

Being happier in your own skin is a lifelong journey that almost everyone on this earth must take. But you can make this task easier on yourself by developing positive affirmations, quitting social media, working on your body language, and buying clothes that make you feel confident.  Just don't forget that being positive about yourself and your body ultimately must come from within. 

 

Why a Positive Body Image Leads to a Happier Life

Maybe you've thought about working on your body image, but you can't see the purpose. After all, it doesn't affect anyone besides you. But the truth is, having a positive body image can go a long way towards transforming your life to be happier and healthier.

 

You’ll Be More Successful

 

When you are consumed by thoughts about why you hate your body, this takes up your time and energy. Your time and energy could be better suited for another purpose, such as achieving your goals in life. As we all know, achieving goals is a major component of experiencing happiness. 

 

You Will Meet More People

 

Friends tend to come and go as you grow. If you aren't feeling good about your body, this may make it difficult for you to make new friends as an adult. Therefore, if you have a positive body image, you will feel more confident introducing yourself to others. This confidence means that you are much more likely to have more friends throughout your life. Having an awesome group of friends is also an important part of happiness - maybe one of the most important.

 

You’ll Have Less Fear Of New Things

 

Along these same lines, when you have a negative body image, this can keep you from trying things that take you out of your comfort zone. Thus, your negative body image could lead to you missing out on an amazing experience that would change your life. And trying new things is also an essential aspect of attaining happiness. 

 

You’ll Be Able To Love Yourself

 

It's critical that you can love yourself because you will be spending the rest of your life with yourself. You can run from toxic people in your life, but you can't run from yourself. If you have a negative body image, you will not love yourself no matter how brilliant your mind may be. Love your body, love yourself. It really is just that simple.

 

If you want to live a happy life, you must have a positive view of your body. This is because having a positive body image will help you achieve your goals and meet new people who could change your life. In addition, you'll be able to try new things without fear and learn to love yourself wholly and truly—and all of these things will lead to you having a much happier life.  

Why Are So Many People Unhappy with Their Image?

When you look in the mirror, are you happy with what you see? If the answer is no, you aren't alone because many people, men, and women alike, are unhappy with their image. But why is this?

 

The Media

 

The number one reason people are unhappy with the image they see when they look in the mirror is because of the unattainable bodies of celebrities that are shown in the media. 

 

First of all, these photos are all edited. There isn't a single photo of a celebrity that doesn't have a filter or airbrushing on it, even if it is somewhere other than Instagram. Not only that, but many celebrities have had body-altering surgeries, which means what you are looking at isn't natural, and it isn't how they were born to look.

 

Society

 

Even if you avoid all the media hype, this doesn't mean people don't feel pressure from other people to hate their image. Family members and friends can often be the first ones to point out imperfections with your body, and it is your body image that suffers because of it. They might not even say anything, but you can see how they look, and you probably still compare yourself to them, wishing you looked more like them.

 

Poor Mental Health 

 

It isn't right to blame society and the media, however, because the way you perceive your body is uniquely yours. This means that although you may have some outside influences, only you can change your mind about how you feel about your body. If you have a poor body image, this means that your mind probably isn't where it needs to be. Yes, it's good to cut out the negative media and toxic friends and family from your life, but you also need to engage on a mental journey to find out why you can't accept yourself. Nothing will change with what you perceive until you change your mind.

 

Overall, men and women all over the world are unhappy with their image. Much of this can be attributed to media and society. However, never forget that a good body image truly starts from within. This means that if you want to have a good body image, you need to work on your mentality first. Only then can you truly change the way you feel about the person in the mirror. 

 

Mindful Eating: Nourishing Your Body And Soul

Life today is accelerated, and eating may not be something you think about often enough. You need to pause, select and prepare your foods with care, and nourish yourself. In this article, we will explore mindful eating, how it affects your well-being and how it transforms the relationship you have with food. 

Benefits of Mindful Eating 

 

Practicing mindful eating can have many benefits for your body and mind including: 

 

• Healthy weight management: When you pay attention to your hunger levels and signals of fullness, you can avoid overeating. This helps you keep your weight at a healthy level without using strict diets. 

• More efficient digestion: As you eat more slowly and chew your food thoroughly, it makes it easier for your body to digest it. You’ll gain more nutrients, and you won’t have to endure stomach discomfort.

• Improved food choice and eating habits: Mindful eating allows you to choose healthier foods. When you slow your eating, you will also be thinking about choosing nutritious foods.

• Enhanced meal enjoyment: When you can fully experience the aroma, taste, and texture of the foods you eat, your meals will be more enjoyable. 

• Reduced stress levels: Eating slowly and mindfully is more relaxing. Take the time to enjoy your meals and you’ll find yourself feeling more peaceful and less stressed. 

Tips for Mindful Eating

• Engage your senses: Before you eat, take a minute to fully appreciate your meal’s visual appeal. Notice the colors, presentation, and shapes. Inhale and enjoy the aroma before you begin eating.

• Practice gratitude for your food: Before you start eating, take a moment to express gratitude for the meal.

• Slowing down your meals: Eat at an easy place and savor every bite. Take time to enjoy the textures and flavors of your food. 

• Listen to the hunger signals your body sends: Eat only when you are actually hungry. Stop eating when you are satisfied. Avoid emotional eating and mindless snacking. 

• Chew your food in a mindful way: Chew your meals thoroughly. This aids in digestion and lets you experience the meal and enjoy it. 

• Snack mindfully: Choose nutritious snacks that will fulfill your body’s needs. Mindfully savor each bite, even with snacks. 

Mindful Eating: How it Connects to Emotional Eating

 

Emotional eating uses food to help in coping with emotions, instead of hunger. Mindful eating helps you lessen emotional eating. It increases your awareness of triggers that cause emotional eating. 

 

When you practice mindful eating, you’ll learn the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger. Mindful exercises for healthy eating can include pausing before you reach for food, to determine which kind of hunger you are experiencing. 

How Mindful Eating Helps in Managing Weight

 

Mindful eating is a productive tool in managing your weight. When you tune in and understand your body’s cues for hunger and fullness, you won’t overeat, and you will make healthier choices in the foods you eat. Practice portion control and choose foods that are nutrient dense. Be kind to yourself when you do slip up. 

Conclusion

 

In this world of multi-tasking and speediness, mindful eating can offer you a haven of connection and presence. It will remind you that nourishing yourself is more than just a physical necessity. 

 

It is also a chance to engage with your body, your senses, and the world. As you eat mindfully to nourish your soul as well as your body, realize this is not a destination, but a journey. You can develop and hone the talent with time. 

 

One bite after another, your relationship with food can be transformed. Savor each moment and each bite, weaving mindfulness into your life. This nourishes your body and your soul.

 

15 Super Weight Loss Tips

I’m sure that over the years we’ve all heard our own share of unrealistic and ineffective weight loss advice. From detox diets to spot-reduction exercises and even supposedly nifty things like magic pills or slimming wraps. But the truth is that these fad diets and gadgets barely work, and even if they do the results aren’t long-term. 

 

The key to losing weight is to do it in a healthy manner, that doesn’t do you more harm than good. Here are 15 tried and tested tips that can aid you in this difficult journey. 

 

1. Control Your Portions

 

Starving yourself is never the answer but a little psychological warfare never hurt anyone. Trick your mind into thinking you’re eating more by dividing your meals into smaller portions. So, instead of eating 3 large meals per day, have smaller portions 5 times instead. 

 

2. Skip Out on Seconds

 

Pay special attention to serving sizes on nutrition labels and stop yourself from reaching out for a round of seconds. Having 5 meals a day can effectively solve this problem by ensuring that you don’t go hungry again soon after lunch or dinner. 

 

3. Curate a Diet Consisting of High-fiber and Lean Protein 

 

Fiber is your biggest weight loss ally and lean protein helps you maintain your muscle mass and control your appetite. Incorporate foods that are high in fiber, like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain, and foods that are rich in lean protein, like chicken, fish, and tofu into your diet. 

 

4. Snack Smartly 

 

If you need to snack between meals, choose healthy, portion-controlled options. Nutrient-dense snacks like mixed nuts, fruit, or yogurt can keep you satisfied and energized without adding additional calories to your diet. 

 

5. Beware of Liquid Calories

 

Calorie-laden beverages like sugary sodas, fruit juices, and high-calorie coffee drinks can add empty calories to your diet without providing the feeling of fullness that solid foods offer. It’s better to stop consuming them if you’re trying to lose weight. 

 

6. Keep Your Body Hydrated

 

Did you know that your body can actually confuse being thirsty with being hungry, causing you to overeat? To prevent this from happening, stay hydrated throughout the day. In addition to that, drink a glass of water before meals to curb your appetite and reduce calorie intake. 

 

7. Make Exercise a Priority 

 

Eating healthy can only get you so far. You have to stay active and work out regularly to lose weight. Try to incorporate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise in your daily routine. Remember that consistency is key, and it will take a few weeks before you see any results. 

 

8. Get Adequate Sleep

 

A poor sleeping schedule leads to late night cravings which in turn results in further weight gain. Getting quality sleep is essential for weight loss. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day. 

 

9. Be Mindful when Eating 

 

When you eat while watching the tv or using your smartphone you’re unable to appreciate your meals and get hungry soon after. Eating mindfully means that you savor each bite of your food and feel fulfilled after the meal. 

 

10. Meal Prep in Advance

 

When you’re unsure of what to eat, you can end up making impulsive and unhealthy choices. This is why it’s better to meal prep for the whole week in advance. This can save you lots of time and effort, especially on days when you feel low on energy. 

 

11. Avoid Crash Diets

 

If you have a big event coming soon then you might be tempted to start a crash diet to make sure you fit into that new dress you bought. But trust me, these diets are unsustainable and can also lead to nutritional deficiencies and a range of adverse health effects. Avoid them at all costs.

 

12. Track Your Progress

 

Monitoring the daily progress that you make. Keep a food and exercise journal to stay on top of your routines. Smartphone apps can help you track your calorie intake and workouts with ease. Seeing the progress, you’re making gives a sense of fulfillment and motivation to continue. 

 

13. Celebrate the Small Achievements

 

Weight loss is a journey full of milestones. Reward yourself whenever you hit one to keep the motivation going. Whether it’s treating yourself to a slice of your favorite chocolate cake or ordering some takeout. A cheat meal once in a while doesn’t hurt anyone. 

 

14. Cultivate a Body Positivity Mindset

 

Negative self-talk can hinder your progress and motivation. Practice loving yourself and your body. Replace self-criticism with self-encouragement and affirmations to feel good about yourself.

 

15. Share Your Weight Loss Journey with Others

 

Sharing your weight loss journey with others can not only make it easier, but also provide valuable encouragement and accountability. Join a weight loss support group or enlist a workout buddy to boost your motivation.

 

Conclusion

 

It’s important to remember that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss. Find the tips that work best for you and make them a part of your daily routine. These 15 tips are just the starting point for your own journey of self-discovery, leading to a healthier and fitter you.