Have confidence in yourself as a person, not a size. Don’t let your look keep you from doing things that you enjoy. Let your individuality shine. Be your body’s ally, not its enemy. Live in the pursuit of authenticity.
Appreciate your inner being, soul and spirit. You are a biological masterpiece.
Body image is subjective. There are so many different ways to define it. Although the idea of the ideal body image has radically changed throughout history, many are constantly navigating life with the assumption that “ideal” means: smooth, symmetrical, clean, thin, lean, delicate and young. Having a positive body image doesn’t mean that you don't care about your body composition or appearance. The problem occurs when you attempt an extreme style of eating or training in order to look “normal.”
I give you permission to reject body image standards. Redefine your ideal. Be you.
Your gender, ability, age, ethnicity, mental status, sexual orientation and nationality matter. You are so much more than a look. You are an incredible human being.
Never let anyone convince you that a lighter version of yourself will make you more successful. And never ever let anyone make you feel ugly, unworthy or unattractive.
You write the guidebook when it comes to your body image. Play by your rules.
Never stop caring about your health. But remind yourself that you have choices. You get to decide what is healthy. Your body. Your decisions. Your life.
It’s time to heal your dysfunctional relationship with food and your body. Don’t stop the work that is needed for complete body acceptance. You deserve to live a life of loving your body - because your body is incredibly beautiful and amazing.
Is there a voice inside your head telling you to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort in pursuit of your “ideal” image? This voice is a causing you to miss out on living your best life. Don’t let a number on the scale or clothing size determine your self-worth. Success doesn’t come from an image. Healthy comes in all shapes and sizes.
Take note of the damaging messages society is sending to you about beauty and health. The media is constantly trying to tell you that you are not good enough. Society is obsessed with size. The smaller the better. Altering your body is not the solution. Your own perception of your body is driving your constant feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and unhappiness. This must change.
Your body is not the enemy. Don’t let your body stand in your way of you living your best life.
If you reach a lower body weight, this does not increase your value as a person. Similarly, being happy at your weight (even if it doesn’t match the ideal image) doesn’t decrease your value as a human.
You are not your weight.
Change the narrative.
Reject weight based values.
We value what we love.
Value the traits that make you feel worthy.
Value the incredible machine that carries you through life.
Love the qualities that make you unique. Love the human being that you are.
Don't aim for a weight goal. Don't make your image the focus. A scale measures how much force exists between your body and the planet Earth. It does not measure success, effort, happiness, courage and self-worth. It surely can't measure your awesomeness.
Much of the pressure to change body composition stems from wanting to meet society's expectations of how you think you 'should' look. This type of aesthetic-focused weight loss is typically much more extreme than what's needed to improve health. Your ideal weight is the one you achieve when you are living the healthiest life that you fully enjoy. Your best-life-weight will vary throughout a lifetime, as will your diet.
Food is fuel. Food is nourishment. Food is comfort. Food is social networking. To only eat in the name of a specific body composition denies you of living your best life.
A super restrictive diet with strict rules may help you lose weight but it may also make you miserable. Focus on behavior-based strategies that improve your health. Make changes that you can sustain for the long haul. Make changes you enjoy. Focus on behavior changes that you want to live with. Create goals that are worth pursuing in and of themselves.
Make a gradual shift in your eating choices. Slowly change your lifestyle habits. Allow yourself to be less than perfect.
Invest in your health.
Future proof your body.
Your body is constantly changing. Self-respect and body acceptance cannot be conditional.
Society has created the idea that your self-worth and happiness is defined by your weight, size, shape and image.
This ideology is so deep-rooted that many are on a constant roller coaster of body obsession and dieting.
What outside noise are you letting into your definition of self-love? It’s time to put self back in self-worth. Your worth must be determined by you.
Value your body for the incredible machine that it is. Reject societies image of weight-based values. Be grateful for the body you are in. Be respectful, compassionate and kind to the body that carries you through life.