Being Body Positive While Managing Your Weight

Loving your own body is often easier said than done. With constant societal influences along with our own ideas of how we wish our bodies would look, many of us struggle with being body positive. This can be especially challenging while trying to manage our weight. Luckily, there are numerous ways to work on body positivity and nurture a healthier mind-body relationship. Use these tips to start your self-love journey.

Positive Affirmations
One of the most effective ways to practice self-love and body positivity is to speak it into existence. Give yourself verbal daily encouragement and reminders. Try mantras like, “I am perfect, whole and complete just the way I am,” or “My body is powerful, and my body heals me.” If it helps, post these affirmations in your mirror or write them on your phone or sticky notes beside your bed. While it may seem silly, the more you think or say these assertions out loud, the more you’ll start to believe them.

Shift Your Perspective
When managing your weight, it’s easy to get caught up in numbers, whether on the scale or the calories in a dish. You’ll likely turn to exercise or diet changes to lose weight, but those shouldn’t be punishments. Instead of focusing on the numbers or engaging in foods or activities you don’t like, try to shift your perspective. Honor your body with positive things that bring you joy, such as nourishing meals and exercises you truly enjoy.

Compliment Others Freely
When we judge ourselves harshly, we often judge others harshly too. To break these thoughts, try to open yourself up to be more kind to others, and you’ll find it easier to be kinder to yourself. Give someone a compliment you wish you’d gotten when you needed it most. Start by giving out one compliment each day.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And he was right. When we compare our bodies to others, we are essentially making ourselves feel inadequate – with low self-esteem to match. When you compare yourself to others, try to stop those thoughts in their tracks. Remind yourself that people come in all shapes and sizes, and we’re all beautiful in different ways. Plus, comparing yourself to others is silly because you’re not supposed to look like someone else; you’re supposed to look like you.

Take Care of Your Body
While it should go without saying, we need to take care of our bodies all the time, not just while managing weight. When was the last time you thanked your body and did something that made it feel outstanding? Practice body positivity by showing your body gratitude in ways that feel good to you. Go to a yoga class, take a bubble bath or even treat yourself to a nap.