Maintaining a Positive Body Image

What is body image?

Body image is a complex concept that encompasses how you see yourself physically, your feelings about your body, and the thoughts you have about your appearance. It's a combination of your:

• Perceptual Body Image: This is how you perceive your body size and shape, which may or may not be entirely accurate.

• Affective Body Image: This refers to your feelings and emotions about your body, including satisfaction, dissatisfaction, shame, or pride.

• Cognitive Body Image: These are the thoughts and beliefs you have about your body, including judgments about your weight, shape, and attractiveness.

• Behavioural Body Image: This refers to the actions you take related to your body image, such as dieting, exercising, or avoiding certain clothes.

Body image can be positive, negative, or somewhere in between, and it can fluctuate throughout your life. It's influenced by a variety of factors, including:

• Media: The images we see in magazines, on television, and social media can create unrealistic beauty standards that can negatively impact body image.

• Family and Friends: The comments we receive from family and friends about our appearance can shape our body image from a young age.

Life Experiences: Weight changes, puberty, illness, and other life experiences can all affect how we see and feel about our bodies.

Strategies for positive body image

Now that we understand what body image is, let's explore strategies to nurture a positive body image throughout your weight loss journey:

Celebrate non-scale victories

Stepping on the scales can be helpful to track progress, but it can be a tool that becomes obsessive if we’re not careful. Rather than focusing solely on the number on the scale, instead celebrate accomplishments like having more energy day-to-day, or noticing how your clothes fit a little looser. These non-scale victories can serve as powerful motivators to keep going and to stop you from thinking about how heavy you weigh.

Instead of thinking about what you can’t do, think about how your body has strength and carries you through daily activities. By appreciating your body’s positive aspects, you can aim to stop yourself from thinking negatively about your body.

Embrace body positivity

The environment you surround yourself with can significantly impact your body image. Follow social media accounts that promote body diversity and celebrate all shapes and sizes. The Mental Health Foundation recommends spring cleaning your apps and uninstalling them if they become a trigger for you. You could also mute or unfollow any accounts that usually make you feel negatively 

Engage in conversations that challenge unrealistic beauty standards and promote self-acceptance. Let your friends and family know you're working on cultivating a positive body image, and surround yourself with people who will uplift and support you on this journey.

Challenge negative self-talk

The aim is to rewire your brain to think positively about your body and take a moment to challenge yourself internally when you do have any negative feelings about your body. Replace self-criticism with positive affirmations that uplift and empower you. For example, instead of saying "I hate my stomach," try something like "My body is strong and getting stronger every day."

Research has found that appreciating the functionality of your body can increase positive body image and decrease negative body image. By appreciating what the body is capable of doing rather than focusing on the negative aspects, you could increase your positive body image. 

Supporting your weight loss journey

By focusing on embracing your body image you can learn to feel confident throughout your weight loss. Consulting your doctor is crucial for a safe and effective weight loss plan. At Pharmacy2U, our clinicians are on hand online throughout your weight loss journey to answer any queries.