Most people have such thoughts every now and then. It's no wonder we experience discontent with our bodies when we see the super-thin models on television or in magazines. But yet in reality, over half of all Americans are overweight. We do have cause for concern.
Some people, mostly women but some men too, spend a great deal of time and energy worrying about their physical shape and size. Chronic body dissatisfaction can be exhausting and demoralizing. It can also escalate into full-blown eating disorder and depression. If ths is the case for you, get help!
Even garden-variety body dissatisfaction can get in the way of your life. The resulting low self-esteem can interfere with good intentions to exercise and eat nutritiously, as plans to improve self-care often fall apart when you feel stressed or negative about yourself.
Here are some tips for improving the way you feel about your body and yourself so you can get on with your life, doing the best you can with what you've got.
Focus on fitness, not fatness. If you need to lose some weight, focus on improving your lifestyle rather than attaining a specific weight goal. Your lifestyle is really the only thing under your control. A healthy lifestyle will eventually help you reach the best achievable weight for you - weight you can maintain in good health.
Avoid restrictive diets, since they lead to food cravings, failure and guilt. Do remember the MyPyramid.gov website as a source of information about food choices.
Develop an enjoyable exercise program. Exercise for the right reasons: to be healthy and to feel good. Exercise builds self-confidence and appreciation for you body's skill and agility. Exercise helps you relax and feel good about your life.
Of course, a byproduct of exercise is it can help you look better. Exercise helps you control weight and improve muscle definition.
Don't blame life's challenges on your appearance. Sometimes worying about appearance diverts us from the real issues at hand. Let's say you hear yourself saying, "If only I were thinner, I would have a better job."
Argue back, "My job is not a function of my size and losing weight will not get me a better job." Then go on to address the challenge you are facing and try to come up with a solution.
Limit your exposure to mass media. The media inundates us with unrealistic "body models." We soak up these impressions at both the conscious and subconscious levels.
Choose carefully what you decide to view. If you have teens and preteens, teach them to analyze the messages they see in magazine and television advertisements.
Be a good role model. Avoid conversations about how imperfect your body is or about the latest diet craze. Don't gossip about who needs to lose weight.
Be aware of making judgements based on a person's appearance. Compliment people on something besides how they look.
Get a life. Sarcasm aside, we feel good about ourselves when we accomplish something of value. Rewarding hobbies and community service help us feel productive and connected to others.
For more information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, contact the University of Nebraska Extension Office at 269-2301.
