|
||
Building a Healthy Body Image
What is "body image"?
Body image is what you see when you look in the mirror or how you picture yourself looking to others. It is how you feel and think about your body, especially in terms of your height, body composition, and body shape. Body image is also how you feel in your own skin, which is evident in the way you walk.
Own a positive body image.
A positive body image is:
- The ability to see your body as it really is.
- Appreciating the shape of your body.
- Caring for your body by eating healthy, engaging in regular physical activity for enjoyment and health; resting, drinking adequate fluids, not smoking cigarettes, not taking drugs and drinking alcohol; feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin.
- Being UNIQUE.
Focus on health, happiness, and the ability to move, not weight.
In today's world, the "ideal" male is considered to be:
"Bulky, Muscular, and Trim."
In today's world, the "ideal" female is considered to be:
"Sleek, Slender, and Slim."
A healthy approach is to believe the ideal male and female is someone who is fit, healthy, and at peace with his or her mind, body, and relationship with food.
We must treat our bodies with respect. In other words, we must:
- Remember that thinness does not equal happiness and success.
- Love and be proud of our bodies for what they are able to do (make healthy food choices, let us practice our sport or other favorite physical activity for example) rather than hate them for what they are not able to do.
- Believe that fit and healthy is much better than being unnaturally skinny and weak or frail in appearance.
- Be careful how we go about losing weight. If you need to or feel that you need to lose weight, always first meet with your doctor and Registered Dietitian.
Remember: the thinnest athlete is not the best athlete. The best athlete is someone who is properly fueled, trained, and rested.
Chrissy Barth, RD, CFT, RYT, is a Registered Dietitian who provides nutrition coaching in private practice in Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more about Chrissy and her approach to nutrition visit: Live Breathe Nutrition™ at Livebreathenutrition.com or email her at cvbarthrd@aol.com.
