Why its time to banish that bad body talk
Ever find yourself glancing in the mirror and not feeling terribly pleased with what you see? Women in particular are especially critical of themselves when it comes to the way they look but those negative thoughts can lead to insecurity - so it’s time to ditch the doubt and banish that bad body talk.
It seems to be a common practice to engage in negative body talk and this has almost become normal for many people to openly talk about the dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. Body image is a complex issue that involves how we each think and feel about our physical self and holding a negative body image can and does affect our sense of well-being. It can also be related to many mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Disturbingly, a 2018 research study by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute identified that children as young as 8 are vulnerable to poor body image as hormones levels rise with the onset of puberty – so it’s an issue that starts when we’re very young.
If you often indulge in a little negative self-talk, it’s quite possible that you’re not even really aware of it – but bad body talk can quickly become second nature and it will influence how you live your life and keep you from getting the best out of it. Those negative thoughts aren’t just mindless chatter, they have a way of creating their own reality.
So, what can we do to feel more positively inclined about the way we look? Well the first step is to come to terms with the body that you’ve been given, start feeling good about yourself and happy with the way you look.
Unfortunately, the media today have largely created an image of what constitutes an attractive look, and it’s one that for most of us (who weren’t born with Elle McPherson or Chris Hemsworth genes) is impossible to achieve.
Sure there are some people in the world that can eat cream cakes for breakfast and pizza for dinner and still stay as thin as a rake but that sort of metabolism doesn’t exist for most of us, so unless you want to live on a super-strict calorie controlled diet for the rest of your life then the best course of action is to accept what you’ve got and learn to love it.
Having said that though, eating a healthy diet most of the time will help you to look and feel good, so try to eat moderate portions and make sure you include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Cut down on anything that makes you feel tired or bloated and avoid any fad diets that promise fast results by replacing real food with shakes and pills.
A good strategy is to steer clear of magazines, websites and other media that make you feel bad about the way you look. Media messages about how to get the best abs, lose 10 kilos or tone those flabby arms are just going to make you feel like you don’t shape up, so avoid them if you can (and if you can’t, flick through to another page or change the channel).
It’s also a good idea to find a style that flatters your shape. This can be a bit hit and miss so we suggest you invest in a little professional help. A personal stylist will show you how to dress in a way that will have you loving your own body and shape, so you look better than you ever have. And the funny thing about looking good is that it makes you feel good and it gives you the confidence to get out there and take on the world.
A personal stylist doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but a good one will get you trying on things that you never would have considered, and once you know what styles look good on you, you’ll be able to shop till you drop with the confidence that comes from knowing that your choices are the right ones. It really is refreshing to be able to reach into your closet and know that whatever you grab is going to look great on you.
And while we’re on the subject of reaching into your wardrobe, if you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months, it’s time to say goodbye. It doesn’t matter if it’s that dress you’ve never worn because you were planning on dropping a few kilos in order to fit into it, or your favourite jacket from 6 seasons ago that you’re sure will be on-trend again sometime in the next decade. Clear it all out and make some extra space for your brand new awesome wardrobe.
If you really want to step things up a notch in the body image department, maybe it’s time for a whole new wardrobe. Don’t worry if your finances won’t quite stretch that far right now - we can help out with a little financial assistance to make it all happen. Just check out our flexible cash loans from $1K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours - so you can get ready to hit the shops now!