Body image—this is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. Let's be real, this is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. However, over the last few years and especially over the last 6 months I have really been thinking about body image and why are we so hard on ourselves. Why can't we just be happy with our bodies?
You may be thinking, "Why is she even writing about body image? Lacey is a health coach and personal trainer. She doesn't have body image issues." Well let me tell you I DO!!! I am just like most other women who look in the mirror and doesn't always like what is looking back.
Lately I have been really thinking on why don't I and other women love ourselves more? Why can't we just be happy? Where did this all start? So I started doing research and reading up more on body image issues.
Since we were young we have been taught to think by society that we need to look a certain way, wear certain clothes etc. We have grown up hearing our family, friends and classmates talk about diets they have tried, that we should weigh a certain amount or maybe even telling us that we didn't look the way we should. (UGH why do we do that to each other?) No wonder it is so hard for us to love our bodies the way they are!
Fear not—we can always turn our thoughts and mindset around so we can all start loving ourselves for who we are.
Even though I am still working on this I have found a few things that have helped me.
1. When thinking about my body, call it "she" instead of "it". This makes it more personal. Thank you to Jan Hatmaker's book Fierce Free and Full of Fire for this idea.
2. Journal about what I am thankful for that my body does, like she gets me up in the morning, she allows me to do the workouts I love or she gives me the ability to hug and snuggle my kids.
3. When I catch myself saying things like "I need to lose a few more pounds" or "you look awful in those jeans" I try to change the narrative to something positive about myself.
Try starting with these 3 things and see if it helps the way you look about your beautiful self!
To sum this up, we are all beautiful women whose bodies were made by God the exact way they were meant to be made. So keep working on loving yourself and one day it will not be work at all!
XOXO,
Lacey