If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed I’ve started posting lil videos of me doing yoga. Before I posted my first video, I watched it and thought:
I. Look. Huge.
Now, as someone who has lived through an eating disorder, having a poor body image is something I’m familiar with. And the truth is, my relationship with my body goes through ebbs and flows. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I struggle to look at it.
I would love to say I love the rolls on my stomach. That I love my cellulite and the ways my arms wobble. But I can’t. Not yet anyway.
What’s contributed to this feeling is the fact that I’ve been struggling to get to the gym recently. As much as I don’t go to the gym to lose weight, exercise boosts my endorphins and my mood, and my self-image.
But rather than fixing this with a few work outs, I want to fix the way I’m thinking. Because this is where the problem is - it isn’t my body, it’s my mind.
Yes, exercise, eating well and being physically healthy is an important piece of this, but if we can’t accept and love our bodies, no amount of sweating will help.
And the thing is, I know I’m not alone in this. I know it isn’t just people who have had eating disorders that feel like this. Sadly it’s become something almost every woman deals with at some point in their lives (thank you very much unrealistic beauty expectations).
So, I’ve put together a few things that help me and may help you.
How to deal with feeling fat
Move your body
Remind yourself what your body is for. It is a vehicle, getting you through life one glorious day at a time. Go dancing, do some yoga, take a walk - whatever. Be grateful for it and everything it’s enabled you to do.
Throw away any clothes that don’t fit
This was a big step for me. I had a pair of beautiful floral trousers that I always got complimented on when I wore them. BUT, they were so tight I couldn’t do up the top button and they cut into my stomach. Not only was this uncomfortable, but it made me feel like absolute shite. I decided to take the plunge, accept my new size and throw them away.
Wear clothes that make you feel awesome
Now you’ve removed the clothes that make you feel crap, it’s time to wear the outfits that make you feel bad-ass. I’ve got a jumpsuit that is flattering and makes me feel like the coolest woman ever (I think it’s the pockets).
Argue with yourself
Every time my inner voice tells me I look huge or that I need to lose weight, I talk back. I say NO. I tell myself that life is too short to worry about the way I look. I tell myself that the people in my life who love me don’t give a flying fuck about the way my arms wobble. It takes a little time, but it works.
Seek out inspiring, body positive people
There’s a whole body positivity movement happening out there (just search the #bodiposi hashtag on Instagram) and it’s awesome. These people are shining examples of how it feels to let go of the negativity you are throwing at your body.
Once you let go of hating your body, obsessing about what you eat and how you look you will feel free, I promise you.
I’m still working on it myself, but I’m feeling stronger and happier every day and I will keep posting videos of me doing yoga because I know no one gives a damn about the way I look.
2 comments