Do you have realistic body goals? A recent beach vacation helped me to re-evaluate my body image. I am often way too hard on myself. Sometimes that inner voice says, “I hate my body.” I always want to cover up all of my imperfections.
What I saw on the beach was so many women celebrating their bodies. Showing off curves, bellies, cellulite and more. Like the celebs in this picture, I loved how the women I saw embraced themselves and were not trying to hide every bump and bulge like I was.
I was so inspired by these women. If they can do it, so can I. I need to forgive my body for not being perfect and embrace it for what it is. It is beautiful, healthy, and strong.
How do you feel about your body? Do you have specific body goals? Do you cover up or share it with the world?
Like many girls, I grew up playing with Barbie dolls. I always felt that she had the “perfect” body. Did you know that Barbie’s measurements are 32″ bust, 16″ waist, 29″ hips, and 16″ thighs? The average woman is 35″ Bust, 35″ waist, 40″ hips, and 25″ thigh.
How can anyone expect to measure up? It’s truly impossible. Setting a body goal to look like Barbie is completely unrealistic. Unfortunately, that was a body goal for me for many years.
Improve Those Body Goals Women!
1. Take a break from social media
It can be literally exhausting trying to keep up with the Jones’. Women are the first to log on to social media and see the perfect body. We see women who appear to have everything.
That negative voice starts to come out. Do yourself a favor and know that most social media lives are not what they seem. Many photos use filters to improve imperfection. Bonus: you may be surprised by the amount of time you have when it’s not spent online!
2. Pick up a new hobby
The great thing about hobbies is they are not an obligation! Start crafting, take a cooking class, or go antique hunting. All of these things not only occupy your mind, they are great for your mental health
Hobbies improve happiness by doing something that you love. Also, if your hobby is something not everyone can do, it almost replaces body hate with self-validation without having to compare yourself with others.
3. Set a body goal and achieve it
It doesn’t matter what the body goal may be but set one. Think of short-term goals that you have always wanted to reach and start working towards it. You may have heard about SMART goals. This stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Timebound
Your goals should be something specific and relevant to you. A body goal for someone else may not be realistic to you. Here is some examples:
- Walk 5 days every week for 30 minutes each.
- Drink water instead of soda every day this week.
- Bring my lunch to work instead of eating out 4 days this week.
Don’t tell yourself that you CANNOT do something. Instead, prove to yourself that you can, and you will. It will feel AMAZING!
4. Set aside time daily for self-motivation
Everyone has a busy life whether it involves work, kids, a spouse, or extracurricular activities. However, it’s important you do not lose yourself along the way.
Take 15 minutes out of your schedule for you. I enjoy reading positive affirmations or meditating. It doesn’t matter when you do it, just as long as it gets done. Here are a few that focus on body goals:
- My body is a vessel for my awesomeness
- I love my body and I love myself
- I am perfect and complete just the way I am
5. Surround yourself with positivity
If you know there are things or people in your life that make you feel toxic, it’s time to start cleaning house. Nobody needs unnecessary negativity in their life. If you have friends that constantly bring you down, they are not your friends.
If you leave every morning to go to a job you hate, look for a new one. Say your spouse and kids make you feel toxic, sit down with them and talk it out. Come up with a plan that will work for everyone. You’ll set a great example for your kids.
6. Know that no one is perfect and be comfortable with that
First things first, stop comparing yourself to others. As much as it downs your body image, someone else is having the exact same thought about themselves.
No one is perfect no matter what their Facebook post says or their Instagram stories. Start being comfortable in what you have and start working towards the realistic body goals you want. Body positivity can be found a lot easier once you consciously tell yourself that YOU ARE ENOUGH.
7. Stop obsessing and start focusing
Instead of obsessing over your weight, start focusing on doing something about it. In order to gain control over your eating habits, you have to find out where the problem lies.
Keeping a food journal or diary is great for tracking the nutrients you are taking in. Also, be sure that there is a section to write about your feelings. Put your voice on paper as to why you are or not eating, what happened that day to put you in a bad mood, and how can you change it.
Everyone has to start somewhere, so start small. Make a few small changes and work up to the things that you feel are totally out of reach.
8. Build a support system
Let people know what is going on instead of feeling alone, I promise you are not alone. Actually, you would probably be surprised to know that most people feel exactly like you in one way or another.
By getting rid of negativity you can focus on mentally and physically building a strong foundation. Talk to your family and friends. Look online about meetings in your local area if you are struggling with a specific problem.
9. Buy clothes that fit
Stop refusing to buy a size bigger. If you think that you want to start losing weight, we all know it does not happen overnight. So, disregard what the tag size is, and buy what fits. You will feel so much more comfortable in your own skin, it’s unreal.
10. Exercise
If you struggle with body image, walking, running, or going to the gym gives you a sense of purpose of working towards something. This could also count for your daily motivation, your focus, and even body goal setting. Exercise is really a time where it is all about you, and that is totally okay!
11. Accept Yourself
Nearly everyone has suffered from body image or improper eating at some point in their lives. I nearly starved myself to be skinny after I graduated from college. Later in life, I gained 20 pounds from emotional binge eating. We all have issues.
Instead of saying, “I hate my body,” learn to love your body. It will take time. I cannot say that it is easy, because it’s not. But if you are trying, and use these improvements above, you’ll be heading in the right direction.
I recently saw an interview with Drew Barrymore. She said, “being happy is beautiful.” Just sharing a smile can help brighten someone else’s day. Let’s focus on our happiness and our smiles and not on the imperfections of our bodies.
Even to this day, my mom still comments on my weight every time I see her. It’s difficult for me since I am prone to viewing myself negatively. I do agree with you though; Our bodies are amazing and should be celebrated!
I wish they made that Barbie you show. I would SOOOOO buy that over the other. The speech we use around our daughters or allow them to hear (you can’t help what they hear at school) truly affects them. My mom always wanted to talk about weight around my daughter and I wouldn’t let her.
I never looked like Barbie and never cared. I do have good body image though.
It’s funny, I never wanted to look like Barbie, I wanted to stand out and look different from Barbie- I guess I was a lucky young girl who was encouraged to express myself and embrace my differences!
I know. It is just so misleading. I am happy my daughter is not playing with Barbies, but she is in school, so you know it is coming
Ha, I have big calves too and it’s hard for girls now with the unrealistic images and portrayals of what a woman’s body should be.
My mom always raised me to have good body image, I think. With magazines and everything being airbrushed, these days, it’s hard for young girls growing up.