Stop saying these 5 toxic things about your body now and give it love
How often have we cursed our bodies for being fat, flabby, scarred or more? Media and popular culture has ingrained a certain idea of beauty in our minds, so much so that we conform to the narrow ideals, without even realising it. Those slender, porcelain-like models you see on Instagram and glossy fashion magazines might look oh-so-perfect, but it’s important to remember that they have an army of beauty experts who make them look the way they do. Plus, it’s high time we give our bodies due credit for helping us survive through the pandemic.
Even when we know these things, we tend to be harsh towards our bodies. We don’t even realise it, but tend to say the most awful stuff, and end up feeling even worse. It is important to stop this cycle somewhere. Negative body image is common, but how about taking the first step by promising not to say these things ever? Sounds like a plan? Let’s go!
1. I can’t believe I ate that
A lot of times we start to link our self-worth with food. This means if you have low self-esteem, you might judge yourself based on what and how much you ate. When you are unable to fulfil your expectations, you experience feelings of anger, frustration, and disappointment every single time you consume something unhealthy. It’s important to have a healthy relationship with food. Instead of criticising yourself, don’t beat yourself up for it, and try to make small changes, even if you want to.
2. I want to lose some more weight
It is important to pay attention to how you feel, instead of that number on the weighing scale. At the end of the day, everything in life is not just about your weight. Be grateful for having a healthy body that helps you enjoy your life. The idea is to focus on living a healthy lifestyle, and not chase weight loss.
3. I am so fat
Sometimes, we casually say that our weight has gone up, and refer to ourselves as fat. But STOP calling yourself fat right away. The problem with this word is the way it is perceived by society. When you call yourself the ‘F’ word, you are subconsciously bringing in negativity. This can really impact your self-esteem, and make you feel like you’re not good enough.
4. I am disgusting
Those who have a negative body image can sometimes go as far as calling themselves ‘disgusting’. If you start to view yourself from that lens, it’s highly unlikely that you are going to treat yourself in the right way. For instance, when you call a thing in your house ugly, you barely pay any attention to it. It will just stay in a corner. That’s exactly what’s going to happen with you, when you call yourself disgusting.
Also, read: Body shaming can wreck your mental health! But these tips from 5 influential women can help
5. I will be happy when…
We often tell ourselves that we’ll be happy once we fulfil a certain condition. For instance, I will be happy when I lose 10 kgs or I will be on top of the world, when I have a bikini body. This is not a good outlook at all, and could prevent you from living your best life. In fact, when you keep doing this, you could also make yourself prone to mental health issues like depression, anxiety or obsession with body image.