Let’s face it: very few of us wake up in the morning feeling great about how we look. Some of us wish we could lose those last five pounds; others of us feel frustrated that we could never bulk up the way we’d like. If you’re someone who tends to be critical of your body, here are four techniques you can use to look and feel your best:
1. Learn to Feel Full. Slowing down and getting in touch with your body while you eat prevents over-eating and unnecessary self-starvation. Eat slowly and chew well, and stop eating at the point when you feel full.
2. Find a part of your body you love. We spend so much time thinking about parts of our bodies we dislike, why not dedicate a little energy to a body part you love? Spend some time with yourself identifying a part of your body that you feel confident about and proud of, and make sure you remember that part of yourself as least as often as you think about pats that make you feel bad.
3. Get to know your inner critic. Often, we become critical of ourselves not because something is actually wrong with us but because criticizing ourselves is an unconscious way of coping with some sort of stressor or difficult situation. The next time you hear yourself being critical of your body, ask: what’s happening in my life right now that’s making me be self-critical? How can I reduce stress as a way of feeling better about myself
4. Treat yourself. So often we think about “treating ourselves” as a sort of unhealthy or negative indulgence, but who wrote the rule that a treat has to be bad? Develop your list of “good treats” that will make you look and feel good–a candle lit bath, a massage or pedicure, a long walk or a new haircut are all things that will feel like a great treat without any negative consequences the next day!
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