Tips for Setting Realistic Body Image Goals
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Let’s be honest, going from having an eating disorder to loving your body just isn’t a realistic body image goal. The body positivity movement dominates on social media because the idea that we can adore our bodies no matter how they look is a lovely one. But the lesser-known hashtag “body neutrality” is far more attainable. Besides, you don’t have to love your body to be fully recovered from an eating disorder.
Our bodies are vessels. We don’t choose them, we don’t always have control over them, and we don’t have to love them or think they are perfect to live happy lives in them. Thinking about improving your body image can be daunting when the goal is set at “Love your body!”
In eating disorder recovery, it is easy to get discouraged and think “I’ll never be like that woman on Instagram who wears whatever she wants and loves how she looks.” Successful eating disorder recovery might look different for you, and that’s okay. Being at peace with your body is possible when you set realistic body image goals.
California eating disorder therapist Ashley Ellis Eid, LMFT of Kindful Body offers these tips for setting realistic body image goals:
Start with things that you like about yourself. When we go down a body image road, we tend to pick on ourselves. It can be helpful to remind ourselves that there are things we like and love about ourselves. These exceptions can help when we are struggling with body image.
Avoid using numbers. Being a certain weight or clothing size won’t improve your body image.
Focus on appreciating what your body is capable of.
Try practicing some coping skills and engaging in some self-care before deciding to "pick" at your body. Oftentimes when we are struggling with body image more on a particular day, it's because we are also struggling with mood.
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In eating disorder therapy, you and a therapist can talk through strategies and tools for improving your body image and building body image resilience for bad body image days. Some of those strategies include:
Saving mantras related to body image to refer to when you are struggling, such as “This is my body, this is where I live” “Every ounce is sacred” “I am more than my body” and “This is temporary.”
Exploring what limitations you put on yourself/what you miss out on by "giving in" to negative body image beliefs and rules.
Practicing opposite action: if you think about body checking or staring in the mirror and picking at yourself as a form of self-harm–which it often is–try doing the opposite. Usually when we are in that space what we really need is some comfort and self-care. Go for a walk. Put on some lotion. Get your nails done. Do something that makes you or your surrounding environment feel beautiful.
Surrounding yourself with body positivity (or neutrality) and Health At Every Size social media. Follow people and companies with inclusive, positive messages and marketing that support realistic health, beauty, and body expectations. Unfollow toxic social media accounts that hurt your body image.
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Begin Body Image Therapy in California
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