Body Positivity for Positive Change

Love Your Body Now To Reach Your Goals Later

Body positivity is more than just a cultural trend, it may actually be the key to success for a healthier, happier life. What if you lived an active and healthy lifestyle not because you hated your body, but because you love it and know it deserves the best? Learn why loving your body now is the most effective way to reach your goals later. 

What Inspires You To Work Out?

Does FitSpiration Inspire? 

Social media would have you believe that ‘FitSpo’ (fitness + inspiration) images of skinny white women exercising in exotic locations and skimpy clothing is the motivating ingredient that will get you to the gym. But it’s just not true. 

Researchers have found that looking at idealized images of young women with zero percent body fat has negative, not positive, consequences. More often than not, scrolling through FitSpo imagery leaves us feeling dissatisfied about our bodies, puts us in a bad mood, and decreases self-esteem.

In reality, women are more likely to participate in fitness activities when they see others who look like them. Women are also more likely to stick to a workout routine when in a supportive environment, surrounded by their peers. 

Does Negative Feedback Motivate? 

If you don’t feel inspired by an army-style boot-camp instructor shouting at you and making you feel bad, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re normal! Positive feedback is much more inspiring than berating comments, especially for women.

In one study of male and female athletes, women who received positive feedback while attempting a maxium strength bicep curl performed 4% better, while the men performed 15% worse. 

A study of female collegiate athletes found women performed their best when coaches communicated clearly and directly. When the athletes were ignored, their performance dwindled. Women excel when a coach offers them positive, clear attention.

Focus on the Goals that Matter

Ultimately, we work out because we want to be happier. When we strive for happiness as the goal, a healthier, leaner body is just a positive side effect. It doesn’t work the other way around. Striving toward a weight loss goal doesn’t always lead to happiness. 

To focus on the body positive goals that matter, ask yourself the following questions. Create goals that are focused on present moment happiness, and you’ll be surprised at your future results.

• How Does This Activity Make You Feel? 

  • Do you feel stronger, more capable or more confident?

  • Choose activities that help you build skills, strength and confidence

  • Set a goal to Learn New Things, Feel More Capable or Be More Confident

• Is This Activity Reducing Or Increasing Stress? 

  • Intense exercise may be stressful in the moment, but should generally help you feel more at ease.

  • Choose activities that help you release stress and let go of worries

  • Set a goal to Reduce Stress, Practice Self-Care, or Feel Greater Ease

• Is This Activity Energizing or Depleting?

  • You might be tired after your workout, but do you feel more energetic in general?

  • Choose fitness activities that fill you up, versus wearing you down

  • Set a goal to Increase your Energy, Fill Your Cup, or Sleep Better

• Is This Activity Fun?

  • Is your workout contributing to a good mood and positive self-esteem? 

  • Choose activities that leave you feeling happy and glad you participated

  • Set a goal to Be Happier, Enjoy your Workouts, or Connect to Community

You’re Perfect Just as You Are

Body positivity begins with body acceptance. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the greatest change occurs when we realize we’re whole just as we are. Fitness cannot help us if we relate to it as punishment or deprivation. That’s just not sustainable. If you’re going to the gym to torture yourself, you won’t keep going for very long.

When you workout because you love your body, you approach your workouts with joy. Exercise becomes something you want to do, not something you need to do. Try changing your mentality by transforming the following unhelpful statements to body-positive affirmations.

Unhelpful Statements

❌  I deprive myself of sweets because I don’t deserve them

❌  I’m hard on myself for all the things I can’t do

❌  I participate in fitness because I have to

❌  I exercise because I hate my body

❌  I workout to look a certain way for others

❌  My happiness depends on how I look

Body-Positive Statements

✅ I eat healthy food to be kind to myself

✅ I notice what I can do and rejoice in my abilities

✅ I participate in activities I really enjoy

✅ Exercise helps me express gratitude for my body

✅ I workout for myself because I enjoy it

✅ My happiness depends on how I feel

Love yourself just as you are and your whole world will change. Fitness will become something you do for yourself, not for others. Staying on the path to health and wellness depends upon accepting where you are along the path right now. All we have is the present moment, so put one foot in front of the other and enjoy!