[CHAT] Body image & health at every size!
Body image is one of the major issues that we all face in different ways every day. Regardless of weight and height, it is always in our minds and we always want to be different or to want what other's have. Whether it's losing weight, gaining weight or having muscles we are always striving for what we think is better, to the point that it might break down our sense of self and bring down our self esteem
Health at Every Size (HAES) is a peaceful movement that acknowledges that it is very important to be healthy but that does not mean that a particular size cannot be healthy. It supports that people of all sizes can adopt healthy behaviours.
Accepting your body the way that it is, takes so much strength and power. Full acceptance means letting go of society's ideas of how we should be and also loving ourselves the way we are without comparison, and this is so hard to do. I'm sure if I asked you guys what do you want to change about yourself, you could write a long list without hesitation, but if I asked what do you love about your body, some of you might stop and think for a while.
So what can we do about this? How can we love ourselves more and accept ourselves more every day? Come join us in this GR session, where we explore what it means to be Healthy at Every Size, and can we sign up to this and change our lives and our bodies and our minds forever?
Before you come to the session, check this out for more information on HAES - cant wait to have this chat on Monday 4th May at 8pm.
I don't think I know what my pores look like...which is probably a good thing!
Looks like a great article Georgie 🙂 I'll give it a proper read tonight when this chat has finished 🙂
Definitely taking steps to be better.....!
A lot of you guys have spoken about how skinny doesn't make you happy and I totally agree with the sentiment. I am trying to lose weight (because the honest thing is that I need to) but I'm not aiming for skinny, it's more that I'm aiming for strong. My body has let me down a lot (no more team sports for me 😞 ) but this doesn't mean I can't spend time at the gym and honestly, it improves my mood when I do. In addition I'm going to bed earlier and eating better and the combination of these things help me view myself in a more positive light. Fresh eyes in the morning particularly
@ruenhonx literally fiteness is so important to me and probably the root cause of why I get narky about myself when my fitness drops - growing up I was fit, I played sport, up until recently all my jobs were physically demanding and outdoors. It's been a huge problem not being what I was. That's my whole motivation; I know it's possible, I'll get there again
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linsey-hart/ten-ways-to-improve-your-body-image_b_6279108.html
I find this point so difficult though and the most frustrating:
Stay away from shopping centers and department stores.
@CeeGee Yes you will get there, one step at a time.
Nice work stonepixie! Since moving out of my parents house a few months ago, I have unintentionally cut back on my junk food intake - mainly because I don't want to pay for it!
It's great to see you are taking steps to better improve your overall health and wellbeing CeeGee 🙂 I'm sure you will start to feel benefits from it soon (if you aren't already!)
I think sleep is a great point that you've raised. It is so important for us to take care of our bodies, and sleep is essential in doing that
Have you taken any steps towards better accepting your body?
Yes absolutely, I think it is a work in progress. I try to take care of my body, exercise, eat healthy, self-care and I also have improved in my self-talk, instead of looking at things I cant change, I look at things I can change.
2. Do you feel pressure for you body to look a certain way? If so, where does that pressure come from?
Literally the internet. And particularly now more than ever with health and wellness blogs being incredibly, incredibly popular. It doesn't matter what platform you try to use, there's some drop dead gorgeous girl living her beautiful life cropping up! Even print magazines have a huge online presence now and just everywhere there's this pressure to be skinny, toned and flawless
I think that's so true CeeGee. I like to remind myself that no one is perfect, and that photoshop, angles, lighting and filters work wonders for people in the internet!
More and more there seems to be pressure on guys to look a certain way - what are some of the pressures that you've noticed facing guys?
Feeling the need to be bulky, ripped, and appear strong and tough. You know, the standand gender sterotype.
