Her Active Life

Click here for the Lead Stories

Five Tips for a Beautiful Body

Posted February 24, 2008 at 06:00 PM by Katie Drummond

Section: Her Fitness, Her Health, Body Image, Her Motivation

You’re a hot, foxy momma – you just may not know it yet. And while you might have cast your eyes upon this article hoping for the next miracle-cream-tablet-diet-combination guaranteed to firm your thighs and melt stomach flab, you’ve got another thing coming. Rather than offer advice that will change your body, how about five ways to love the one you’ve got, as-is, right now?  No costly surgical procedures, awkwardly fitting stomach-sucking panties or impossible-to-imitate workout routines required. For a few tips on how to feel good about your rockin’ bod (not to mention your stellar smarts and sassy wit), read on.

Toss the Thin-is-in Magazines: We don’t want to name names, but you know which glossy ‘zines we’re referring to – the ones that offer up 1,600 calorie meal plans, bizarre workout trading cards and photos of women wearing Spandex shorts and snacking on celery...on the beach, while skipping rope. How can reading these possibly make you feel anything but uncomfortable in your own skin? If you want to soak up new information on health and wellness, check out books or websites (hint) on nutritious cooking, athletes and strong, intelligent women you can admire for more than their cellulite-free butts.

Get a Mat: A yoga mat, that is. Whether you choose to rev-it-up Ashtanga style or just sit cross-legged in your underwear, make the mat your body sanctuary. Yoga and Pilates are great workouts that do more than tone your body, but make you aware of it, how it moves and reacts to different positions and stretches. Nothing will make you love your body more than the first time you coax it into a headstand – we swear! But a yoga mat isn’t all about the workout, or even learning about your body. It’s a great place to take a few minutes, sit (or lay) and relax with your thoughts.

Eat What Feels Good: You love fries. That’s fine. But how does your body feel when you eat cold ones for breakfast? Probably not too hot – and definitely not as energized and healthy as a bowl of granola with fresh fruit, right? While you can’t eat gourmet, nutritious, feel-good cuisine at every meal, do your best to treat food as fuel, and choose the foods that will power you up, rather than run you down. And that goes for more than just cutting junk – cut the diet crap, too. Your body needs real fats, starches and even (yes) sugar – the natural kind. Avocado is not the enemy!

Do Right With Light: A simple tip to feel hot and sexy, right now? Make sure your bathroom lighting doesn’t imitate the overhead glare of local Wal-Mart. Nobody looks good with 1,000 watts of electric heat radiating off their pores and accentuating their pasty winter skin. Nobody. Stick with natural lighting as much as possible, and at the very least, avoid freaky industrial overhead illumination. Not only will you probably feel a lot more calm living in a home with a warm glow rather than toxic beams, but you’ll avoid some of the endless mirror-scrutiny that can accompany unflattering lighting. You don’t actually have scary black bags under your eyes, or blotchy spots all over your face – unless you have Chicken Pox, in which case, no amount of “soft glow” is going to be much help.

Write It Out: You’ve certainly heard this tip before, but it’s a classic one and a valuable idea. Skip tracking calories or workout sessions, and instead keep a log of body-loving writing, in whatever way appeals to you. A daily journal? A list of things you l-o-v-e about your sweet self? A scrapbook of favorite quotes, pictures, ideas and memories? It all works – whatever makes you feel strong, healthy and happy is perfect. Besides, what would you rather look back at in twenty years – a log of how many carrots you ate on January 15th, or a list of 10 outfits that make you look hotter than Angelina?

Try one tip, or try them all - or don’t try any. Regardless, keep the mantra they represent in mind: you are beautiful, right now, in front of your computer (yes, even you, in the old boxer shorts and sports bra drinking decaf peppermint tea). Make an effort, in your own way, to acknowledge that fact - every day.

2 comments, add yours | Permalink | Share this article

Tags: body appreciation, body image, eating disorders, haes, health at every size, self-esteem, self-image, self-worth, women body, women confidence, womens empowerment

Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!

2 Responses to “Five Tips for a Beautiful Body” (Leave a reply)