Steps to Improve Body Insecurity

Women and men both struggle with body insecurity. According to a study published in Front Psychiatry, roughly 20-40% of women struggle with body dissatisfaction. Although men represent a smaller percentage at 10-30%, they also struggle with body insecurity.

Hormonal changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, middle age, and menopause, also trigger poor body image. However, there are things you can do to improve your confidence and minimize body insecurity.

Steps for improving body insecurity.

What could you accomplish if you stopped allowing your body insecurity, low self-esteem, and poor confidence to hold you back? God made each one of us in His image and likeness, a fact we often forget. We need to treat our bodies as temples for the Holy Spirit, focusing on health and strength instead of fitting into a specific size or societal ideal.

The following are tips for tweaking your lifestyle and mindset to overcome body insecurity.

Spend time boosting your mood in the morning.

You can set your whole tone for the day by your morning routine. You can boost your mood by playing energizing music. Consider power ballads or dance music during a morning walk or while getting dressed. Music boosts mood by activating the release of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine gives you sensations of well-being.

Meditating on the Bible and repeating affirmations can also initiate a positive mindset. Try naming things you like about yourself and your body, reminding yourself that God created you for a purpose.

Strength train.

Strength training or resistance training changes the shape of the body. When you add resistance through added weight like dumbbells or body weight, the stress creates tiny tears in the muscle tissue. This muscle tissue heals and grows stronger. When you train, endorphins are released, boosting your mood and confidence. Your perception and relationship with your body changes.

Aim for at least two days a week of strength training, working up to four or five days per week. Get clearance from your doctor before starting a training regimen and consider consulting a personal trainer initially to learn about proper form.

Dress to feel good.

The way you dress, your style, affects your behavior and mood. When you dress in colors and styles you like, you receive a surge of energy and confidence. When you dress well, you strengthen your self-perception, the way you see yourself.

Choose styles, colors, and textures that you love. Garments should fit your body now, so try on clothing to ensure a proper fit. Clothes that are too baggy or too tight will make you seem larger. Even if you are not fit, dressing well and for your body type will boost your confidence and make you feel good in your body.

Cut back on social media.

Social media can be good for connecting with others and sharing ideas. Unfortunately, social media allows people to share edited and filtered versions of themselves. When we compare ourselves to others, we set ourselves up for failure.

If you notice your mood spiraling downward after scrolling social media, cut back on your time online. Or stop following accounts with unrealistic body ideals and start following body-positive profiles.

Practice self-care.

Body insecurity can be the result of a too-busy lifestyle. When busyness takes over, we often forget to take care of ourselves. Self-care encompasses the whole self, including physical and mental health, exercise, diet, hobbies, and relaxation.

Be sure to keep an eye on your health by keeping annual appointments and screenings. When you feel on top of your health, you walk a little differently. When you care for your body and mind, you become confident. Your confidence attracts opportunities and others to you.

Make health your focus.

Do not get caught up in the game of seeing a specific number on the scale, wearing a tiny digit on a dress, or labeling yourself as skinny. Instead, focus on health. When we make health the focus, everything else falls into place.

For example, if you concentrate on planning your meals with nutritious foods, training five days a week, walking most days, and drinking plenty of water, you will notice your mood and outlook improving, your body satisfaction increasing, and your body changing. You will not get hung up on a number on the scale because you will focus on becoming the healthiest version of yourself.

Get professional help.

Do you struggle with body insecurity, body dysmorphia, and negative self-talk? Do you have lower self-esteem and confidence? Christian counseling could help you overcome these obstacles and face the day with renewed confidence and body positivity. Contact us at Los Angeles Christian Counseling today to schedule an assessment with a professional Christian counselor in LA.