On today’s episode we will be discussing what body image is,and how to improve it.

We will also be sharing about The Loveland Foundation, what it is and how you can help contribute while also improving your own body image.

So let’s dive in:

What is body image?

The dictionary definition is “an intellectual or idealized image of what one's body is or should be like”.

Both the words idealized and should hold the power of diet culture. Our ideas of what the ideal body is and what it SHOULD look like come directly from the message that thinner is better and all of the damaging self criticisms that come along with the diet mentality.

Body image has much less to do with the way your body looks and much more to do with your thoughts and judgements around what it SHOULD be and what is good or bad in a body.

The way to heal your body image is to transform these thoughts and judgements into ones of acceptance and flexibility.

Accepting your body does not mean liking the way it looks all the time - it means letting go of the idea that it SHOULD be a specific way. The pain that shoulds cause us isnt real - the minute you dont have that thought, the pain goes away. This is why mindset is so important. 

Here are 3 main thing to focus on when it comes to healing your body image:

 

Let go of all shoulds and shouldnts. These will only ever leave us dissatisfied and discontent.

Allow for flexibility - your body will change over your lifetime, it is inevitable. Allowing for that gives you freedom no matter how your body changes. 

Work on being ENOUGH as you are right now. The number one thing we hear when women do lose weight is - it was never enough. There are always flaws that need fixing and things that need changing - ALWAYS. 

 

Drop the shoulds, allow for change and find enoughness where you are right now.

NOTE: The question we will inevitably get from this is -- isnt that complacency, isn’t it good to practice self improvement. Sure! But how about using that energy to work on things that matter instead of trying to appease society’s oppression of your body? You can still choose to work on practicing positive health behaviors like getting enough sleep, eating a variety of foods, becoming an intuitive eater, moving your body. And all of that can be achieved while finding a healthy body image, resulting in both a positive change in physical and mental health.

We’d now like to share the Loveland Foundation with you.  We will be supporting this foundation through our 21 Day Body Image Intensive program that is open today.

The Body Image Intensive is a 21 day process you can go through where each day you will have a journal prompt or an activity to do to improve your body image. 

The intensive is $21 and 50% of proceeds will be going to the foundation.

The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle in response to her widely successful birthday wish fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women and Girls. Her enthusiastic social media community raised over $250,000, which made it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations.

The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of this effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, ultimately they hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities they serve.

To learn more about the intensive you can go to thebodylovesociety.com/bodyimage and to learn more about The Loveland Foundation you can visit www.thelovelandfoundation.org