How to Improve Your Body Image

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What do you actually see and feel when you look at yourself in the mirror?

That question sounds simple, but I think there is a lot underneath it.

In this episode, I’m beginning a three-part conversation about how we see ourselves on the outside, how we see ourselves on the inside, and where body image and self-image start to overlap.

For this first part, I want you to pay attention to what you notice physically. What parts of your body immediately get your attention? What thoughts show up? What feelings come with those thoughts? Are there certain things you tend to focus on every single time?

I share some of my own experience with cerebral palsy and how quickly I can still fall into a negative thought loop if I catch my reflection while I am walking. Even after doing a lot of work around body image, those thoughts can still show up.

The difference is that I am much better at noticing them now.

That awareness matters because many of the beliefs we carry about our bodies have been built over a very long period of time. Some came from people around us. Some came from media, marketing, fitness culture, or other outside messages telling us directly or indirectly how we were supposed to feel about ourselves.

Eventually, those messages can start sounding like our own voice.

The goal here is not to judge yourself for what you notice. It is to understand it.

As you listen, write down what you see, what you feel, what you tend to focus on, and where those thoughts may have come from. The more clearly you can see the pattern, the easier it becomes to recognize those thought loops when they happen and begin redirecting them.

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Body image is often treated like it is only about physical appearance, but I think it goes much deeper than that.

In this episode, I’m exploring what body image actually means to me and why I believe it comes down to both what you see and who you see when you look in the mirror. Your physical appearance may be the first thing you notice, but it usually does not take long before thoughts about your body start connecting to thoughts about yourself as a person.

That is why improving body image is not just about trying to convince yourself that you like the way you look. It is about intentionally deciding how you want to see yourself, then taking repeatable actions that reinforce that perspective.

I talk about why I continue to come back to mirror work, even if standing in front of the mirror and intentionally building yourself up feels uncomfortable at first. Fifteen seconds, thirty seconds, or sixty seconds gives you an opportunity to notice what comes up, redirect thoughts that do not align with how you want to see yourself, and practice a different relationship with yourself.

We are surrounded by messages that benefit from making us feel insecure about our bodies. Your Level Fitness is built around doing the opposite.

I believe you can learn to appreciate yourself from the inside/out, navigate fitness without constantly fighting against yourself, and build a forever active lifestyle that actually works for you.

As you listen, think about what body image means in your own life. When you look in the mirror, what do you see physically, and more importantly, who do you see?

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https://yourlevelfitness.com/email

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Episode Description

Welcome to How to Improve Your Body Image.

Starting January 1, 2027, I’ll be releasing episodes focused on helping you become more intentional about how you see yourself and how you relate to your body.

In this trailer, I explain why improving your body image starts with a decision. There are plenty of outside influences that can shape how you feel about yourself, but at some point, you have to decide that you want to see yourself differently.

From there, it becomes about daily action and reinforcement.

One simple practice I recommend is spending 15, 30, or 60 seconds in front of the mirror intentionally building yourself up. If you know you tend to look in the mirror and tear yourself down, start practicing the opposite. You are not trying to force perfection. You are practicing a new way of seeing yourself.

That is also what this podcast is here to help reinforce.

Subscribe now so you’re notified when new episodes begin January 1.

If you have questions, comments, or topics you’d like me to cover, email me at [email protected].