°Body Positivity°
Some girls and guys are sitting outside on lawn chairs in their bathing suits, tanning. Some guys and gals walk past them, eyeing some of the tanning people and making disgusted faces at the others. It just so happened that Mags was tanning with them.
Mags: Don’t be discouraged by them, guys! Y’all are so beautiful, I go blind every time I lay eyes on you! Yup! That beautiful! So full of brightness and sunshine that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside! You are perfect on the inside!!
Offended Girl: I’m not so sure about that. I’m so ugly and fat. Nobody likes me because of that. I wish I could be skinny again!
Offended Boy: Yeah! Everyone always looks me up and down like I’m some play doll! It makes me so uncomfortable and makes me feel like I have to dress to please! I wish I could be more inconspicuous!
All Tanning People: Yeah! We hate it and we want it to stop! We just don’t know how!!
Mags thinks for a moment, fingers caressing her chin. Then, she had an aha moment and made a quick call with her cell phone.
Minutes later, Divya, Lily, Blossom, and Adiba arrive! They are holding a beautiful banner made by Lily herself!
Divya: So, what’s the deal?
After Mags explains the whole situation, Divya nods her head.
Divya: Okay! We can help with that! Mags, would you like to start us off with what body positivity is?
Mags: Gladly!
Body positivity is simply and purely loving your body the way it is! But, loving your own body, as obvious as the notion may seem, is often easier said than done.
Did you know that 70% of women between the ages of 18-30 dislike their bodies? And men aren’t much better off; 45% say they are dissatisfied with their bodies too. If you find yourself feeling low about your own body, you’re not alone.
Mags: Today, we will let all these people know how they can change these negative thoughts into positive ones!
Divya: Yes, we will! In order to do that, we will need some examples! Take it away, Adiba!
Adiba: Alright! WARNING: eating disorders if that triggers you!!!
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are mental health conditions marked by an obsession with food or body shape. They can affect anyone but are most prevalent among young women.
What causes them?
Eating disorders may be caused by several factors. These include genetics, brain biology, personality traits, and cultural ideals.
1.Anorexia Nervosa
People with anorexia nervosa may limit their food intake or compensate for it through various purging behaviors. They have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when severely underweight.
2.Bulimia Nervosa
People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food in short periods of time, then purge. They fear gaining weight despite being at a normal weight.
3.Binge Eating Disorder
People with binge eating disorder regularly and uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in short periods of time. Unlike people with other eating disorders, they do not purge.
4.Pica
Individuals with pica tend to crave and eat non-food substances. This disorder may particularly affect children, pregnant women, and individuals with mental disabilities.
5.Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. People with the condition generally regurgitate the food they’ve recently swallowed. Then, they chew it again and either swallow it or spit it out.
6.Avoident/Restrictive Dood Intake Disorder
ARFID is an eating disorder that causes people to undereat. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell, or taste.
Other Eating Disorders
Purging Disorder: Individuals with purging disorder often use purging behaviors, such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercising, to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge.
Night Eating Syndrome: Individuals with this syndrome frequently eat excessively, often after awakening from sleep.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): While not found in the DSM-5, this includes any other conditions that have symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but don’t fit into any of the categories above.
Adiba: And that’s it!
Divya and Mags: Woah...That’s a lot…
Lily: Well, I have some Myths vs Facts if you all want to hear them?
Divya: Go ahead, Lil Princess!!
Lily: Alright!
Myth: Eating disorders are a choice.
Facts: Eating disorders are not a choice, but a complex medical condition.
Myth: Eating disorders only happen to girls.
Facts: Unlike society, eating disorders don’t discriminate. They affect people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, etc.
Myth: You can’t recover from eating disorders.
Facts: Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible with the right help and support.
Myth: Someone must be underweight to have an eating disorder.
Facts: Often, when people think of someone with an eating disorder, they think of someone who is significantly underweight. However, although weight loss is typical in anorexia nervosa, most people with an eating disorder stay at an apparently “healthy” weight or are “overweight”.
Myth: Eating disorders can be cured when the person starts gaining weight
Facts: If the person does need to restore their weight, this is only one aspect of treatment, and being weight restored does not mean that the person is recovered. The thoughts and behaviours that come alongside the eating disorder also need to be addressed.
Divya: Thank you so much, Divya! Now, I have a story for all of you! Here it is!!
Angela is a grade 11 student. She always thinks that she is fat and nobody likes her. She keeps quiet and isolates herself most of the time.
Kate, who is her classmate, tries to interact more with her. Angela used to feel like Kate was only trying to use her. She felt like nobody would like her, nor her body.
"Angela, will you come with me to the canteen? How long will you sit here?” Kate asked.
" Please! I don't want to come. You can go with some other one,” Angela said, feeling too depressed.
When Kate went away from there, Angela thought her inner self was right. Nobody loved her nor anyone would.
She sat looking outside the window. Many people were playing.
Kate came with sandwiches and placed one in front of Angela.
"What is this? I can't eat this, sorry,” she said.
"You can! Take this as a treat from me for our friendship,” she replied.
"But why are you being friends with me, Such a fat girl! You will get bullied,” Angela said.
"I can't get bullied, trust me. I can speak back. I can speak back for my friend. I understand you are insecure about being fat, but it's not wrong. It's all based on our body development. You are beautiful! You must love yourself more than anyone! Then, you can shut their mouths,” Kate said.
"But then, nobody loves me,” Angela said.
" Do you love yourself, Angela?” Kate asked.
" Yes, I do,” Angela replied.
"Do you accept yourself as you are?” Kate asked.
" Yes, I do,” she replied.
"See, Angela, when you love yourself and accept yourself as you are, no one's opinion should matter to yours. Come out of your shell. Prove that your body size and shape doesn't matter for you to achieve things,” Kate said.
She nodded.
"Friends, then?” Kate asked, stretching her hands for a hand shake.
"Friends.” She gave her hand and from then on, Angela never had a chance to feel bad about her body or shape.
No body shape is perfect. You are perfect in your own way.
Lily: Oh my goodness! So amazing, Divi!!!!
Divya: Thank you so much, Lil!! I think we need some tips now! Mags?
Mags: With pleasure!
Changing the way we think requires daily effort, just the same as keeping your teeth healthy requires daily brushing. It’s not always a thrill ride. Some of the work might be boring or even feel silly sometimes, and that’s OK.
There are countless ways you can work on body positivity, and you’ll have to find out what works for you. Just to get you started on your self-love journey, we have pulled together 10 of our favorite ways to remind ourselves that bodies are gifts, not curses.
1. Positive affirmations
One of the most basic and effective ways we can practice self-love is to speak it aloud and speak it often, especially when it feels hard to be grateful for our bodies. Give yourself daily, verbal encouragements and reminders. This may mean saying a kind thing to yourself in the mirror in the morning, or placing encouraging sticky notes on your bedside table, or even putting daily encouragements into your phone or computer. Look for self-love and body-positive mantras that speak to you. For starters, check out this list here from Greatest.
And remember, we said some of this work may feel silly, but just because it may feel silly, doesn’t mean it’s not working. Keep at it. A little silliness won’t hurt you.
2. Think healthier, not skinnier
When you’re making meals, or when you’re hitting the gym, don’t frame your fitness goals according to a number you’d like to see on the scale. Exercise and a healthy diet shouldn’t be punishment; this is one way we show respect and appreciation for our bodies. So, instead of thinking about how much your body weighs, or how it’s shaped, think about all the amazing things it can do, all the places it can take you, how it feels, and the experience it brings you. Then honor it with nourishing meals and exercises that you actually ENJOY.
3. Compliment others freely
Oftentimes we project our own insecurities onto other people. We judge them harshly because we judge ourselves too harshly. But when we open ourselves up to be kind to others, it also opens us up to be kinder to ourselves. Give someone a compliment you wished you’d gotten when you needed it most. Be someone else’s silver lining today, and tell them they’re rocking their look.
4. Surround yourself with positivity
Negative messages about body image are all around us, and they have a way of weaseling themselves into our thoughts and antagonizing our insecurities. This might be photoshopped images of models on billboards, or body negative people in your life, and even body negative posts on social media. According to one study, participants who spent more time on social media were more likely to develop a negative body image, and more likely to develop eating disorders. So, try to cut out the negativity that you can. Curate your social media feedshide those fad diet posters. Look for positive people, people who practice self-love, and people who will encourage you to be who you are.
5. Focus on the things you like about yourself
Every time a negative thought about your body pops into your mind, counter it with something positive. Try making lists of the things you like about your body. And not just how it looks, but the things it allows you to do. List it all out. We’re naturally inclined to look for our dissatisfactions and overlook the good things. To break out of that way of thinking, it will take daily repetition. Just keep at it.
6. Stop comparing yourself to others
People come in all shapes and sizes. One person is beautiful in one way, and the next person in some other way. And isn’t that how it should be? Imagine how boring it would be if there were only one way to be, and to feel, beautiful. Comparing yourself to others can leave you feeling like you don’t look the way you should, but you’re not supposed to look like someone else; you’re supposed to look like you.
7. Cut out negative self-talk
Treat your body with the same kindness you’d treat a friend. And if whatever you’re about to say about your body is something you’d feel bad saying about a friend’s body, then don’t say it! Negative self-talk only digs us deeper into body negative patterns of thinking. You don’t deserve verbal abuse from anybody, especially from yourself.
8. Absorb body positive messages
Because, as we said, the world is full of negative messages about bodies, balance that negative noise out with some good, positive perspectives. There is a lot of great literature out there about body image, and many readers have found them to be a huge help in their journeys. Here’s a reading list from Psychology Today, and here’s a list of body positive bloggers from Bustle, just to get you started. And in case you feel more like listening than reading, here’s a bonus list of songs with body positive messages from Billboard.
9. Do something nice for your body
When’s the last time you gave your body a gift just to say, hey, thanks for sticking with me? Carve out some time to go lay in the grass, or take a bubble bath, or a walk up the hill to a pretty view. A good nap can be a gift too.
10. Focus on your whole person
Don’t forget: you are so much more than how you look! A key piece of having a healthy body image is to stop fixating on your body. Try to spend more time thinking about things other than physical appearance. Go throw yourself into your passions. Pick up a new hobby. Catch a movie with a friend. Make something. Your body isn’t just a decoration for looking at; it’s for doing. So, get out there and get doing.
Divya turns to the tanning people.
Divya: Well? Did it help at all?
The tanning people are too stunned to speak, so Divya takes that as a yes.
Mags jumps up and down, mega-excited!
Mags: Thank you, guys, so much!!! I’m happy that y’all were able to help my friends! And I hope it helped all of you too!! (points at all the people reading this update right now)
Teenfix Team: Thank you for reading!!! See you next time on Alpha to Omega!
They all walk away.
Then, Lily hops back in with a crazy face.
Lily: One last parting gift for all of you!!
Lily: Okay, by now!!
Thanks for reading!
~Teenfix
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