How to bounce back from a bad body image day

Have you had a bad body image day recently?

Perhaps you experienced body shame, anxiety or dissatisfaction?

This feeling is all too familiar to me, so you aren’t alone if you ever feel this way.

In this post, I’m exploring how you can bounce back from a bad body image day.

I’m sharing:

  • What triggers a bad body day even when you feel neutral in your body
  • Why bad body days don’t magically disappear even when you’ve done a LOT of body image work
  • My four go-to strategies for bouncing back from a bad body image day
  • How to shift your thinking to stop seeing a bad body image day as a sign of failure

Watch or read below:

Bad body image days are normal

Regardless of how much body acceptance work you’ve done, it’s natural to have days where feelings of body shame come up.

I’ve done a lot of work on my body image, and I’m not immune to bad body days!

Body shame, anxiety and dissatisfaction can easily resurface when you’re exposed to triggering people or media, for example.

Even if you now accept your body, we still live in a world that isn’t accepting of bodies. So, it’s no surprise that you are affected by people and spaces that aren’t body positive.

Bouncing back from a bad body image day

When you’re armed with tools to support you, a bad body day doesn’t have to drag you down.

So, here are a few of my go-to strategies to bounce back from a bad body image day:

Firstly, don’t believe everything your inner critic tells you

The body criticisms and taunts of your critic are culturally programmed beliefs that you’ve internalised. These did not originate from you, and they aren’t your fault.

Secondly, be compassionate

Recognise that it takes time and consistent effort to undo cultural programming, and you’re doing the best you can.

You haven’t failed in your efforts at better body confidence just because you’re having a bad body day.  Practise self-compassion.

Thirdly, get in touch with what you’re really feeling

Although your inner critic might be screaming, “You’re gross, old, unattractive, whatever…”  behind that criticism lies something else that needs your attention.

Whenever I feel out of control, I’ll often obsess over my looks and feel the desire to ‘fix’ something about my appearance.

Understanding what you’re really feeling helps you realise it’s not about your body.

Finally, seek out your body safe environment

This might be body positive groups on social media or real-life friends who you can turn to for support.  Create your own body positive environment.

It’s important to remember that there is no short cut to better body confidence, and that bad body days are part of the journey.

You haven’t failed if you have a bad body day!

Body acceptance work is all about finding ways to navigate the thoughts and feelings that you have about your body, and this isn’t straight forward.

Body confidence progress can be messy, and it’s certainly imperfect!

If you need help dealing with bad body image days, I cover this on my 1:1 Coaching Programme, The Body Confidence Journey, and I’d love to help you! 

If you’d like to know more about the programme, and if it’s a good fit for you, answer a few questions for me, and I’ll be in touch to let you know!

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