5 Quick Tips to Feel Better When You Think You Look Like Crap

a guest post by Alicia Sparks

(www.weightingline.com) — What a title, hmm?? Hi y’all! Alicia from Mental Health Notes here, offering up some blogging assistance while Hope is away battling the elements.

I’m not a weight loss expert by any means (I’ve had a few severe ups and downs in my life, but nothing that didn’t eventually take care of itself after my hormones or moods leveled out); for me, the battle has been mostly about body image.

Today I’m too fat. Today I’m too thin. Today my butt is too flat or too bubbled or too wide or I swear it’s smirking at me in the mirror. My arms aren’t toned enough, my jaw line isn’t visible enough, my ankles are cankles and where did that belly pooch come from? I’m too tall. I’m too short. My haircut makes me look like I’ve gained weight.

Did he honestly just say I had “child-bearing hips”?!?

You get the idea.

So, today, as someone who has struggled with her body image and lived to tell the tale, I want to offer you a few tips on how to feel better about yourself on those particularly low days — whether you’ve just gotten off the scale and are feeling down over the last 10 pounds you can’t seem to drop, or you simply woke up feeling as if you look like crap.

And, as someone who revels in her two X chromosomes, these tips are girly (and bordering on superficial, but really, who cares? they make me feel better) and men should probably head on over to Health and Men and let Scott take care of them for the day.

Tip #1 — Eat well. Your body feels better when it’s properly nourished, and when your body feels better, you tend to feel better about your body. (Rocket science, I know.) So, rather than grabbing a bowl (or three) of chocolate ice cream in hopes it will freeze your sorrows, grab an apple. Or a salad. Or whatever your healthy food of choice is. Refraining from giving into junk food temptation — knowing you’ve taken care of your body today — gives you one more reason to feel good about yourself.

Tip #2 — Move your body. Exercise — you knew it was coming. Sure, there are days when you’d rather just wallow in sorrow and sweats, but why not put those sweats to better use? You don’t have to run a 5K. The dog needs to be walked, the house needs to be cleaned, and your car needs to be washed, after all. Tackling these chores decreases the amount of time you spend obsessing over belly pooches, and when you’re finished you’ll feel accomplished and maybe even motivated enough to take on another task.

Tip #3 — Drag out your mani/pedi supplies. And while you’re at it, grab your favorite tube of lipstick, too. It may sound ridiculous, but when I give myself a manicure and pedicure, I feel better about my physical appearance. I feel like I’ve taken control of at least one thing that had me feeling blue. When I slap on a coat of lipstick? I can take over the world, Pinky. You may want to substitute these things with deep conditioning your hair, pulling on your favorite pair of jeans, or grooming your eyebrows. It’s whatever works for you. The important thing is that you take control over one short-term “problem area.” It’s hard to focus too long on your butt when your nails look so damn good.

Tip #4 — Grab a book. It’s not all about physical appearances. Head to your bookshelf or your local library (or heck, check out one of those free online libraries if you just can’t leave the house). Revisit an old favorite, or expose yourself to something new. Not only does reading great literature take your mind off your temporary blues, but it also exercises your mind. Feeling smart feels good.

Tip #5 — Watch How to Look Good Naked on Lifetime. Honestly, almost every episode has me wiping my eyes at some point. I?m so happy for the women Carson Kressley helps, and I love the ways he helps them. Rather than putting them on some kind of diet and exercise regime so they’ll be thin or toned enough one day, he teaches them how to work with — and love — the bodies they have right now.

Please keep in mind that these are not long-term solutions to issues you may have with your weight and body image. I realize lipstick and literature won’t change your life. These are merely temporary ways to get through those days when you feel particularly blah — and maybe even have a little fun doing it!

- Alicia Sparks

(Image: SXC)