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Many people who are overweight or lacking in self confidence often struggle to turn over a new leaf. It can seem an impossible mountain to climb from what they see in the mirror to what they aspire to be.
However, progressing along this road is not as complicated or as difficult as it seems to be. We all have our moments of self doubt or lapse back into bad habits but it's important to focus on the goal at hand and continue with our efforts at self improvement. Many articles and information can be contradicting and confusing, however improving your body image can be summarized into five simple steps; 
Food - Avoid junk food. Not just fast food, but any processed food that's full of salt, fats and sugar. Switch to healthy foods with whole grains, lean meats and fruit & veg. Many people fail because they attempt to do everything at once. If you are struggling to wean yourself from your normal diet, switch one thing at a time to start off. Balanced meals should consist of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats keeping within a reasonable daily calorie total. Even without exercise, this alone will improve your body
image. Plus it'll hopefully add years to your life. Don't forget to wash everything down with plenty of good clean water.
 Exercise - Exercise should incorporate two types - cardio & weight training. If you are overweight, increase your cardio amount. Those underweight or skinny should increase the weight training aspect (don't forget to increase your calorie & protein intake also).Begin with moderate exercise before progressing to more intensive training. Exercise at least three times a week on alternate days. If your body is still sore or you have aches and pains from a previous session, rest. This is your body's way of telling you it is still recovering.
Clothes - Simple clean clothes will do fine! If your clothes are ill fitting, baggy or badly made, they'll accentuate your negative features. Buy clothes that are suited to your body type. This may mean trying on 20 different pairs of jeans, but it's worth it. Be wary of clothes that are bought for you. Chances are, most of them won't fit right. If you're overweight, avoid horizontal stripes. If you're skinny, avoid vertical stripes. Dark clothes make you slimmer.  Hair - Get a hair style that suits your face, not one that suits your friends. Even if it's a clean shaven No 1 blade all round, at least it's not dirty & unkempt. Medium length hair should be kept in order or styled with gel while longer hair should at least be clean, if not tidy. If you’re unsure of what type of hairstyle would suit you, go to a professional barber and book an appointment. They’ll be delighted to offer advice or try something new rather than being given instructions all day long. Some people even benefit from dying their hair so do not be afraid to experiment until you find a style that suits.
Face - This is the immediate feature people focus on when they first see you. We are not all blessed with Adonis type superman features yet it is easy to improve facial beauty. If you wear glasses, make sure they fit your facial type. Good opticians have people trained in how to fit glasses so do not be afraid to ask for their opinion. Ideally, contacts should be worn for social occasions. They're not that expensive anymore and can easily be bought at the opticians. Oily skin, spots or blemishes are often symptoms of underlying causes. Improving your diet can clear up your skin tone and you can always consult a
dermatologist or doctor if you are finding things are not improving satisfactorily. Any facial hair should be kept nicely trimmed and that includes your eyebrows, ear and nasal hair. |
