How Do I Get a New Body Image?

You can get a new body image generally through some concentrated self-help techniques and often with the help of a psychological counselor who specializes in body image treatments. Developing a new body image usually requires specific changes in your ways of thinking and of perceiving yourself. Some measures, such as healthy eating and exercising, are also helpful in cultivating a more positive self image. Other types of body image therapies can include listing and prioritizing which aspects of your appearance are easily changeable and which ones simply need to be accepted as a part of you.

Achieving a new body image is a frequent topic of self-help materials, such as books, articles, worksheets, and audio recordings. Each of these can take a somewhat different approach, depending on the authors' backgrounds and philosophies. Suggestions from much of this self-help advice can include surrounding yourself with positive peers, and learning to tune out mass-media images that create unrealistic standards of beauty.

Trained psychologists are also common sources of help for developing a new body image. Many of them spend years studying the factors that impact self image and formulating ways to improve it. Some of these mental health professionals employ body image treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or hypnotherapy. Working with a psychologist may also entail body image-related assignments, such as writing in a journal or even confronting people who regularly criticize your appearance.

Cultivating a healthy lifestyle is often considered an important component of forming a new body image. Fad diets that promise quick weight loss are to be avoided, as are negative relationships with people who routinely find fault with you in order to make themselves feel better. Sensible and balanced diets are the most effective measures for losing extra weight, and exercise is also a proven way to achieve a more positive mental outlook.

A common practice for improving your self image is to examine which parts of your appearance can be changed reasonably. Take note of which features are your best and think of ways to highlight them. Many people who simply add well-fitting and flattering clothes to their wardrobes report a noticeable improvement in their self images.