We currently live in a society where appearance is highly valued. The pressure to meet a beauty standard becomes a nightmare in many people’s lives, especially women’s. However, non-acceptance of the body can reach extreme levels and may contribute to developing eating disorders, mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
The fact that we cannot adapt to the so-called ideal body, whether for any reason, financial, genetic, or even personal, can end up interfering with our self-esteem. Therefore, developing forms of self-care means accepting our body as it is and seeking strategies aimed at our quality of life, such as exercising and having a balanced diet.
This post will address self-esteem and body acceptance and how physical activity and healthy eating can help.
Body Acceptance
Acceptance of one’s own body is a subject that has been much discussed in recent years, as cases of death have increased due to aesthetic procedures performed by unqualified professionals or using inappropriate products. In addition to the physical risk, becoming a slave to beauty can bring serious mental health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to rethink the construction of our self-esteem and security.
Among the factors contributing to the search for the standard of beauty, we can mention social networks. The media, in general, have enough power to get a girl to stop eating to have a body like the model on the magazine cover or a boy to go to the gym every day to look like a soap opera actor.
Adapting to a beauty standard is quite relative since it changes over time. To give your body everything it deserves, a great way is to start by trying to understand it. Therefore, it is fundamental not to worry about the image but always to seek improvements for our physical and mental health.
Healthy Eating And Exercise
Contrary to what many think, accepting does not mean sitting idly by but starting the day by liking yourself and understanding the beauty you hide within yourself, not that idealized beauty of the media. To help with this, exercising regularly, combined with a healthy diet, can provide many benefits for the body and mind.
Physical exercises are essential to improve our relationship with the body and self-esteem. Although many people crave the famous quality of life, it is more than well established that, for us to be in good health, it is necessary to associate physical activity with proper nutrition.
Furthermore, foods rich in tryptophan, a substance necessary for the production of serotonin, can help ward off sadness and lift your spirits and self-esteem.
Finally, we stress that body acceptance is about balancing being physically active and making healthy food choices. In this way, exercising and eating well are strategies that help in the search for better health and quality of life.
Why Should Health Be Among Your Goals?
Among several areas that can achieve your personal goals, such as professional and emotional, health should have a priority space in your planning. Our commitments often prevent us from caring for our physical well-being and do not allow us to have a healthy life.
However, we shouldn’t play with our health because it gives us the strength to carry out other activities and improve our quality of life. When healthy living goals are built effectively and with commitment, they can be achieved and bring countless benefits. Check out some suggestions of what to do!
Improve Food
One of the most common purposes, but one that is sometimes very easy to fulfill, is improving your diet. As much as we know what must be done, commitments, lack of time, and our desires prevent us from eating healthy.
The tip is not to push yourself to extremes but to seek a transformation in your eating habits. Eating well all year round is better than going on strict diets for a set period. In addition to being healthier, the results will be long-lasting.
Whatever your intention, eating healthy foods, such as fruits, oilseeds, seeds, green leaves, vegetables, varied salads, and controlled carbohydrates, among others, is essential.
Practice Exercises
This goal depends on what you are used to doing. Consider increasing practice days or training intensity if your routine includes weekly exercise.
On the other hand, if you’re stuck, be realistic and set achievable goals, like exercising two or three times a week. Remember that to maintain motivation in training; you must have realistic goals.
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