NAVIGATING BAD BODY IMAGE DAYS: WHY THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO

"I don't feel good in my body today."

I've said this to myself many times, despite actively working at being kind to my body. But there are still days where I focus on my perceived body flaws. And it's something I often hear from my nutrition clients as well.

Despite the body confidence we might have, we're bound to have days where we pick ourselves apart - where we feel insecure, believe we're "feeling fat" or "bloated," or we don't feel comfortable. Generally, I find it's easy to blame our bodies for those feelings when so many other aspects might actually be at play.

These days where I claim, "I don't feel good in my own body," have been more frequent since the start of the pandemic. I've worked to explore and dismantle why I claim to not feel good in my body. As I've explored, I've found it can be any number of factors, including but not limited to:

• I didn't sleep well (Lord knows this one is often the case with a newborn baby); 

• I haven't showered;

• I haven't set a schedule or plan for the day;

• I haven't moved my body;

• I haven't gotten any fresh air;

• I've consumed more processed foods or foods higher in sodium; 

• I haven't consumed enough water; 

• I consumed too much alcohol; 

• I consumed too much coffee or caffeine;

• I've been sitting at my desk for too long; 

• I haven't prioritized lean protein and vegetable/fruit intake; 

• I've been highly stressed; 

• I haven't provided my body opportunity to rest;

• I haven't given my body enough food;

• I haven't prioritized relationships with others;

• I haven't connected with someone;

• I've been on social media or my phone/computer too much;

• I've been comparing myself to others;

• I've put too much emphasis on the number on the scale;

• I have been dwelling on a frustrating experience.

As you can see, there can be a host of reasons why I feel actually uncomfortable--and claim it's discomfort in my own body. It's elementary to blame our bodies, when in reality, we aren't addressing the areas that provide nourishment or rejuvenation to our bodies.

The simple answer we come up with is to blame our bodies when it's so much deeper. And any of the above-listed reasons can cause us mental and emotional strife, which also causes our bodies to feel more inflamed. And so, it can cause physical manifestations of inflammation where we feel uncomfortable.

So next time you're apt to tell yourself you're feeling fat, uncomfortable, bloated, or "not good enough" in your body, ponder on what you're doing to care for it. 

Be curious about what you need and address the deeper-rooted issue.

Be kind to yourself.

Be curious about what's really happening.

And be willing to do some deep digging on why you might be feeling "not good in your body." 

Because the truth is, your body is good enough.

Our bodies, our nutrition, and our relationship between the two are complex and intertwined. As coaches, our job is not just to tell you what to eat then leave you to struggle on your own. Rather, we focus on holistic, individualized coaching that allows you to improve your eating habits and reach your specific goals in a sustainable way and without restriction, misery, or compromising a healthy relationship with food and with yourself. Learn more about our 1:1 Nutrition Coaching here.