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Remind yourself how pointless fad diets are -

If you find yourself tempted to make drastic changes in order to achieve your ‘ideal’ body shape, don’t! Crash diets hardly ever work, and they’ll probably leave you feeling miserable.

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Remind yourself how pointless fad diets are -

Remind yourself that only drinking milkshakes for three weeks straight or completely cutting out sugar is unsustainable and not a sensible idea.

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Dress and shop for your body today -

When it comes to choosing an outfit, it is important to dress for your body as it is. Remind yourself that your body will never be quite the same again, so it should be celebrated today!

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Dress and shop for your body today -

Of course, it does not hurt to take inspiration from others, but the starting point should always be to look at how to accentuate your own assets.

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Rest up -

Perhaps easier said than done, but make sure you get enough rest. It is impossible to feel confident if you are sleep deprived and run down.

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Rest up -

You may not be able, or even want, to fit in a nap every afternoon. Nonetheless, finding a routine that includes enough downtime is important for everyone.

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Dress unapologetically -

It also does not hurt to dress in bright colors! Unsurprisingly, dressing in unapologetic, bold colors has been shown to lift our mood.

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Dress unapologetically -

Dress in colors that make you feel good about yourself, and if you’re not yet sure what those colors are, experiment.

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Link your body confidence to sustainable fashion -

If you’re finding it difficult to ignore those insecurities for your own good, do it for the planet. One of the main reasons we shop too much is because we buy things that we wish would fit, but don’t.

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Link your body confidence to sustainable fashion -

When you go shopping, make an effort to buy things that actually fit and make you feel good. Ignore clothes sizes and go with what feels right.

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Get on and exercise -

Again, this one may be easier said than done, but try to push through any insecurities related to exercise. Exercising in public can be daunting, but if you don’t do it, things will only get worse.

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Get on and exercise -

If you are attending a class for the first time and are feeling anxious, let the instructor know. Admitting your vulnerability can make it seem like less of a big deal.

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Make sure changes are small and easy -

If you do want to change your body for some reason, make sure those changes are small and easy. Aim for consistent habits that you are able to maintain.

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Make sure changes are small and easy -

Seek out sensible health advice that makes sense to you as an individual, and bear in mind that none of us has the same ideals, nor do we all want to look the same.

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Dress for your character -

Another good tip when it comes to dressing for body confidence is to dress for your character, rather than your physical shape.

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Dress for your character -

Our style should be an expression of our personality strengths and the things we want in life, rather than a reflection of media-driven body ideals.

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Buy great exercise clothes -

This is a shameless contradiction to the point above about sustainable fashion, but if something is going to make you work out, buy it!

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Buy great exercise clothes -

Bear in mind that you are more likely to get your body moving if you can wear clothes that make you feel great about yourself.

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Tailor your social media feeds -

If you are particularly triggered by certain social media accounts, it can be a good idea to tailor these, in order to limit your exposure to upsetting content.

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Tailor your social media feeds -

Unfollow any accounts you find particularly triggering, and follow accounts that are actively focused on building positive body image instead.

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Don't focus on numbers -

It is a good idea, if you can, not to focus on numbers when it comes to body shape, weight, and size. Try not to worry about the weight on the scales or the number of calories burned.

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Don't focus on numbers -

Instead, focus on learning to listen to your body. Eat when you’re hungry, move your body in a way that feels good, and get enough rest.

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Focus on what you love about yourself -

If you are confident in yourself and know yourself well enough to appreciate your strengths, this will show.

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Focus on what you love about yourself -

Focus on what you love about yourself, and if you are not sure where to start, ask your loved ones, who will no doubt have a long list.

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Try body neutrality -

If you find it really difficult to achieve body positivity, try striving for body neutrality first. After all, this is leaps and bounds ahead of body negativity!

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Try body neutrality -

Start by frequently thanking your body for the things it can do, i.e. "I am thankful for my body still being able to exercise."

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Gain some perspective -

It is also a good idea to recognize that the world is home to a huge number of different bodies, and one of those is yours.

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Gain some perspective -

It can be easy to compare yourself to others, but actually it is better if you can learn to appreciate others’ bodies without wanting to change your own.

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Remember, bad days are normal -

Finally, bear in mind that you don’t have to feel body positive all the time. We all have down days where we might feel insecure about this, that, or the other.

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Remember, bad days are normal -

The main aim is to feel body positive the majority of the time. Go easy on yourself and remind yourself that it’s a journey and there’s always work to be done.

Sources: (The Guardian) (Forbes)

See also: Bizarre health and fitness trends

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