A lot of us struggle or have struggled with body image issues at some stage.
I’ve dealt with several body image issues for what seems like a lifetime, being my own worst critic and biggest bully. I’ve over-exercised, over-eaten, starved, detoxed and drowned my body with alcohol. I’ve treated my body horribly, body-bashing myself again and again.
However, what’s most important is to recognise we are all beautiful in our many forms, sizes, colours, and personalities.
That we are beautiful just the way we are!
Overcoming Body Image Issues
It wasn’t until my mid-to-late thirties that I started to overcome my body image issues. When I started to love my body. Today I’m my body’s biggest champion (aside from my hubby – who is my body’s biggest champion).
So think about your body, the parts you like and the parts you don’t like so much.
Now, flick the switch on those you don’t like so much and turn those thoughts into a positive. Let me show you how.
My legs
I’ve always had issues with my legs and still do.
Between the stretch marks, cellulite, bad circulation, borderline cankles, fluorescent appearance, shaving rash, and I need to mention my ‘strong ‘ thighs and calves, I’ve always wanted someone else’s legs.
The thing is, I can’t have anyone else legs! And what’s wrong with mine anyway?
Over the last two years, I’ve started wearing more dresses, skirts and shorts. I’ve also changed my thinking, recognise that:
- Almost all women and men develop cellulite in their lifetime and that it is nothing to be ashamed of, and
- that GENETICS has a big part to play in what types of legs you have. So accept them as they are!
My red hair
I hated my red hair for the first 28+ years of my life. Whether it was the teasing, or my envy for the Australian blonde, bronzed, beach goddess look, I didn’t see myself as beautiful.
Before red hair was ‘cool’ I was stalked by groups of guys laughing about how ‘ugly’ redheaded girls were and how they would never date one. Women also heckled me for being ‘fugly‘ (funny ugly?), so much so I considered moving permanently to Scotland (but word on the street is that red-heads feel the cold more, so that was quickly taken off the cards since I’m a woos when it comes to the cold).
As I got older, I realised how much people envied chicks with natural red hair! And so I initially named my blog Reflections from a Redhead to champion my hair colour. This very blog was the start of self-acceptance. It championed the thing I had been bullied about for years, and now my red hair has become part of my overall branding.
My hands
My hands are big, fingers long, and nails unkempt. I’ve only had a few manicures and always forget to moisturise. I can’t even seem to master the art of the perfect nail polish application. I think I have man hands, BUT my lovely Mum has always referred to my hands as a pianist’s hands. If only I had kept up playing the piano!
And then there’s my pen holding. I hold pens differently.
When I was little, my teacher taped my fingers around a pencil so that I would ‘learn‘ to hold the pencil the ‘right way’. Of course, I didn’t learn, and people look at me differently whenever they see me writing. Thank god for laptops!
Aside from the pianist’s hands and weird pencil-holding ability, I also have my Nan’s hands.
My fingers bend or curve to the left and right on each hand as my Nan’s did. Some would say this is weird. I think it’s wonderful as they are just like my Nan’s – and I adored her!
The recent addition of an engagement and wedding ring combo to my left hand adds a touch of dazzle and sparkle – something I never expected to want or love.
My skin
Body image doesn’t exclude your skin. With pale (pasty?) skin, freckles, and the tendency to burn from a slither of sunlight or blush like beetroot at the drop of a hat, I have had a love-hate relationship with my skin for most of my life.
Between the freckles threatening to take over my face and never-ending breakouts of adult acne, eczema, and the odd mosquito or ant bite, I’ve had huge issues with my skin since I became a teenager.
I want to love my skin, it’s just my skin is so darn sensitive!
And it’s not that I don’t take care of it. I have spent thousands on various skin care products and cosmetics – from chemical to natural and organic – to find something gentle and complimentary for my skin. Still, everything I try causes a reaction, leaving me wanting to scratch my face.
So the journey to loving my skin continues as I search for products that help instead of hinder my progress.
One thing that has helped has been embracing my freckles. I call them my sun-kisses, of which being a redhead would not be complete. I have a lot. I like to think that my arms are tanned. The reality is my freckles have just merged together to give the illusion of a tan. But seriously, ten minutes in the sun and my freckles pop!
And then there are the ad hoc references to having dirt on my face, the worst was in the middle of a project management meeting when an executive kept encouraging me to rub dirt off my nose. *sigh* I’m afraid I can’t rub off freckles.
My eyes
Your eyes are the window to your soul.
Urban mythology also says that a redhead can steal your soul just by looking at them…
I have big, wide, hazel eyes that change colour depending on my moods. I have naturally long lashes – the envy of any beauty therapist. And then there’s my droopy eye. My left eyelid droops, especially when I’m tired. This leaves me looking like I have a lazy eye. Or that I’m drunk. These days I see it as a sign to tell me that I have overdone things and that I need to rest.
My tiger stripes
At age 15, I developed stretch marks over my thighs, butt and lower back. I didn’t have to get pregnant or give birth as an excuse.
They just happened.
Possibly because of a growth spurt. Probably because I starved myself for a time resulting in rapid weight loss.
My stretch marks started out red and raw but faded to a light white to blend with my fluorescent skin. I now refer to them as my tiger stripes, which makes me feel proud and not ashamed.
My Challenge to You
Over the coming days and weeks, I want you to focus on a specific part of your body with love and do one (or all) of the following:
- Write a blog post just like this one, championing what you love about your body
- Stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself. Like, really look at yourself! Now tell yourself how much you love YOU!
- Looking at yourself in the mirror, focus on parts of your body and tell yourself what you love about them
- Write about your body in your journal, focussing on the positive over the negative
- Talk to your partner about your body. Ask them what they love about your body, and then let nature take its course 😉
- If you are the artistic type, why not paint, draw, sculpt… you get the picture… Use this theme as your inspiration.
If you want to read more about body image, check these articles out:
10 Things I Learned at the Gym
I Made Myself Sick From Drinking Protein Shakes
16 of the Best Body Image & Body Positivity Books for 2022
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