Forget Diet Tips: Here Are 4 Ways to Make You Feel Good About Your Body

Facts are facts. Being intentionally hungry isn’t a good look. Various studies have already proven that skipping meals or doing away with whole food groups leads to more consequences than rewards. Not only can dieting slow down your metabolism, but it can also affect your mood, cause anxiety, and lead to more long-term psychological issues. All those diet tips won’t make you feel better about your body in the long run. There are other means to embrace yourself and love the way you are. 

Of all the healthy living tips out there, saying “thank you” is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest one to achieve. The 2012 “Personality and Individual Differences” study published in the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences revealed that grateful people tend to exercise more often, schedule regular check-ups with their doctors, and take better care of themselves. 

Similarly, Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., professor of Psychology at the University of California-Davis, and the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, concluded that gratefulness is conversely linked to appreciating oneself, improving happiness, and lowering chances of depression.

It can be challenging to look at the positive side of things when you’re down but feeling grateful is a habit that needs to be practiced and maintained. You can start by appreciating a friend who asked how you are and saying thanks to the person who passed you the salt. Then, work your way up to thanking your partner every night to thanking yourself for just being here. 

Any list of wellness tips will always include exercise. And it’s not just because physical work helps keep you in shape. There’s a scientific correlation between exercise and happiness. As exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, which leads to feelings of relaxation and optimism, it also lowers stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. 

Moreover, a study in The Journal of Happiness Studies by experts at the University of Michigan pointed out that you don’t have to create ambitious milestones such as losing a certain number of kilos or running a marathon to feel positive about your body. Research suggests that those who generally performed physical activity regardless of fitness goals felt much better about themselves. 

“Every one of the observational studies showed a beneficial relationship between being physically active and being happy,” said Weiyun Chen, an associate professor of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. It didn’t even matter what type of exercise and how much. 

Whether you just did an easy five-minute home workout or completed some circuit training, keep yourself feeling fresh and revitalized. The Rexona Women Passion Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-On has MotionSenseTM technology that keeps you thinking like you just got out of the shower. With an effect that lasts up to two days, this deo uses microcapsules that burst with friction, releasing more fragrance as you move.

Follow up the post-exercise high with some personal downtime. One of the most important daily health tips is to realize that self-love doesn’t have to be grand. It comes in many forms, like lighting your favorite candle, taking a day off, or a long, luxurious bath. 

Your body goes through a lot, from the physical exertion of the day to general life concerns to trying to follow unrealistic diet tips. Treat it well. Reward it. Lavender and chamomile are known for their soothing qualities. They ease tension, calm nerves, and create an overall comforting atmosphere.

If you don’t want to make the effort to light a roomful of candles or draw a bath, you can cop this effect in the shower with Love Beauty and Planet Argan Oil & Lavender Smooth and Serene Shampoo and Dove Relaxing Body Wash. Not only are these products infused with lavender, they’re also gentle on hair and skin.

Is that crop top not fitting well? It’s the blouse’s fault. Are those pants not zipping up? It’s the zipper’s doing. Just because you don’t fit a standard doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your body.

When you stop looking at how your body is “wrong,” that’s when you start noticing the ways that you are right about yourself. Look in the mirror and find your favorite parts of your body. Is it your smile? Your fingers? Your hair today? Forget peer pressure and unsolicited diet tips. Instead, do this daily appreciation, and slowly, you’ll learn to embrace your physique. The purpose is to retrain your body to think positively about how you see yourself. (And that you are awesome!)

Do away with outmoded diet tips and start appreciating your body for what it is and what it can do. With these small steps, start developing a sustainable plan for loving your body—without depriving yourself.