Body Image

Here's the newest story of mine for HerCampus - enjoy!

Boost Your Body Image: Looking, Feeling and Staying Healthy at Emory

By Nicola.braginsky

Posted Mar 31 2013 - 8:42pm

TAGGED WITH: #bodyimage, #emory, #exercise, #food, #health, #nutrition, #wellness

We’ve all heard it before: “be yourself; everyone else is already taken” and “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” The question is, do we actually believe that? Do we act on it? Do we see ourselves as the best version of ourselves, or, better yet, anywhere near the way others view us? We hate to call you out, Emory, but there’s definitely some work left to be done to boost the body image on our campus. Good news is, there is a wide range for what is “normal” in terms of esteem and there is an even greater variety of things that can be done to maintain a healthy body and a positive body image. Keep on reading to let us tell you how!

First of all, what exactly is going on on campus? We hear about it all the time: this person broke up with that person and now that person thinks there’s something horribly wrong with them and spends hours upon hours at the gym. While that might be a little extreme, it’s not too far off from the reality. 

Emory women are well dressed, fit, and beautiful. Now, THAT creates a lot of pressure. In a community that places value on being hot and credits everything that comes with that, how do we keep our cool? Do we lay out and tan for the upcoming event of the weekend or do we protect against skin cancer? Do we go on that fro-yo date or hit the gym instead? Do we want to look runway-skinny or do we workout to be strong and athletic? Our suggestion: find a balance. 

Staying “normal” in a world where media and society fill our brains with images and news every second of the day can be difficult. Being grounded means filtering this information, and not taking too much of it to heart. This requires self-awareness and reflection, and can lead to the ability to enjoy life while maintaining good health and looking and feeling great. Keeping a great body image is about being healthy without getting obsessive. 

Here’s the meat of it all: our (condensed) game-plan for how to maintain a healthy body image through all of the obstacles created by being this age and being in college can put up. 

Step One: Nutrition

“You are what you eat.” Really, you are. What you put into your body plays a key role in how your body looks and how you feel. Food can definitely lure us in and trick us, keeping in mind a few important ideas, we won’t let that happen.

1. Avoid overly salty/gassy foods before a big event. You will feel bloated and see somebody very different in that mirror. Spare yourself!
2. Sugar is not your friend. Eating sugary foods boosts insulin, you might feel happy for a few minutes...and then you crash. (Alcohol has a similar effect...just saying.)
3. Check out the new restaurants at Emory Point. All of them have a number of healthy options including fish, meats, and veggies that contain vitamins and minerals we definitely don’t get enough of. 
4. If you know you’ll be calling Dominos later in the night, make the conscious decision to have a healthier dinner and skip the Yogli this time around. Remember, balance is everything. 
5. Stock up on power foods during the week (spinach, proteins, fruit etc.) in preparation to let lose a little bit on the weekend. We aren’t saying you can’t have fun some of the time!

Step Two: Exercise 

Like anything, the hardest thing about exercise is just starting it. But once you make it a regular occurrence by running or participating in sports teams, the hardest thing becomes stopping. At Emory, it is so easy to get in shape – you can join an intramural or club team, become a regular at the WoodPEC, or jog around the beautiful campus alone or with a workout buddy. The only thing stopping you from doing these things is yourself.

1. If you don't have the willpower to stay on schedule with your workouts, find someone who does and workout together.
2. Doing the same activity every single day can get repetitive and boring, so make a portfolio of exercises you like to do and switch things up throughout the week. Always be looking for new ways to work out, whether you search for different exercises online or get off campus to try a new type of class.
3. Make sure you eat foods that fuel your energy and don’t make you feel like a blob – it’s much harder to run on a stomach full of fries than fruit!
4. If you’re sick of starting over, stop quitting!

Step Three: Avoid Stress, Be Happy & Stay Confident

This is much easier said than done, but we have faith in you! Just make a few small changes in your day-to-day life and feel happier instantly. 

1. Surround yourself with the right people. The more negative energy there is around you, the more you will feed off of it. Try to avoid spending too much time with people who are constantly talking down about themselves and others and try to surround yourself with positive energy instead. 
2. You’ve heard it before, but: TIME MANAGEMENT. The more you stay on top of your to do’s and the more organized you stay, the better and less overwhelmed you’ll feel. Trust us. 
3. Make time for your friends and for yourself. Let yourself have a movie night or go out for a nice, sit-down meal. Being human and wanting to relax is okay every once in a while!
4. Keep your chin up, even if there are days when you're not feeling your best. Confidence is the key to maintaining a healthy body image, and it'll keep you glowing from the inside out.

With these tips and tricks you should be well on your way to maintaining a normal and healthy body image. When you look in the mirror, be proud of what you see – and if it feels like you’re not, do something to change it in a healthy way. Don’t forget, you can’t be perfectly confident all of the time, and that is absolutely fine. There’s always room for self-improvement, as long as you’re not beating yourself up over little things. Appreciate your body for what it is by taking care of it and treating yourself well even if you’re working to change something small about it. Be sure that it’s you who wants to make these changes, though, and not just people around you. Keep these thoughts about body image in mind, and you can rest assured that you are working towards the right direction.