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CSDC's Body
Image Page
Body image is . . .
- How you see yourself when you look in the mirror or
when you picture yourself in your mind.
- What you believe about your own appearance (including
your memories, assumptions, and generalizations).
- How you feel about your body, including your height,
shape, and weight.
- How you sense and control your body as you move. How
you feel in your body, not just about your body.
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Negative body image is . . .
- A distorted perception of your shape--you perceive
parts of your body unlike they really are.
- You are convinced that only other people are attractive and that your body
size or shape is a sign of personal failure.
- You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body.
- You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body.
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Positive body image is . . .
- A clear, true perception of your shape--you see the various parts of your body
as they really are.
- You celebrate and appreciate your natural body shape and you understand that a
person's physical appearance says very little about their character and value as
a person.
- You feel proud and accepting of your unique body and refuse to spend an
unreasonable amount of time worrying about food, weight, and calories.
- You feel comfortable and confident in your body.
People with negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an
eating disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression,
isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss.
We all may have our days when we feel awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies,
but the key to developing positive body image is to recognize and respect our
natural shape and learn to overpower those negative thoughts and feelings with
positive, affirming, and accepting ones.
Accept yourself -- Accept your body.
Celebrate yourself -- Celebrate your body.
For more information, contact Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc.
at 603 Stewart St., Suite 803, Seattle, WA 98101, 1-800-931-2237. www.edap.org © 1999
EDAP.
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10
"Will-Powers" For Improving Body Image
by Michael Levine
- Twice a day, everyday, I WILL ask myself :
"Am I benefiting from focusing on what I believe are the flaws in my
body weight or shape?"
- I WILL think of 3 reasons why it is ridiculous
for me to think that thinner people are happier or better. I WILL repeat
these reasons to myself whenever I feel the urge to compare my body shape to
someone else’s.
- I WILL spend less and less time in front of
mirrors—all I do is make myself feel uncomfortable and self-conscious as I
focus on each body part.
- I WILL exercise for the joy of feeling my body
move and grow stronger. I WILL not exercise simply to lose weight, purge fat
from my body, or to "make up" for calories I have eaten.
- I Will participate in activities I enjoy, even
if they call attention to my weight and shape. I WILL constantly remind
myself that I deserve to do things I enjoy, like dancing, swimming, etc., no
matter what my shape or size.
- I WILL refuse to wear clothes that are
uncomfortable or that I do not like but wear simply because they divert
attention from my weight and size. I WILL wear clothes that are comfortable
and that make me feel comfortable in my body.
- I WILL list 5-10 good qualities that I have,
such as understanding, intelligence, or creativity. I WILL repeat these to
myself whenever I start to feel bad about my body.
- I WILL practice taking people seriously for
what they say, feel, and do, not for how slender, or "well put
together" they appear.
- I WILL surround myself with people and things
that make me feel good about my abilities and myself. When I am around
people and things that support me and make me feel good, I will be less
likely to base my self-esteem on the way my body looks.
- I WILL treat my body with repeat and kindness.
I WILL feed it, keep it alive, and listen to its needs. I WILL remember that
my body is a vehicle and that it will carry me to my dreams.
Click here to take a Body
Image Quiz
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Did you know...
- The average woman weighs 144 pounds and wears
a size 12...the average model is 5’11" and weighs 117 pounds
- A moderately active woman should consume
between 2,200-2,5000 calories/day
- In 1950, Marilyn Monroe represented ideal
beauty- she wore a size 12
- Eating disorders are dangerous and lead to
death in at least 10% of those affected
- A poll conducted by a popular woman’s
magazine in 1997 found that 75% of women thought they were "too
fat."
- A study found that 81% of ten-year-olds
reported that they had dieted at least once
- Most models are thinner than 98% of American
woman
- 4 out of 5 children age 10 are afraid of being
fat
- 4 out of 5 American women are dissatisfied
with their appearance
- 50% of 3rd-6th grader girls say they want to
be thinner
- Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting
and diet related products
- 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had
attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted
"often" or "always"
- 95% of dieters will regain their lost weight
in 1-5 years
- Women naturally carry weight in their hips and
thighs- it is VITAL for fertility, prevention of osteoporosis, healthy skin,
eyes, hair, and teeth.
- 45% of healthy weight women and 23% of healthy
weight men describe themselves as overweight
- "It was kind of boring for me to eat. I
would know that I had to, and I would" – quote from Kate Moss
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Taking
Care of YOU
Taking care of yourself means nurturing your body, mind,
and heart. Check out some of these links to start building healthy habits for
life.
BODY
Develop better food habits by eating foods that taste good
and are good for you.
Diet
and Nutrition Information from the American Heart Association
American
Dietetic Association
Food
and Nutrition Center - Mayo Clinic
Exercise isn't just for controlling your weight. It
increases your energy level, helps reduce stress, counters depression and
anxiety, strengthens your heart, and it's a great way to spend time with family
and friends.
Exercise
and Fitness from the American Heart Association
Fitness
and Sports Medicine Center - Mayo Clinic
MIND
Become informed about what eating disorders really are. Be
knowledgeable about how to find help. Find out what the media wants you to
believe about your body.
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
Eating Disorder Facts
Body
Image and the Media
SOUL
The soul, like the body, lives by what it feeds on.
Positive
Body Image Information
Something-fishy Website on Eating Disorders
A
Different Kind of Hunger: Understanding Disordered Eating from Boston University
Counseling Center
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Dietary
Supplements
If you are taking dietary supplements, find out how safe
they really are.
Dangers
of Dietary Supplements from Indiana University School of Medicine
Dietary
Supplements: Warnings and Safety Information from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
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Night
Eating Syndrome
Does this sound like you? (taken from www.anred.com)
- Little or no appetite for breakfast. Delays first meal
for several hours after waking up. Is not hungry or is upset about how much
was eaten the night before.
- Eats more food after dinner than during that
meal.
- Eats more than half of daily food intake after dinner
but before breakfast. May leave the bed to snack at night.
- This pattern has persisted for at least two
months.
- Person feels tense, anxious, upset, or guilty while
eating.
- Night Eating Syndrome is thought to be stress related
and is often accompanied by depression. Especially at night the person may
be moody, tense, anxious, nervous, agitated, etc.
- Has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Wakes
frequently and then often eats.
- Foods ingested are often carbohydrates: sugary and
starch.
- Behavior is not like binge eating which is done in
relatively short episodes. Night-eating syndrome involves continual eating
throughout evening hours.
- This eating produces guilt and shame, not
enjoyment.
If this sounds like you, we invite you to come and talk to
one of our counselors at CSDC.
For more information about Night Eating Syndrome, check
out these links.
Night Eating
Syndrome from Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.
Body's
Food Cycle Amiss in Night Eaters from WebMD Health
Night
Eating Syndrome Due to Stress? from About.com
Page last updated on December 22, 2004
Contacting CSDC by E-mail
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