So what is body image? It’s a reaction you have within in response to what you see in the mirror or a picture. This encompasses the perceptions and things you tell yourself about how you feel about your body. You’re too fat, too thin, ugly, old, bloated and tired, average, amazing, fit, beautiful or whatever you tell yourself based on what you see. This is your body image. Self image is how we feel about ourselves as people, as human beings. It’s who you are as a person from the soul; self esteem. If you’re a good giving and caring person, a good parent, a great friend or sibling. Body image and self image for most everyone go hand in hand. You may have great body image but a poor self image; poor self esteem. Or you may have the opposite. Ultimately you want a healthy and positive image of both. If you’ve looked in the mirror and punished yourself for what you see based on the fact that you’ve let your health go and gained weight you get what I’m talking about here. Because you’ve let yourself go (body image) …now you’ve deemed yourself as a total failure in life. (self image) The fat on your hips and thighs, your flabby midsection, the chubby arms…these are not who you are. (body image) And because you may have let yourself go for whatever reason, you’re still the same loving giving person that you’ve always been. (self image) Your friends, family and loved ones around you know and embrace this as well. I’ve said before that being overweight for the most part is always the result of something much bigger; an injury that caused you to become inactive, a traumatic event, your need to be protected by the fat suit, depression, loss, a bad relationship or any other reason in life that took you in the wrong direction health wise. These events and the current result of being overweight again are not who you are. No need to punish yourself. And newsflash; If you’re overweight you have the power within you to do something about it.

  body and soul, health, healthy living