Negative Body Image Behaviors
Judging a part of a person versus ourselves OR judging part of ourselves versus another part of ourselves
Comparisons
Body Image
A person's subjective picture or mental image of their own body. (remember: perceptual, cognitive, affective, behavioral)
Do positive affirmations help improve body image? If no, why not? If yes, how?
Positive affirmations allow us to start telling ourselves the things are not telling ourselves already.
BONUS: Give one example
What is one thing you body does for you every single day without you thinking about it?
This skill is the practice of taking an active roll in regularly doing things that improve our well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
Self-Care
True or False:
Your weight should stay the same throughout your lifetime.
False!
Weight changes are entirely normal, even as an adult. Bodies change so often in ways we don't see or notice, weight change is normal and expected.
A fish with no brain or heart
Jellyfish
Habit of seeking information about your body's weight, shape, size, or appearance
Body checking
Negative Body Image
an individual is generally unhappy with how they look. They may feel like they need to change their body size or shape. Body image is something that can frequently change throughout a lifetime
One way you can improve or boost your self esteem
Compliment yourself, self-care, give yourself a break, think about what went well that day, etc. etc. etc.
Does it serve my body to compare it to other people? Why or why not?
Comparing only hurts us. If you notice yourself comparing remember that bodies are all different, as our metabolisms, genetics, and access to healthy food/activity.
Name 3 behaviors that if they stopped would improve body image
True or False:
Everyone should have a positive body image.
False!
Everyone CAN have a positive body image, but it is unrealistic that one might have a positive body image at all times. It is important to have a healthy body image to reduce stress, feel better, be more comfortable with who we are, and increase self esteem, but a healthy body image looks different all the time!
Who did Australian soldiers fight in war in 1932?
Emus
The war lasted a month, and the emus won.
Completely avoiding knowing anything about your weight, shape, or how you look.
Body Avoidance
Body Acceptance
Accepting one’s body regardless of not being completely satisfied with all aspects of it.
3 things you appreciate about your body
You tell me :)
What are 3 ways your body helps you do things that make you happy?
Think hobbies! Crocheting, reading, word games, watching tv/movies, listening to music, etc. etc. etc.
This skill is an exercise in writing about how we feel, think, and see our bodies.
Journaling
BONUS: Give 1 example of a body image journaling exercise.
True or false:
We are more critical of ourselves than others are of us.
True!
We experience confirmation bias in life, including when looking at our own bodies! If we go looking for a specific difference from others or something "wrong" with ourselves, we are going to find it. We also spend a lot more time thinking about ourselves than other people will - it is not selfish; it is normal!
What did the first webcam ever stream at the University of Cambridge in 1993?
A coffee pot
Engaging in movement consistently for the purpose of changing something about your body/compensate for food eaten/lower one's weight
Excessive exercise
BONUS: Examples of positive movement
Cognitive Body Image
How one thinks about their body
What does positive body image look like?
Seeing yourself as you really are
Accepting and liking your own body
Feeling confident and happy with your body
What is something great your body allows you to do in life?
Anything!
Name 3 positive qualities about yourself that aren't related to your body.
You tell me :)
True or False:
Tracking behaviors and urges is helpful in decreasing them
True!
Tracking how often we are body checking, weighing, experiencing urges, etc. is helpful in seeing changes to the frequency of behaviors, understanding when they are most likely to occur, and helping us plan ahead.
How many days did the longest game of monopoly last?
70 days
The game took place on a football field, and the students played the role as the game board pieces.
Self-monitoring amount of calories eaten, often with a rule around limit of number of calories that is "appropriate" to eat in one day
Calorie Counting
Body Neutrality
Act of taking a neutral stance toward your body - both emotionally and physically
List 3 things that have impacted your body image throughout your lifetime.
social media, culture, friends/family, trauma, puberty, gender identity, life experience, etc. etc. etc.
What is something you have learned about bodies or body image that has helped you?
You tell me!
Name 1 way to challenge/improve self-talk or negative thoughts.
You tell me :)
Could be tracking them and writing down challenges, using affirmations, identifying that a thought is negative, etc. etc. etc.
True or False:
Healthy body image means being happy with the body we have.
TRUE!
Healthy body image means being happy with the body we have, not the body we are striving for and not waiting to be happy until we have a certain body
Who was the first person to ever say "OMG" standing for "Oh My God"?
Winston Churchill in 1917
Avoiding contact with others in a variety of ways
Social Isolation
Values
What you believe in and what is important in your life.
BONUS: Give 3 examples of values
How can setting goals for yourself help you to have positive body image and self-esteem?
Goals help us to feel motivated, which helps us to feel good about ourselves. They help us to understand what we enjoy. When our goals align with our values, we typically feel happier!
Name 3 ways you can improve your health (dieting is not one of these!!!!!)
Getting enough sleep, taking medications, caring for self when sick, spending time with friends, getting proper nutrition, etc. etc. etc.
Describe how to use a comparison that supports improving body image versus perpetuating negative body image.
In group comparisions
True or False:
Media always impacts our self-image/esteem in a negative way
FALSE!
BONUS: Why?
Who were the first ever passengers in a hot air balloon flight?
a rooster, sheep, and a duck
They flew for about 2 miles before landing safely (no animals were harmed).