By Angela Antonello
How many times have you said, “New Year, new me?” Do you allow the mirror, the scale, a clothing size, or fashion advertisement dictate how you feel about yourself? For many people, the start of a new year is a chance for amazing personal transformation. As trends go, it is common practice to focus on improving your health in the new year. Having a healthy body image should be all part of that equation.
The recent shift within the fashion industry has certainly improved towards greater visibility of more body types, both on the catwalk and in ad campaigns. The popularity of plus-sized models, as well as representation of more body types, has helped spread awareness surrounding the problems that were posed by underweight models.
Loving your body comes from within. A healthy body image is a difficult thing to define, especially in a culture where it’s common for people to put themselves down. The simple definition of a healthy body image is where you feel happy and confident and accepting of yourself in the skin you’re in.
Here are a few tips to help you improve your body image.
- Buy yourself a new outfit that makes you feel amazing.
- Give yourself a daily compliment, no matter how small.
- Pick one of your favorite parts of your body and find a way to highlight it. Are you proud of your booty? Buy yourself those faux leather legging and rock that booty! Do you love your back muscles? Get yourself a backless dress that showcases your hard work.
- Upload a picture of yourself to Instagram — work that confidence!
- Each time you find yourself comparing yourself to others, remind yourself to celebrate their beauty and your own.
- Plan a self-care day (or two . . . or three). Get a massage, do a face mask or get a facial, and go to a yoga class. Celebrate your body and your health!
- Each time you feel like you have a setback, acknowledge your bad feelings, and let it go!
- Work out because you LOVE your body, not because you hate it. Even if it’s just walking more, that added movement will increase your feelings of happiness and endorphin levels, and you’ll glow from the inside.
- Ignore body-type fashion advice and start wearing what you love. Stop worrying about if your butt looks big — and why is bigger bad, anyway?
Tweaking traditional New Year’s goals with body positive thoughts simply keep things real. It lets you mentally combat societies norms while acknowledging your own badassery. Most importantly, it will help you learn how to embrace your body one day at a time. Bring it on, 2020!
Angela Antonello owns Fashion Rescue 911 Fashion Truck & Boutique, located at 52 Oswego St., Baldwinsville; (315) 857-6690. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
