body-image-related stories
Workout Frequency Improves Body Image
Photo: Getty Images
We all want to look and feel better about ourselves, but sometimes getting off the couch and on the treadmill can seem too daunting at the beginning (or even end) of a work day. But as the leaves start to change many of us fight to stay active, especially in the face of dropping temperatures. Keep in mind, however, that even a little bit of exercise can do wonders for body image.
Results from 57 separate exercise and body image studies were combined and analyzed by researchers from the University of Florida. The final study, published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Health Psychology, found that the simple act of exercise alone -- not necessarily working out to get in shape -- can help boost body image.
One of the most surprising findings was that frequency of exercise had more of an impact on body image than workout duration or intensity. The more people exercised per week regardless of how hard or how long they worked out, the more their body image improved.
Fit-Shoe Guide, 25 Best Skin Tips and What She Thinks of Your Body in Bed - Links We Love
Fitness, Alternative & Green Health
Want to know the best way to tell if the shoe fits for walking? Then head on over to AOL Health's walking shoe shopping guide.
Eating more tomatoes and fewer (OK, no) fries isn't just good for your waistline -- these two small changes may help reduce the degree of your sunburn and help fight acne, respectively. Check out more tips for healthy skin here.
Just what does a woman think of her lover's looks? AOL Health polled over 4,000 women about their sexual histories and preferences and for this particular question, 42 percent of poll takers confessed that they're more concerned with being attractive to their lover rather than being attracted to their partner. A third are concerned with both how attractive they are and how attracted they are to their partner, while 17 percent think looks don't matter at all. More women's sex secrets are revealed here.
Bikini Yoga, Body Confidence and Running in Pain - Links We Love
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation
There's always time to tone up for a trip to the beach. Give this bikini-body yoga routine a try.
When a stomachache or muscle cramp hits you mid-race, should you go on or go home? Find out more from "Running With Pain" on AOL Health.
Are you in need of a good confidence boost about your body? This week on AOL Health, Sabine Wilhem, Ph.D., author of "Feeling Good about the Way You Look" serves up some esteem-boosting tips. Plus, a humorous slide show about our body insecurities will get you smiling again!
Body Dysmorphic Disorder - When the Mirror Doesn't See What You See
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| Photo: geishaboy500/Flickr |
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a preoccupation with a perceived flaw or a gross exaggeration of a minor existing flaw. The Daily Mail has an article where women describe the way they see themselves and their photos are distorted to show their views.
Racheal Baughan, author of "The Butterfly Girl," suffered from BDD. "While some people have a phobia of spiders, I have a fear of my own face and body," Baughan explained to the Daily Mail. "Every time I see my reflection or a picture of myself I have to catch my breath: I see someone who is different from anyone else I've ever seen before, like an alien."
A distorted image of self can also occur after weight loss. Some people who have lost significant weight have a difficult time accepting their bodies. With this phantom fat phenomena, they may be disappointed in the way their newly-thin body looks, or they may have a hard time viewing themselves as anything but overweight.
Learn to Love Yourself
How many times have you looked in the mirror and wished your abs were a little flatter or your butt wasn't quite so big? I think it's human nature to catalog what we perceive as our flaws. But if you really take a look at yourself, I think you'll find that you are strong, capable and beautiful ... even if your thighs have a bit of cellulite.CafeMom is introducing a new weekly feature dedicated to looking at yourself in a more positive light. I think it's a great idea. A while back, several of your That's Fit writers contributed to a Glamour article explaining how we learned to love our bodies.
So tell me: What is your favorite thing about your body?
Image is Something - But What?
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Motivation
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- especially on thoughts that don't promote or propel you. At times, my thoughts about my body image are downright destructive. Image is defined as a mental representation, idea, conception. If that's the definition, then somehow, my mental representation, idea or concept of how I look has become jaded.
Three surgeries in three years have given me greater issues about my look. I've swapped scars for excess skin removal, I've swapped morbid obesity for normalcy and through it all, my perception has not changed very much. There are times when I still see the same fat girl.
Body-Image - Are You a Good Role Model for Your Kids?
Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements
Chadwick: This book was born out of a column I wrote for Shape magazine as its 2007 Weight-Loss Diary columnist. In it, I reflected on how my body image had been shaped by my mom's feelings about her own body and how my feelings about my body were shaping my daughter's body image. I realized that I could have an enormous impact on my daughter's body image through my behavior toward my own body -- how I treat it and talk about it. As moms, we're often quick to make negative comments about ourselves, and our daughters pick up that self-critical behavior. I wanted readers to know that they don't have to be perfect or look like supermodels to help their daughters feel good about themselves. Little changes can have big effects.
Barbie Got Fat - Does She Need to Get Active?
Think Barbie's usual measurements are unrealistic? Check out this ad, where Barbie's got a much more realistic, if unhealthy, figure. In another, a superhero sits with remote control in one hand, dripping ice cream cone in the other. And in a third, pirates are far too portly to look for hidden treasure.
While the ads may make a point, do they hit their mark? "Let's see: blatant stereotyping, promotion of bigotry and hate, and whitening," says one commenter on Ads of the World. "Wow, what a way to completely miss the ball. Consider this slide show of Olympic athletes and think about actually promoting an 'active life' rather than stereotyping body images."
Kelly Clarkson Admits That Celebs Have Cellulite, Too
If you only viewed celebrities on magazines and CD covers, you might begin to think that they all live in a land where upper arm skin never jiggles, second chins never appear when they smile broadly, and cellulite is against the law. But celebrities -- even the stunningly gorgeous ones -- are real people, too.Kelly Clarkson knows a bit about photo retouching. On her blog, Clarkson said "We decided the cover of the album ... it's very colorful and they have definitely photo-shopped the crap out of me, but i don't care. Whoever she is, she looks great!"
Even though she seems to embrace retouching with open arms, Clarkson is honest about it. She attended a self-esteem workshop sponsored by Dove and she told the pre-teens "just to let you know everyone in the magazines is Photoshopped! We're all human!"
Clarkson admits that it's painful for her when she hears her own body picked apart in the media. In fact, she's learned to avoid reading magazines like that altogether. "It's horrible – they'll show celebrities with cellulite and it's like, 'Of course celebrities have cellulite! We're not fem-bots!'"
Kate Winslet Sends Her "Tushie" a Valentine
I'm taking a little of my love and sending it to Kate Winslet this Valentine's Day. I mean, here's a woman who isn't afraid to admit that her body isn't perfect, but asks us all to respect the fact that she loves it anyway. She even refused to let Vanity Fair retouch her during a nude shoot last year. Looking for a healthy body image role model? She's it.
She's even giving her backside a little love these days. "I don't know a single woman who doesn't stand up and check the tushie before she walks out the door," she told Nightline on Friday. "I've decided I am going to start loving my backside, really just saying, yes. Because I don't know anyone who does that, you know? And for my daughter [Mia, who is 8], I want to be able to say to her, I love this."
Kate's joined a growing club of celebrity women who are saying no to super skinny bodies and yes to healthy curves. They work out and watch what they eat, but when they look back in the mirror on the way out the door ... they like what they see.
Hottest Celebrity Bodies
By Mary Kearl
Faith Hill
This 41-year-old has a hott mama body, and the world knows it thanks to her flat-belly pose on the cover of the much-drooled-over December 2008 issue of "Shape" Magazine. Not a fan of low-carb diets, Hill's meals consist of Mediterranean cuisine and fresh organic produce. We hear that Pilates, gave the confidence to show off what she's got.
Charley Gallay, Getty Images
Kelly Ripa
This 38-year-old mother of three slid through her 20s without taking exercising seriously. All that has changed now -- her arsenal of fitness moves includes running, squats, leg raises and arm-toning exercises. What keeps her going? Ripa has said vanity is a major motivator.
Jason Kempin, WireImage.com
Carrie Underwood
Grammy-Award winning, "American Idol" country singer Carrie Underwood has definitely been idolized for her musical talents, but her healthy diet deserves praise too. A vegetarian since she was 13, she explained in an interview with "Glamour" that obsessive food journaling and doing cardio helps her maintain a healthy weight. And according to "The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets," Underwood also made a few smart diet swaps -- green tea over soda, and whole grain bread instead of white. She's also banned high-cal cocktails, like margaritas and daiquiris.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Shakira
This beautiful belly dancer doesn't need a gym membership. Shakira's workouts take place on stage, with live audiences to cheer her on to dance harder (and burn more calories -- belly dancing can burn about 300 calories an hour). So it's no wonder this singer/song-writer has such toned legs, a lean middle, that tight butt, and of course, her signature, shapely hips.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson has a message for her fellow skinny-getting-skinnier actresses, she told British "Elle" magazine: "You might look cute in those jeans for one year of your life, but you might take 10 years off your life if you're not careful. It's not healthy." She's admitted that her own photo has been touched up and that camera tricks gave her a full booty on "Rent." But since then, she's done more workouts that include spinning, strength training, and . The result? "My butt is looking better," Dawson has reported.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson
J-Hud has come a long way. She's lost 60 pounds since her days as a finalist on "American Idol" in 2004. She gained 20 pounds for her Oscar-winning role in "Dream Girls," but has lost the weight and then some. Her secret? Waking up at dawn to run. We love her sensible and determined approach to weight loss: "There's no shortcut -- you have to work for it," Hudson has said.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Sheryl Crow
Grammy winner Sheryl Crow has had many personal detours in the past few years. Yet, she has remained unstoppable. Now in remission from breast cancer, she has adopted a son and released a new album, appropriately titled, "Detours."According to Crow, looking and feeling so fabulous is all about a mix of exercise, eating a balanced diet and taking time to relax and quiet her mind.
Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com
Vanessa Williams
It is possible to have the body of a twenty-something in your forties -- at least it is for Vanessa Williams. This foxy mother of four explained how she does it to "Us Weekly": "When you're in your forties, you have to eat less and you have to move more. The bottom line is, it's work!" She does her "work" with celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, and she also does yoga and dances. No wonder she's the same size she was in college!
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys recently told "Us Weekly." "I'm into eating well and taking care of myself now." And we've noticed. We love this soulful songstress's toned arms and dancer legs. She's said that running regularly and training with Harley Pasternak (founder of the 5-Factor Diet) has helped her achieve "incredible results." When it comes to food, she limits her butter and salt intake, but still helps herself to mac 'n' cheese.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Helen Mirren
This stunning actress make aging look sexy. Plus, Helen Mirren has said: "The aging process happens and you cannot do the things you used to do. I will fight it off for as long as I can." She credits her shape to her good "constitution" and to getting exercise walking her dogs.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Body Image - Be Happy With Health, Not Perfection
It's important to get to a healthy weight; being overweight has many ramifications on your health. And there's nothing wrong with trying to tone and strengthen your body. But don't let a quest for health turn into an unreachable goal of perfection. Instead, accept yourself for who you are and learn to love your strong, healthy body. Some feel-good tips:
- Exercise. Being active energizes you and makes you feel great.
- Choose energy-boosting, nutritious foods.
- Compliment someone else. Being kind to others is good for the spirit.
- Steer conversations to other topics. Do your friends tend to get into my-butt-is-too-big conversations? Change the subject and talk about something more positive.
- Break the habit. Every time an unbidden negative thought about your body comes to mind, follow it with two positive thoughts.
- Catch your zzz's. A good night's sleep can help you maintain a good -- and positive -- mood.
.Raven-Symone - Body Haters Don't Phase Her
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Raven-Symoné loves her body (she calls it thick and beautiful), and she doesn't care what anyone else says. Well, maybe she cares a little bit. But it doesn't take much to boost her confidence -- all the star needs is a chat with mom, who tells her she's very pretty. It's just what this 23-year-old That's So Raven star needs.Other young girls who need a boost in the body image department are getting some help from Raven-Symoné during a Dove-sponsored self-esteem workshop the singer-actress is hosting for one-hundred 11- and 12-year-old girls. "It's going to be so much fun," she says. "We want to build their self-esteem and give them tools to face the world the next day without us there."
How does this former Cosby little girl face the world? "You just have to learn how to transform the pressures into something that doesn't soak into you on a personal level," she says. "You see it, you breathe past it, you don't let it sink into your self-esteem." Exercise helps too. And screaming doesn't hurt -- "At the end of the day I'll call my best friend and yell and scream and get it out," she says. "And the next morning, it's out of my system."
Body Image - Stop the Negative Self Talk
Jess Weiner blogs about body image on Seventeen.com, and she does a great job of cutting right to heart of the self-esteem issues young girls face. Now, I'm a far cry from 17-years-old. Heck, I have sweatshirts that are older than that. But as I was watching Jess's videos, I realized that a lot of those teenage body image issues stick with us through our very non-teenager years.
I know that I engage in negative self talk sometimes. A while ago, I was shopping with my sister and I tried on a skirt that I knew was flattering. Instead of simply saying I liked it, I asked her if it made my butt look big. I don't really know why ... maybe I was fishing for a compliment or maybe saying things in the negative is just a bad habit. Jess has some tips for breaking the negative thinking:
- Stop making negative comments about yourself because you're seeking attention. Negative comments, even when we know they aren't true, usually come from a lack of self-esteem. Put negative thoughts of yourself out there and they'll come back to you.
- Don't define yourself by your size. Find better adjectives about your health, your talents, your intelligence and your positive qualities.
- Cut off negative comments. If you have people in your life who are critical about your appearance, directly tell them that their comments are hurtful and that you need them to stop.
Holiday Parties Tough When Trying to Losing Weight
I was watching a re-run of a Ruby episode the other night, and Ruby said something I think most people struggling to lose weight have felt at one time or another. She said: "I feel like I'm being punished."
If you're trying to lose weight and all the thin people around you are indulging at restaurants or at holiday parties, it certainly can feel unfair. And that feeling of injustice can add another layer to the body image issues that often accompany obesity. In addition, holiday parties can leave many overweight people feeling self-conscious -- worried about what they're going to wear and feeling judged for every bite they take.
I've dealt with weight issues, and I've had those feelings. I've wondered if the person at the check-out counter is thinking, "Wow. She really doesn't need that candy bar." To succeed at weight loss, it's important to accept who you are and know that, while losing weight, things aren't always going to be fair. In addition, we're often harder on ourselves than others are. Rather than wondering about my buying a candy bar, most cashiers are probably just thinking about the end of their shifts.
If you're facing holiday get-togethers while trying to lose weight, check out these tips for sticking to your plan and enjoying the party without guilt or worry.
Airbrushed - How That's Fit Readers Would Like Their Photos Touched Up
- Removing a double chin is what 2.5 percent of you wished for.
- A smaller butt got 12.5 percent of your vote.
- Thinner thighs were on 25 percent of your wish lists.
- A better stomach is what a whopping 47.5 percent of you would like.
- And 12.5% of you like yourself just the way you are.
I understand the wish for improved features. If the gorgeous Jessica Alba can be improved, I guess we all have room for improvement. But I can't help but wish that more that 12.5 percent had voted for not being retouched at all.
