The art of body positivity & how to love yourself at any size

Written for the Life According to Steph audience by Maggie Hammond. Proud mama to two little people, and has one too many furry friends. Passionate about alternative medicine, education, the great outdoors and animal welfare.

The body positivity movement is gaining huge amounts of traction in society today. The notion of self-love and acceptance are increasingly being promoted as a way to embrace a healthy self-image. The truth is, we’ve spent years seeing slimness as a beauty ideal, but that is certainly changing. Many initiatives and individuals are seeking to challenge our perceptions of beauty to fit a much broader spectrum of people, especially women. 

This article seeks to outline the ways we can all incorporate a little more body positivity into our lives. Whatever your shape or size, it is important to be able to take pride in your appearance and who you are.  

Make Daily Reminders

A vital part of having a body positive attitude and learning to love yourself is reminding yourself of your worth on a daily basis. This can be something as simple as leaving a post-it note on your mirror reminding yourself that you look great today. It is important to remind yourself daily of the worth you possess and what makes you unique and fabulous. Remember though, these shouldn’t always be physical reminders. Remind yourself of the reasons why you are fabulous beyond appearances too. 

There is an increasing number of movements, such as the Embrace Project, that exist to promote women’s body positivity. Such movements can be a great source of motivation and inspiration towards your self-love journey. 

Move Your Body

An often-overlooked element of body positivity is making sure you move enough. We’re not talking about exercise with a goal to lose weight or change your appearance, but something that takes a more holistic approach. Yoga, for example, can be a great way to get your body moving while focusing on your headspace at the same time. Renowned for its ability to connect mind and body, such forms of movement can be a great way to get in touch with your true self. 

Taking part in forms of exercise that focus on both the mind and the body can help you become more in tune with your physical self and allow you the freedom to truly get to know your body. This connection between mind and body is a vital step towards a more positive outlook. 

Find Clothes that Work for You

Another way to improve your relationship with your body is finding the right clothes for you. Your shape and size do not have to dictate what you wear. Whatever your individual style, there are a multitude of options to fit your look and your budget. Brands such as Froxx provide stylish options for those sized UK 16 and up. 

Finding stylish clothes that are well made and fit your body can provide a huge boost to body image and help you feel fantastic in your skin no matter the occasion.

Body positivity is picking up momentum and it’s not hard to see why. For too long we have lived in a society that only promotes a very singular idea of what beauty means. Loving yourself and your body is something that is much easier said than done; however, there are steps you can take to reach a place where you are comfortable and happy with the body you have. Taking some of the steps above can be a great start on your journey towards a more positive self-image.