In times where truth seems to be hard to discover, we expect to look into a mirror and see truth. But suppose what you are seeing in the mirror does not accurately reflect what your body looks like. Wait. How can that be? It's a thing called body image and it's for real!

Recently my queenaged BFF confided in me that she was struggling with body image issues. She had lost a significant amount of weight on her journey toward health, strength, and beauty. One hundred pounds in a little more than a year. She looked great! Seemed to be aging in reverse actually! Although she was pleased with her new body, it was clear that sometimes she thought and acted as if she was still morbidly obese! She told me that body image is a real thing, and I would understand once I started to meet my own weight goals.

Body image can be defined as the perception one has of one's own body. Perception includes thoughts and feelings. Negative body image, dissatisfaction with one's appearance and body shape, is more often considered to be an issue for younger persons and can require medical intervention. However, a disturbed body image can be part of normal maturational situations (like purposeful weight loss and aging) and can negatively impact psychosocial aspects of life and wellness behaviors in all women. Positive body image, feelings of satisfaction with one's appearance and body shape, leads to acceptance and a positive impact on psychosocial aspects of life and wellness behaviors.

Understanding Body Image and Health

Queenagers aimed at aging positively and considering making changes like weight loss need to understand the concept of body image. Losing weight and changing appearance should never be considered as a way to fix everything in life, but as a way to promote a positive body image along with decreasing risks for illnesses related to obesity for example. We all experience physical changes as we age, and these changes can cause us to develop negative thoughts and feelings about our bodies. The media and public often portray unrealistic expectations of appearance and body shape for women in general and especially as we age. These can play a huge role in the development of a negative body image and should not be consider lightly!

When we choose to make lifestyle changes toward a healthier physical body, we must bring our mental thoughts and feelings alongside. As pounds are shed, expect to see bony structures you may not have seen for a bit. My BFF said she is especially fond of her new collarbones although she has to remind herself sometimes, just for a moment, they are hers! And she does a double take often at the muscles in her thighs given that she is getting in 3-5 miles speed walking every day. See how these go together! Changes, albeit wonderful ones, can change your perception of you, your body image! Being aware of that fact can help you as you make changes in your life or just as you age.

Impact of Negative Body Image

Having a negative body image is not necessarily a condition in need of professional intervention, but how you view your body can certainly interfere with your goals for yourself in later life. Some body changes in aging are inevitable and must be accepted as such. There will be lines on your face despite your best effort. There will likely be that stubborn spare fat around your middle that will not go away no matter how much lifting you do. Having an overall negative view of yourself can spur you to make changes but is also not healthy! If you are simply never satisfied with your appearance. If you only see flaws and think other people do too. If you start staying home to avoid being seen. Oh, no!

Weight loss and other changes can lead to a really positive relationship with your body, but the emotional side of that story may be different. It is important that you quit scrutinizing your body. That you quit comparing yourself to others. Learn to be a friend to yourself and to be self-compassionate. To do otherwise puts you at risk for significant self-esteem issues that you just don't need to be dealing with at your age!

Promoting a Positive Body Image

First and foremost in body image changes for both aging and weight loss-enjoy the ride! Change you must. Embrace it. Remember how you changed as a teenager, well it's happening again in your queenager years. Do as you did before, manage the change as best you can. Be proactive knowing what's coming. Use some positive self-talk, some affirmation. After all, you are indeed healthy, strong, and beautiful!

Use the self-care practices meant to make you look and feel better. Holistic healthy self-care practices that include body and mind. Head off to that little resort in the woods for a weekend of you! Meditation and self-reflection and peaceful affirmation. Skin care routines, quality shampoo and salon visits, fitness and exercise of course. Splurge on a day spa from time to time. And be sure to choose realistic role models. Rather the gorgeous queenager on the pickleball court at the gym, than a Hollywood movie starlet. Yeah, your queenaged peer, she's got the same spare tire, slightly stooped shoulders, and smile lines you do. Wonderful. Be careful of the clothing you wear. They should fit at least! I am reminded of a queenager I know still wearing way over-sized sweaters in the summer no less! Her clothes paint a picture of zero self-confidence, low self-esteem, and a negative body image. If you're not good at wardrobe, ask your friends to come along for a shopping venture. And be sure to hang with your community. They will understand where you are in life when they are there too. They get your challenges with your body image. They know how you feel.

Conclusion

Body image is defined as the thoughts and feelings one has about one's own body. They may be negative or positive. Society's expectations and the media often contribute to the development of a negative body image by promoting dissatisfaction with appearance and body shape. Don't fall victim to the negativity you see there every day. Respect you body for where it is now and where it has been. If you have been overweight for years you have acquired habits and behaviors to cope with negative thoughts and feelings. Habits are hard to break even when you are smiling from ear-to-ear because you have met your weight reduction goal and now have a thigh gap (uh, body image alert: are those my thighs)!

And if you find yourself pointed toward the Plus Sizes side of the store after you've met your weight loss goals, just smile and turn around! And if you're rocking those size 10 jeans in the try-on room, by all means buy them! Choosing not to sit on a small stool when there is no place else to sit because you fear it might collapse? (That was me perched up there.) Until you realize you don't weigh almost 300 pounds anymore! What a roller coaster of emotions! Great ride after all!

In a world filled with outrageous expectations feeling happy in your own body is an everyday challenge. But you got this. You healthy, strong, beautiful queenager you!