Healthy COnnection
By Laine Ebbert
Laine Ebbert is a dietetic intern at Cox College. She is originally from Illinois where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nutrition and Nutrition Education. Her goal is to become a registered dietitian and help people improve their relationship with food.
BODY POSITIVITY IN THE IG AGE
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very time we turn around there seems to be a new weight loss product hitting the market, a new fitness influencer popping up on Instagram, or a new diet trend in the media. Constant exposure to such things can be confusing and make it difficult to feel comfortable in the skin we’re in. Let’s dig into some ways to improve body image and ensure we are all doing everything we can to love our bodies and appreciate all they do for us.
Balance looks different for everyone First and foremost, it is important to remember that no two people are built the same and health looks different for all of us. A number of factors play a role in our energy levels and how our metabolism functions. Some of these factors include our genetics, stress levels, quality and quantity of our sleep, and any existing health conditions.
Manage your media Have you heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy”? It is an ageold quote that feels more applicable than ever before when we look at the health and diet industry and its prevalence in the media. Not to mention, our access to the internet
Some of my favorite body-positive accounts on Instagram are: Colleen Christensen (no.food.rules) Dietitian Deanna (dietitiandeanna) Lauren Cadillac (feelgooddietitian) has increased by nearly 50 percent over the last 20 years, exposing us to more health, fitness, and diet-related media than ever before. Having these exposures can make it difficult to refrain from comparing ourselves to strangers on the internet and can quickly lead to feelings of inferiority and poor emotional health. Below are some tips for reducing the exposure to content that can harm body image: • Be critical of who you allow on your feed. If you tend to feel worse about yourself after scrolling through social media, it might be time to re-evaluate who you follow. Some content can be helpful for one person, and harmful for another. It all comes down to finding what works for you and what helps you feel good about yourself. • Set screen time limits. While unfollowing accounts that are harmful to our self-image, it is also important to remember that social media is not real life, and
we could all benefit from limiting our screen time. Most smart phones have a setting that allows you to be notified after you’ve spent a set amount of time on certain apps each day. • Find a community of people who can help: While the internet and social media can be a notso-great place, it can also be a positive environment if we let it. Finding the right people who share your interests and can help fulfill your needs is key.
Consider breaking up with the food tracking app There are a number of apps out there that can be used to count calories and nutrients. While this tool can be useful for some, it can be harmful to others. When we view food as numbers, it can lead to restriction and take away from the enjoyment that comes with eating our favorite foods. Rather than tracking your food in an app, I encourage you to focus on consuming nutritious foods that you enjoy and documenting how you feel after each meal, concentrating on energy levels, satiety, and overall satisfaction.
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