Photo Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/254383078935708985/ My name is Olivia Schmith and I am currently an intern at the Washington D.C./Baltimore campus. I chose wellness as my concentration due to my passion for promoting the benefits of healthy eating and overall well-being. Prior to my internship, I was working as a dietetic technician at a hospital in New York. I also spent time volunteering in their corporate wellness department where I worked on numerous wellness projects. I helped collect and analyze data to create formal reports that showed the efficacy of our work. I also learned how to communicate and market our programs in order to reach the span of employees throughout the health system. I hope to continue my wellness journey as a Registered Dietitian and promote the positive effects of a healthy diet.
I believe that one very important aspect of wellness is “body positivity”. The act of being body positive encourages individuals to adopt forgiving and affirming attitudes towards their bodies, with the goal of improving overall health and well-being. In today’s world where social media tends to depict certain body types as being “healthier than others” it can be hard to love the skin you’re in. Many women and men can feel the pressure that they need to measure up to a certain cultural and social ideal of beauty and fitness. While exercise and a nutritious diet are beneficial habits to adopt, they should compliment you and not negatively impact your self-esteem. At the same time, adopting these healthy lifestyle habits can help to improve body image.
In 2016, a national representative panel survey of over 12,000 adults from Australia, Mujcic and Oswald (1) showed that consumption of fruits and vegetables predicted increases in happiness, life satisfaction, and well-being over two years. When individuals accept their body size and shape, they may be willing to make conscious choices around food and self-care. Self-care means providing your body with the love it needs. This idea of self-care can be practiced in many ways. Your health is your wealth and in order to flourish you gotta love yourself. To promote the idea of body positivity, I have come up with my own tips on how to combat insecurities and practice self-love.
My 5 tips towards Body Positivity Include:
Reference:
Mujcic, R. & Oswald, A. J. Evolution of well-being and happiness after increases in consumption of fruit and vegetables. American Journal of Public Health 106, 1504–1510 (2016).
I believe that one very important aspect of wellness is “body positivity”. The act of being body positive encourages individuals to adopt forgiving and affirming attitudes towards their bodies, with the goal of improving overall health and well-being. In today’s world where social media tends to depict certain body types as being “healthier than others” it can be hard to love the skin you’re in. Many women and men can feel the pressure that they need to measure up to a certain cultural and social ideal of beauty and fitness. While exercise and a nutritious diet are beneficial habits to adopt, they should compliment you and not negatively impact your self-esteem. At the same time, adopting these healthy lifestyle habits can help to improve body image.
In 2016, a national representative panel survey of over 12,000 adults from Australia, Mujcic and Oswald (1) showed that consumption of fruits and vegetables predicted increases in happiness, life satisfaction, and well-being over two years. When individuals accept their body size and shape, they may be willing to make conscious choices around food and self-care. Self-care means providing your body with the love it needs. This idea of self-care can be practiced in many ways. Your health is your wealth and in order to flourish you gotta love yourself. To promote the idea of body positivity, I have come up with my own tips on how to combat insecurities and practice self-love.
My 5 tips towards Body Positivity Include:
- Remember daily positive mantras (i.e. My body is perfect the way that it is and I honor it in this state, I take care of my body by doing ______.)
- Stay hydrated
- Get enough sleep
- Create a fitness goal that has nothing to do with appearance (i.e. run your fastest mile, dance for 30 mins each day, go for a hike every weekend.)
- Treat yourself with a bubble bath, a good book, a coloring book or anything that shows your mind/body some love.
Reference:
Mujcic, R. & Oswald, A. J. Evolution of well-being and happiness after increases in consumption of fruit and vegetables. American Journal of Public Health 106, 1504–1510 (2016).
