How you talk to yourself matters.
You may have caught yourself saying something along the lines of, "I look fat" or "I feel fat" before. Maybe recently. Maybe a long time ago.
Let's unwrap that.
What do those words mean to you?
What kind of power are you giving the word "fat"?
There was a point I was saying those words to myself, too. I had been experiencing a poor relationship with my body and food. I was restrictive with my food because I was "fat". I was working out all the time because I was "fat". I gave that word so much power and used it in my self-talk far too much.
It wasn't until I randomly watched a YouTube video while in college that I began to shift my outlook. (I wish I could find it, but it was in 2013 and I can't find it). Would I ever tell my best friend that she was fat? HELL NO. It is my duty as a best friend to hype her up and make her feel like the hot bad b she is!
With that said, why do we feel that way about our best friend, yet we are okay with telling ourselves, the body we live in, the complete opposite?
You can want to change your body without telling yourself you don't like the body you're in.
Your self-talk doesn't have to be perfect, but start practicing positive statements.
"I am strong."
"I am thoughtful."
"I am intelligent."
Just like when we do repetitions of an exercise to nail down the form and build those neurons, you can do the same by speaking positively about yourself more often, and build those neurons, too.