1. You’re Never Thin Enough

If you are always telling yourself that you’re never thin enough, you most definitely need a body image makeover. Keep this in mind: when you pass away, do you really think that others will be glad you maintained a certain size jeans, care if you fit into your favorite dress from high school or talk about how you looked like your favorite celebrity? I’ve got news for you: they won’t! Yes, you should maintain a healthy diet and take care of yourself, but you should never tell yourself you still need to lose weight, or lose weight at all, unless you’re unhealthy. If so, start showing yourself some self love by recognizing things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with your weight. This will keep you focused on what really matters.

2. You Are Always Restricting

If you’re always restricting what you eat, or how many calories you take in, you probably need a body image makeover. Why do you think restricting yourself will make you have a better life? I’ve got news for you: restricting actually hurts your metabolism, and makes you depressed. You’ve got to stop with the dieting madness. Eat healthy sized portions, and be smart. If you’re not hungry, don’t eat more, but don’t restrict yourself to the point of being hungry right after you eat just to lose weight.

3. You Hide behind Clothes

If you’re overweight or underweight, you might try to hide behind your clothes because you don’t like your body. This is a sure sign you have body image issues and need a body image makeover. For starters, quit telling yourself that your body isn’t good enough to wear anything you want. The more you try on new clothes and wear them out, the braver you’ll become.

4. You Avoid Social Situations

If you avoid social situations that cause people to see your body more, like swimming, a day at the beach, wearing a dress, going to the gym, etc., then you probably need a body image makeover. Please stop missing out on life because you have these body image issues. People will appreciate YOU being there, not spend time thinking about how perfect your body isn’t, because nobody’s really is.

5. You Mirror Check

If you constantly look in the mirror, either in public or in the bathroom before showering, you need a body image makeover. Why do you feel the need to check yourself so often? Try not looking in mirrors when out, or before you get in the shower. Practice this for one month, and take away the association that checking yourself means you’re “good” or “bad,” depending on what you see. You’ll come to realize you’re much happier with yourself when you stop.

6. You Can’t Take Compliments

If people compliment you and you are always arguing back with them, making excuses for their compliments, you might need a body image makeover. When someone compliments you, don’t make excuses, just say thank you!

7. You’re Always Comparing

In high school, a friend of mine always asked me if she was thinner than everyone. She didn’t do it nonstop, but if we saw someone she felt was overweight, she would ask me if she was thinner than that girl. This is a sure sign you need a body image makeover. Even if you don’t compare yourself just to people who are overweight, comparing your weight with whomever you see is just not healthy. It is very hard to do in a society that promotes weight loss to extremes, but I’m telling you, it isn’t healthy for you at all. Stop with the madness and stop comparing!

If you have some good tips for ways to stop having an unhealthy body image, I’d love to hear them! How do you show your body love?