Many people believe that they will finally find their body confidence when they lose enough weight, get in shape, or get that perfect haircut or piece of clothing. While it is true that all of these things can make you more confident, true body confidence comes from the inside. It is based on the way you feel about yourself, flaws and all.
One of the best ways to boost body confidence is to focus on your health rather than your appearance. If you want to exercise and lose weight, choose foods that are healthy yet flavorful and tasty; no one can sustain a diet based on dry rice cakes or plain carrot sticks. A diet based on eating whole, healthy foods is much easier to maintain throughout your entire life, and it will make you feel good on the inside and outside.
When exercising to boost body confidence, the same rules apply. While running for an hour on the treadmill might be a great way to lose weight and get in shape, you might have a lot more fun hiking or swimming, or even learning to play a new sport. Learning new skills can help you to feel better about yourself and boost your confidence.
Another way to boost body confidence is to look at pictures of people with "real" bodies, not just the airbrushed people in magazines. Recognize that any flaws or differences you have make you unique, and are just part of a whole. It is possible to dislike one aspect of your body, while still having body confidence overall, and scars or flaws may even make you a stronger person.
Banish negative thoughts from your mind. For instance, if you constantly beat yourself up because you think you need to lose ten pounds, or because your appearance isn't quite what you want it to be, try thinking "Stop!" when a negative thought appears and think something positive instead. Over time, this will become a habit. In addition, it can be very beneficial to walk and behave with confidence, even when you don't feel it; faking body confidence frequently enough might eventually lead to real feelings of confidence about your body.
Body language goes a long way when interacting with people. Practice standing tall, with good posture. This will help you to appear more confident to others. Finally, one of the best ways to improve your confidence is to stop focusing on your body entirely; focus on all the good aspects of your life, such as interesting hobbies, a great career, close friends, or your family.
