Is dealing with negative self image an issue in your life? In this slideshow, we cover ways in which one can in fact change their thought patterns as well as some lifestyle choices to help overcome negative self image. The very thoughts, foods, and actions that you allow in your life can have a strong impact. Many who undergo bariatric surgery in Tijuana, Mexico with Mexico Bariatric Center do in fact struggle with this issue. So we hope that this information serves as a valuable tool.

1. Dealing with Negative Self Image
Mexico Bariatric Center

2. Do You Struggle with Your Self Image?
With how much focus on vanity and a certain body image, no
wonder many have a hard time maintaining a positive
self-image. There are many out there who experience poor
self-image even after weight loss. It’s almost as though the
poor self-image is as much a disease as obesity in how it
can affect one’s life and well-being.

3. Body Image and Self Esteem
When it comes to body image & self-esteem, the two both play
off of each other which can make or break one’s confidence.
Imagine three women on treadmills at the gym all doing
cardio. The first woman looks over to the second and sees
she has an adorable outfit on and thinks to herself “Wow….I
wish I could wear something like that, but I am too fat to
wear it like she does”. The second woman looks at woman
number 3 and sees that she has a very cute hair style. In
the back of her head thoughts pop up such as, “Man oh man,
her hair looks so great!”. And so she catches woman number
3’s attention and compliments her, and strikes up a
conversation about how much she loves her hair. The two talk
during the entire session and wind up becoming good friends
all while the first woman watches and feels jealous that
they get along so well and feels like she isn’t cool enough
to join in.

4. Did You Notice Something There?
Both the first and second woman saw something that they admired about another,
but they both chose very much different responses.
Why is this important? Because these two different thought processes take just
as much energy, but come from very much various places regarding self-image &
self-esteem.
It’s all in your head, and you can control it. But to turn from a negative to
a positive self-image, you need first to understand more what self-image is
and then change your thoughts you let in.

5. Self Image Definition
Self-image is quite simply the way you think about yourself
and your abilities or appearance.
Notice the four important words in that definition? It all
stems from the way you feel about yourself. Not what others
are thinking of you, not what others are saying. It is all
in your head that you are so trapped and having such
anxiety. A poor self-image is a form of anxiety which is a
feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an
imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

6. How to Change Your Thoughts
Now that you understand that self-image
is, in fact, all controlled from within
your mind, how do you go about changing
them? Let’s look at the story of the
three women on the treadmills again and
see just what happened. The first woman
looked at the second and felt jealous of
how her body looked, and then jealous
that she and the other got along so
well.

7. But What was Going on in Her Head?
Probably thoughts such as “People here probably think she
looks so much prettier than me,” “Guys would probably like
me more if I looked like her.” And then when she talks to
the other woman thoughts such as “If I go to talk they might
just think I’m a loser,” “She is so confident, must be
because she’s pretty.” These thoughts are examples of
anxiety in that she is worried about what people think of
her or what they will think. In her head she lets these
thoughts fester and build up to where she feels locked up
and depressed.

8. What Did the 2nd Woman Think That Made Her Different?
The second woman did not even take a second to think about
herself or her image. Sure she may want to work on some
things, and that is why she is at the gym just the same as
everyone. But because she was able to complement the woman
and give power more to how much she liked the hair and less
on her image such as her hair, she wound up having a fun
experience and making a new friend. Sure she may wish her
hair could look that nice, but then maybe she realizes she
has a great hairstyle that fits her personally and that not
everybody looks good with the same style.

9. This is a topic which can be touched
in much more depth, but since this
post can only be so long, here are
some helpful tips.

10. Tip Number 1: Read Self Help Books
If you want some great tools to be able to feel better and
learn to think differently, sometimes it takes the wise
words of somebody who pours years of experience into a good
book. By simply doing a Google search on the top related
books in overcoming anxiety or poor body image you can begin
to learn tools that will help you overcome fear. Only buying
one or even five books on these issues can turn you from a
nervous wreck into a social superstar who has learned to
feel good about yourself.

11. Tip Number 2: Seek Counseling
If you really can’t seem to do it on your own through books
or other means, it can be useful to talk to a professional
who can help get to the root of the issue and find options.
But again, the majority of the work that can change your
thoughts comes from within and a good healthy diet which can
help boost your mindset.

12. Tip Number 3: Depression-Fighting Foods
That’s right, what you eat can make you feel more or less depression.
Depression can often lead to anxiety, so by eating the best that you can
to feel positive can work wonders for battling anxiety and poor
self-image. These foods can include:
● Turkey
● Walnuts
● Fatty fish with omega 3s
● Low-fat dairy
● Whole grains such as whole oats, brown rice, whole grain pasta,
sweet potatoes with high fiber
● Green tea
● Turmeric
● Dark chocolate
● Brazil nuts

13. Tip Number 4: Memorize & Repeat Self Image Quotes
Whenever you have down thoughts, it can be good to have some great self-image
quotes to think to yourself, again and again, any time that you feel down.
Here are some quotes to get you started:
“A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.”
— Joyce Brothers
“Distortions control my self-image, like they do for a lot of us. It’s
irrational.” — Ron Perlman
“Seeing, feeling, thinking, believing – these are the stages of how we change
our style on the outside and our self-image on the inside.” — Stacy London