Kick-starter guide to having total body confidence

Over the past ten years we have come some way in reversing the damage that the media has played on our ideas of the ‘perfect body image’. We’ve seen the rise and fall of the faddiest diets, from Atkins to Victoria Beckham’s ‘prawn and strawberry’ diet. From size-zero models to perfect complexions courtesy of photoshop, we have been bombarded with an idea of perfectionism, that, thank god, is finally being rejected. Need we remember Protein World’s ‘Are You Beach Body Ready?’ ad campaign plastered across the tube last year, and the associated backlash.

It feels as though we are on the cusp of creating a new idea of beauty, an all-encompassing, realistic, image that we can all relate to. A beauty that goes far beyond what we look like but actually how we feel. Because, ultimately, it’s what's on the inside that counts (so much so we put it on a tote bag!).

And for us that means two things, it’s about what we put into our bodies and it’s about our thoughts - positive thoughts to be more precise. It’s about caring and respecting your body and mind, as well as others. Sounds easy but we all know it’s hard. So, here’s a guide that we hope will help kick-start you to move closer to having total body confidence.

1. Eat more plants

Proven to be the healthiest and most environmentally sustainable diet, there are endless benefits to eating more plants. If you need a bit of support getting started, here’s our founder Lily’s top three tips for eating more plants. You could also book on to one of our home delivery packages, which are all predominantly plant-based.

2. The joy & feel good test

Having a healthy relationship with food goes far beyond simply eating more fruit and veg. It is about reconnecting with how food makes you feel and discovering the foods that give you total pleasure and joy, whilst also energising you and impacting your mind in a positive way.

Mindful eating is a good place to start if you feel you need to rebuild your relationship with food and start eating more intuitively. With each meal ask yourself two simple questions: Does this taste delicious? Has it made me feel energised? If the answer is yes to both then keep it in your daily routine, if the answer is no, then explore new options until you find something that is giving you joy and making you feel great.

It’s also totally fine to indulge in some ‘brings-me-joy’ foods that don’t necessarily make you feel great, i.e. a freshly baked, sourdough pizza enjoyed with loved ones on a Saturday night. It’s just about thinking of these as a treat.

3. Significantly reduce social media usage

The last thing you need going into the summer is a feed full of 6ft models on their third holiday of the month looking clear skinned and full of the joys of summer, whilst you’re stuck behind your desk. Start by removing feeds that don’t make you feel happy, images that evoke jealousy or feelings of inadequacy, you definitely don’t need those emotions in your life. Then make a promise to yourself that you will reduce social to less than 20 minutes per day, with the aim of a quick check in once a day to see how the people you love and admire are doing! It’s now easy to set allowances and limits on screen time and app use on your phone, to help you regulate your usage.

We love M&C Saatchi’s Mimi Gray’s Visual Diet campaign. The premise is simple: look at more of the stuff that makes you feel good and restore some balance to your visual diet.

4. Start with one positive thought

Before you get out of bed think of one thing that you like about yourself. Could be your bravery, could be your ability to multi-task, could be the shape of your little finger, it really doesn’t matter what it is, but waking up with positive thoughts about yourself can literally change the path of your day. You could even go the whole hog and try keeping a gratitude journal. We can often be our own worst critics, so if you catch yourself being overly critical, ask yourself if you’d ever say the same sort of things to your best friend.

5. Move more

It might be cliché, but maybe that’s because there’s something to it. Not only is incorporating movement into your regime good for your physical health, but it positively impacts your mental health too. It doesn’t have to be the ‘punishment’ sort of kind, but a celebration of what your body can do. If you feel fit in yourself then you’ll naturally feel more positive. Try to make the most of the longer, warmer days of summer by walking to or from work, or starting an outdoor team sports club. Set yourself the challenge of walking 10,000 steps per day, it'll make the world of difference.