Beauty standards in an anti-aging, slimming culture can seem incredibly high, so it’s no wonder so many people have bad body image days. Sports Illustrated Cover model Ilona Maher.
The rugby bronze medalist has just returned from the 2024 Paris Games and is currently in the middle of the latest season. Dancing with the Starshas been very vulnerable about her own journey of self-acceptance. Shared photos She posted photos of her cellulite to her followers, proving that “we all have it.” Friendly Reminders “There is no one body type for female athletes,” she said, dismissing trolls who criticised her BMI.
But that’s because Maher everytime Maher feels good about herself, but yesterday was one of those bad days. “To be honest, I’m not feeling very confident in my body right now,” she admitted. TikTok Videos “But it’s OK,” she wrote in a post posted on Sunday. In moments like these (which she said are completely “normal”), she says she usually turns to three simple strategies to lift her mood. And we’re here for all of them.
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Her first mental hack? “I try to remember what my body can do for me,” she says. That means going for a run, lifting weights, or dancing wholeheartedly (which she’s been doing a lot of lately), she explained. Daytona Basically, it’s about celebrating the cool parts of someone’s body, whether that be their arms, legs, or belly, rather than focusing on what they look like.
The second thing she reminds herself: Your body is constantly changing. Most people aren’t the same shape they were 10 years ago, or five years ago, or maybe even two years ago. And that’s totally normal. “Whether it’s being at a different time in your cycle, or eating more or less, or exercising more, because I’m not working out as much as I usually do, my body is changing little by little,” Maher added. But beyond lifestyle changes, as SELF previously reported, sometimes your body just gets bigger than you. And while many of us (including Maher) may forget or have a hard time accepting this reality, experts say it’s important to remind yourself that just as you’re evolving, so is your body.
Ultimately, Maher said she’s learning to be more forgiving with herself whenever mean, critical voices start to challenge her self-esteem. “It’s a difficult time for me right now,” Maher explained, noting that she’s still adjusting both physically and mentally to her post-Olympic routine and new life. Daytona Throughout all these changes, Maher said she’s committed to being kind to herself (which, incidentally, is a therapist-approved way to counteract the mental health effects of self-criticism).
And for anyone struggling with moments of anxiety, Maher has one final message: “Take a breath,” she said in the TikTok. “Tell yourself that you’re beautiful. [this].”
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