Why it's not enough to "just wear the shorts"

Anyone struggling with their body image will often turn to their Explore page and be met with advice from fitness influencers who need to contort themselves Exorcist-style in a huge attempt to seem “relatable” and “just like you” (EXCEPT WAY SKINNIER)… Please see exhibit A:

 

And we are often met with the most patronising inane “body image” advice known to man/woman/child/anyone unfortunate enough to doomscroll.

I present to you, the holy trinity of useless advice:

“Be brave.”

 

“Just take off your shirt at the pool.”

 

“Wear the shorts, who cares what anyone thinks?”

ME. I CARE WHAT EVERYONE THINKS.

Telling me not to care is the equivalent of telling a depressed person to “cheer up”. Thank you so much, hadn’t considered that in any way shape or form.

But what do we do instead.

I am a researcher first, and hater second

Am I just an asshole? No. Well, I am a self-righteous asshole. But I am also a body image researcher and someone that spends a lot of time educating nutrition/exercise coaches about how to help client’s with body image issues.

And let me show you why the “just wear the shorts” advice is unhelpful.

A little bit of body image theory for you

There are generally two “types” of body image.

State body image

State body image is “short-term”.

It’s how you feel about your body weight/shape/size at this very moment.

And it’s more prone to “fluctuate”.

Trait body image

These are your “long-term” beliefs about your body.

Tends to be influenced by things like your genetics and upbringing.

It’s more “stable” over time.

Luckily I have combined this into a neat little graphic:

 

What does this mean for “just wearing shorts”?

Well, the “just wear the shorts” advice is entirely unhelpful in the moment where you feel overwhelmed by the fact you REALLY FUCKING DON’T WANT TO WEAR THE SHORTS.

You don’t apply “state” body image solutions to trait body image problems.

Wearing shorts, challenging someone to overcome long-term body discomfort… that’s not a quick fix.

To help someone when they feel really uncomfortable in their body in the moment?

That’s when we crack out the in-the-moment body image strategies.

• What will make your client feel supported?

• How can they immediately feel a bit more in control/grounded?

• What do they need in this moment?

• How likely are they to throw a punch at me if I invalidate their very real fears about people staring at them or feeling uncomfortable?

And inside Disordered Eating Informed we don’t just do body image theory (we do a lot of that to be fair). You’ll get your in-the-moment strategies to help clients when they feel fat or don’t like their bodies.

Tell me more pls

You’ll get downloadable resources for things that your clients struggle with such as:

• What to do when your clients “feel fat”

• How to help your clients stop comparing their bodies to others

• How to help your clients through negative body image

Because THAT is what your clients need - not airy-fairy invalidating clichés about how “every body is beautiful” and that you should “just love yourself”…

 

Disordered Eating Informed course

Because every client deserves to be body confident, and you can be the coach that gets them there.

Have a great week,

Michelle

Disordered Eating Informed course information