7 Lifestyle Changes that Healed my Skin and Body Image Issues
As a teen, I read every beauty magazine I could get my hands on. I always wanted to look my best.
In high school I dealt with a perfectionist mindset that followed me into my twenties. My saving grace was working teens. It was truly eye opening to hear their negative self-talk come so naturally and freely to them. I couldn’t believe some of the things they said about their bodies. As I watched them struggle with similar issues, it made me realize that I needed to be a positive example to them. And most importantly, I needed to change the self-talk and lifestyle habits in my own life.
It was so important to me to be there for them and help them feel healthy and whole.
Beauty is not a one size fits all. It’s about so much more than what we see in the mirror. Yes, do we want to feel and look beautiful? Absolutely! We all deserve to feel beautiful and confident. But there’s a way to go about it that focuses on caring for my bodies and mind.
As I neared my 30th birthday, some of those old insecurities started to creep in. It just wasn’t fair to be showing early signs of aging while also struggling with acne.
I thought I needed facials, anti-aging serum, undereye cream, cleanser for acne, you name it! All that money and I still didn’t get the results I wanted it.
I wanted to care for the longevity of my skin while also treating my acne. I didn’t want to throw on harsh chemicals that dried out my skin but wanted natural solutions.
Here are the lifestyle changes I made that changed my skin and life for the better!
1. Nutrition
Through my Functional Nutrition course and personal research, I learned it was less about what I was slathering on my face and more about what was on the end of my fork.
I focused on adding more leafy greens, berries, avocados, and Omega 3’s into my daily meals. Additionally, as much as it pained me, I eliminated soft drinks, (though Cherry Cokes from the Sonic are so good!) processed foods, excess sugar, and salty snacks.
By adopting a healthy eating pattern and limiting other foods I saw a drastic transformation in my skin’s health.
You can read more about, My Must Have Foods for Glowing Skin by clicking here.
2. Prioritizing Sleep
Dark circles can occur for a multitude of reasons, but one of the most commonly known is a lack of sleep. I started making my sleep a priority by averaging 8 hours of sleep per night. This meant establishing a consistent bedtime, cutting out caffeine before bed, and allowing myself at least 30 minutes prior to bed with no screen time.
I also started to sleep on my back which has been known to help with dark undereye circles. This method has worked for me at least.
I found it helpful to have a bedtime routine for when I was experiencing an extremely stressful time in my life. Some things that have helped me included taking a relaxing bath prior to bed with lavender oil and Epsom salts, journaling to get all those thoughts out, and breathwork.
3. Self-care and Stress Reduction Techniques
This was touched on in number 2 and is so intertwined with our emotional and mental wellbeing. For me personally, I can tell when I am stressed. It’s written all over my face. Usually in the form of acne or a dull complexion.
Chances are you may be one of those people that are always filling up someone’s else cup that when it comes to caring for yourself, there’s isn’t any time left over. But I can’t stress the importance of how important it is to care for ourselves. When we are refreshed and rejuvenated within ourselves, we have so much more to give to others. I’m sure you can remember a time when you were burned out and snapped at a loved one. I know I am guilty of this.
Some of my absolute favorite things to do to relieve stress and care for myself include:
Journaling
Wellness Baths (my favorite essential oil, a candle, scoopful of Epsom salts and I’m in Heaven)
Spending time in Nature
Meditation
Daydreaming
Designated even an hour a day to try some of these out and you will yield so many benefits.
4. Supplements and Herbs
As part of my eating pattern makeover, a huge component was finding supplements that would enhance and support my overall wellbeing. It’s extremely hard to navigate the world of supplements and vitamins. I learned so much from my Functional Nutrition Coaching program that I am happy to share with you. Please remember to consult with a doctor before adding any of these to your daily routine. Here are a few of my must haves:
Vitamin C + Collagen – I have these two together because you need Vitamin C to activate the collagen. If you don’t eat meat, but seafood, you can purchase Marine Collagen.
Evening Primrose – This is my staple. Not only is it great for aging skin but it also helps support your hormone health, which in turn supports your stress level. (See, everything is all connected.)
Ashwagandha – I know you are probably thinking that’s a typo. But it’s not and it is one of my must haves. This adaptogen herb can be found online and hosts a multitude of benefits. It helps to keep me relaxed and reduces stress.
5. Natural, Plant-based Remedies
This is my absolute favorite change and has done more for me than just creating clear, glowing skin! As part of my lifestyle overhaul, I wanted to toss out all that store bought crap and replace with natural skin care. What was so fun about this was I was able to craft my own skin care products. I could talk about this all day, but I will spare you.
I turned to essential oils and natural ingredients to make my own skin care that supported what my skin needed. Not to mention I was able to incorporate natural scents that evoked confidence and inner peace.
Some of my favorite essential oils include tea tree, geranium, and lavender. You always want to make sure that you dilute these with a carrier oil like coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil. Be on the lookout for my DIY Positive Aging Serum recipe!
6. Implementing Movement and Exercise
The benefits of movement and exercise are endless, but how do they play a role in improving skin and body image?
Have you ever finished a workout and once the redness has faded, you see a wonderful glow? That’s because sweating (or glistening) helps our bodies to get rid of toxins.
As for improving my body image, I tried to find movement and exercise that didn’t feel forced but was fun and engaging. I had always loved dancing! So, including this in my practice made me feel youthful, and well sexy!
I also wanted to include weight training since studies have shown it helps to support bone health as we age. I had no idea how STRONG it would make me feel. Feeling strong and healthy did wonders for my confidence and glow!
7. Change in Mindset
The last piece to my holistic transformation is mindset. Beauty is only skin deep! You can have the most beautiful skin and body but if you don’t have the confidence and belief that you are beautiful, it will never shine through.
This is such a difficult step when we are told we have to look perfect. I understand and I fell into this trap for so long. It means breaking down those perfectionist tendencies in our heads and challenging negative self-talk. It’s about glowing with confidence from within.
Here are some of my tips for breaking out of this mindset:
View yourself as a whole person. – Don’t look at yourself in the mirror as parts that need improving.
Challenge your inner critic. – When you hear those negative thoughts pop in your head, edit and revise them. An example could be when you hear “I don’t look good enough,” try revising and telling yourself “I am enough.”
Don’t compare yourself to others. -The most freeing and amazing thing you can do for yourself is to accept and love yourself for all your quirkiness! It’s so hard to not fall in the trap of comparing our bodies to others but remember that while you are wishing to look like someone else, someone out there is wishing to look like you.
Be Yourself – Why do I love the way I look now more than I did in my 20’s? Simply put, what I see in the mirror now is a natural, wise woman who is secure and free to be who she is. I am no longer being for others. And that’s a beauty that doesn’t come in a bottle.
This is my checklist for establishing a whole body beauty in my life. Every time I have new skin or body image concerns that pop up, I approach it by evaluating these areas of my life. I ask questions like, am I sleeping, am I eating right, what is stressing me out, and what’s my inner critic saying?
