50 | SEPTEMBER 2019
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OODILLUST
RATION.COMPROJECT BODY LOVE
GET SOME
BALANCE
As wellness clichés go, #balance
is up there with hovering your
phone above your brunch. But
if applying the concept to your
nutrition and fitness regime is
a tried-and-tested formula, know
that it can work wonders for your
self-esteem, too. ‘You might not
be able to stop every negative
thought that comes to mind
about your body image and
abilities, but what you can do
is challenge that thought so it
doesn’t hold so much power
over you,’ says Dr Vohra. ‘If your
instinct when you look in the
mirror is to reel off a list of flaws,
challenge yourself to match each
negative with a positive; this
doesn’t have to be an aesthetic
quality, it can be a positive trait
you possess.’ Have we mentioned
how kind you look today?BACK A
WINNER
It was summer 2018. The pubs
were packed and mingled with
the aromas of sausages and
sun lotion was something that
smelled an awful lot like hope.
England had made it to the
semi-finals of the World Cup,
and it felt great. But it didn’t
just feel great. When Ohio
State University explored the
lingering impact of backing a
winning team, they found that
participants experienced a boost
to their self-esteem that lasted
at least two days after they
watched their side win. Reason
enough to start following the
US women’s football team. Not
willing to switch sides? Recruit
some pals to your cause. The
researchers suspected that
watching a game with friends
simultaneously boosted the
self-esteem of those who backed
the winner, and had a protective
effect on those who cheered
for the losing side.COOK UP A STORM
Buying ingredients and standing over a hob can feel like admin
you don’t have time for, but know that the simple act of carving
out some time to make a meal for yourself can be a form of
self-care. For starters, a review of cooking interventions in
therapeutic settings found that inpatient and community-based
cooking interventions yielded positive influences on socialisation,
self-esteem and quality of life. We’re not advocating you go
full-on 50s housewife and have dinner on the table by 7pm, but
take the same care-filled approach to cooking for yourself as you
do for your mates on a Saturday night. ‘Eating alone is a way of
saying, “I’m important,”’ says Dr Jen Nash, clinical psychologist
and creator of online nutrition programme The Eating Blueprint
(eatingblueprint.com). ‘It’s treating yourself as you would a friend
or partner and it’s good for your self-esteem, which we often
underestimate the importance of when it comes to countering
low mood and anxiety.’ Turn to page 42 for a self-esteem boost
you can do from the comfort of your own kitchen.9
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