It's possible to break the cycle of comparison and love and accept your current body for all it is—rather than focusing on what it used to be.Danielle Page is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, NBC, USA TODAY, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Elle, AskMen, Women’s Health and many others.
Though easier said than done, it's possible to break the cycle of comparison and love and accept your current body for all it is — rather than focusing on what it used to be. Here's how to leave your past body in the past and love your present self.disorder patients."Body image significantly impacts self-esteem because it's closely linked to societal standards of beauty and success," she explains.
This constant comparison of ourselves to unattainable ideals can lead to more serious issues. The stress and anxiety from trying to meet unrealistic beauty standards can be overwhelming, potentially affecting both our mental and physical health, says Hafeez. "Such comparisons also increase the risk of developing or worsening eating disorders, as people might resort to unhealthy habits to achieve an unrealistic body image.
keep you from any goal you might set for yourself in the present — and may even prevent you from being able to set realistic, healthy goals for your current self. "Dwelling on past bodies can create unrealistic goals and prevent appreciation of current achievements, negatively impacting motivation for healthy changes," Ficken continues.Constantly comparing your current body to your past one is not only unproductive — as Chu-Peralta points out, it's also pretty unfair.