As humans, our natural tendency is to look in the mirror and be dissatisfied by what we

see. This is a large problem for many people, especially women. We desire to be fit the societal
definition of beauty by going to the extreme to be thin. However what many don’t realize is that,
in regards to how we treat our bodies, there is more to loving your body than being thin. In a
study done at Ruhr University in Germany children, ranging from ages 11-17, were asked what
they thought the ideal size of a girl their age would be. They were shown images of various
women with different body types and BMI’s. Although the average BMI is 20, both girls and boys
perceived the ideal BMI to fall below 18. Because of society’s perception of what size our bodies
should be, people tend to go to the extreme, losing sight of what’s actually important.
On the other end of the spectrum many choose to over do it and not care about the size
of their body at all. In the “America’s Weight Problem” chart it shows that in the years 2015 to
2016 about 40% of adults and 19% of youth in the United States fell into the obese category.
Obesity is a problem worldwide, and especially in the United States. Many don’t take the time
and effort to take care of their bodies in the right way, leading to an unhealthy life both mentally
and physically. Whether it’s an eating disorder or obesity, both extremes are unhealthy in more
ways than one.
How do you find that balance along with balancing the rest of your crazy life? It’s
important to take it one step at a time. Getting enough sleep, socializing, eating nutritious foods,
exercising, meditating, and drinking enough water are some of the things that should be
included daily. For example, if you hate exercising and you rarely get around to it, try adding it in
a couple times a week. Many believe that if you workout, you have to everyday. However, going
everyday is a habit that has to be developed, just like any other habit. If you drink a 44 oz diet
coke every day (or several) cut back to 24 oz until you can eventually cut it out completely. If
you are appalled by the sight of vegetables, force yourself to include them in at least one meal
until you begin to enjoy them. If you never drink water, start carrying a water bottle around with
you. If you wait until 2:00 a.m. to go to bed, start by trying to go to bed at 1:00 and slowly start to
go bed earlier and earlier. It’s all about consistency. By beginning to make even the smallest of
changes, you will see drastic changes.
Self esteem is a large part of being live a healthy lifestyle. In their magazine article, ​Kris
Lishner​ and ​Judy Myers​ give examples of characteristics of people with high self esteem. This
includes tolerating frustration, exploring and asking questions, setting goals, showing pride,
displaying independence and confidence, and trusting their ideas. Many of the habits suggested
above can increase one’s self esteem because it helps one to learn how to be disciplined, stay
motivated, set goals and be consistent. Greg Hottinger explains that it makes us happy because
we are able to see the results. You are happy because you were able to pass up that piece of
cake at work. Not only does one benefit physically from living a healthy lifestyle, they can benefit
mentally and emotionally. Although no one is perfect at living a healthy lifestyle, it’s crucial to
our health to care about what we put into our bodies and how we take care of them.
It is important to remember that none of us are perfect, but we should still put in an
honest effort. Greg Hottinger says that even if we have good intentions, it’s not enough. We
have to act. And just because we make a mistake doesn’t mean we give up completely. The
hardest part of living a healthy lifestyle is getting out of the unhealthy lifestyle.We should
continue to set goals and try to improve our quality of life.
 Works Cited

"Looking at Obesity in the United States." Tribune Content Agency Graphics, 2017.
Student Edition,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ROGMPQ308084267/STOM?u=pioneer&sid
=STOM&xid=f3421789. Accessed 26 Apr. 2018.

"Studies from Ruhr University Provide New Data on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
(Body image perceptions and symptoms of disturbed eating behavior among
children and adolescents in Germany)." Women's Health Weekly, 22 Feb. 2018,
p. 6314. Student Edition,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A528017367/STOM?u=pioneer&sid=STOM&
xid=87c467b9. Accessed 8 May 2018.

Lishner, Kris, and Judy Myers. "Building self-esteem." Camping Magazine, Jan.-Feb.
1997, p. 35+. Student Edition,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A19214467/STOM?u=pioneer&sid=STOM&x
id=a0ef8a7b. Accessed 9 May 2018.

Hottinger, Greg. "Let the healthy lifestyle vortex take you for a ride." New Life Journal,
Feb. 2006, p. 14+. Student Edition,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A144294845/STOM?u=pioneer&sid=STOM&
xid=e926bf63. Accessed 9 May 2018.
 Photo Sources

http​://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/17368

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blair25/7890484144

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sleeping-girl.jpg

https://www.pexels.com/photo/friends-friendship-fun-girlfriend-52578/

https://pixabay.com/en/yoga-asana-pose-hatha-2959226/