Love Your Body

Want to feel more confident about the way you look? A new breed of fitness programmes is set to overhaul your body image!

- Sarah Ivory

Here’s something to think about: why do you work out?You already know that regular activity is good for cardiovascular fitness and maintaining a healthy weight. But data shows that people also exercise to feel good about their bodies. And, in the short term, it works – a 2017 study reports that just one, 30-minute workout could immediately improve a woman’s body image by making her feel stronger and leaner, and the positive effects last after exercise, too. ‘We focus on improvements to body composition – fat loss, strength gains and so on – but often ignore the importance of how a person perceives their body to be during exercise,’ says Luke Hughes, managing director at Ori Gym (origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk). ‘In fact, due to the release of the happy hormone serotonin, which makes us feel good, consistent training can literally improve how a person views themselves in the mirror.’

INNER STRUGGLE

Trouble is, the body positive boost may not last. Hughes agrees: ‘Many people struggle with the gym environment – they might feel intimidated or inexperienced compared to avid gym-goers – and this can cause a planned routine to falter.’ The net result is you fall off the workout wagon and your confidence takes a knock.