Fitness and Wellness Coach Discusses Keys to Positive Body Image and Why Size Isn’t a Factor

Body image is something many women struggle with in a world where “beauty” – defined by mainstream media – is unattainable for many.

In fact, only 5 percent of women naturally have the body type often portrayed in the media, according to DoSomething.org.

The organization also pointed out that roughly 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.

Kesha Christie was one of those women.

After years of dieting and resenting her body as a young woman, she finally set out on a journey to accept and love every curve.

“I was frustrated with being judged by my weight and my size, and I began judging myself based on what I was experiencing,” Christie told The Weight She Carries. “And it took a really long time for me to appreciate body image for what it is and to be comfortable in my own skin.”

Now, Christie, who is juggling a corporate career in finance, various entrepreneurial ventures and mothering her two daughters, is helping other women develop a healthy relationship with their bodies.

“As a wellness coach, I invite clients to be a part of a community that provides a support system for reaching their goals physically and mentally,” she said. “Our first priority is wellness, not limited to weight.  We provide accountability, motivation and guidance to help each person be successful on their wellness journey.”

Christie took time out of her busy schedule to discuss the importance of having a healthy body image with The Weight She Carries.

Q: Why is the topic of body image so important to you?

When I was younger, body image was the reason I lost myself. I tried very hard to “fit in.” I was too big/curvy to be a slim girl, and I was not big enough to be plus sized, so I struggled with how I felt about myself.

With the images I saw on TV, I was confused on what was seen as attractive. It took a while for me to see myself in a realistic view. I remember meeting a family friend after a number of years.  That person greeted me warmly, but as soon as they thought I was out of earshot, they told the person next to them that I always had a weight issue. I was hurt and angry because at the time, I was finally feeling satisfied with my body image.

I was frustrated with being judge by my weight, and I realized that I was judging myself.  As I got older, body image is also the reason I found myself.

“It didn’t happen overnight, but I stopped trying to ‘fit in’ or be ‘normal.’  Maya Angelou has a quote that says, ‘If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.’ I decided to be amazing.”

– Kesha Christie

Q: You recently shared on Facebook that it took you a long time to love your body. How did you overcome that?

It took a long time because I needed to re-program my mind. I needed to stop looking for society’s “perfect” and define it for myself.  I did this by using relationship principles.  The person you spend the most time with (and there are no breaks) is yourself.  It has been said that you can’t love someone else fully until you love yourself.  It also means embracing yourself.  For me that meant taking a long look in the mirror.

“You can’t change weight or size overnight. There is no quick fix and the quick fixes available all have consequences. You need to understand two things: One, weight does not equal your worth, and two, beauty has no size.” – Kesha Christie

The first thing I faced was negative self-talk.  I have to force myself to find one good thing every day.  I say every day because there are days when my belly bulge greets me and I have to see past it.  I had a baby, and my whole body had changed, not just this belly.

Next, I stopped thinking about weight loss/fitness as a destination. Take your eye off the numbers. It’s a journey with a lot or turns.  Different things pop up.  My journey included a car accident, knee surgery, and a baby.

In spite of all these turns, if you keep moving, you will be surprised as to how far you have come; how strong you feel.

Finally, I surrounded myself with like-minded people.  The benefits are priceless, like having a group to remind you of your goals, and a group that you can empower.  Empowering others has a ripple effect. I won’t say I have overcome, but I work hard to eliminate my excuses on a daily basis and find that it takes the steam out of my negative self-chatter.

“You can’t try to be what society has deemed to be normal for body image, you have to be your own perfect.” – Kesha Christie

Q: What are the biggest misconceptions women have about body image, weight and size?

“Let’s stop filling our minds with body negativity.  The same way we can spot a lie and dismiss it, we can do the same for body image “fraud”, dismiss it!  Love yourself with your words.  Say what you want to hear.  You are perfectly you! You are amazing, every wrinkle, every roll, and every curve.” – Kesha Christie

Weight and size are measurements whereas body image is mental.  Measurements, weight and size are affected by many factors, including water.  If 50-65% of our make-up is water, it doesn’t take much to appear “heavy.”  Body image is the mental perception that we have or our aesthetics or sexual attractiveness.  Your mental image of yourself.   In other words when you look in the mirror what is the first thing that comes to mind.

You can change your body image with a few words that you repeat to yourself every day.  I like to do this while looking in the mirror.  Look into your eyes – those windows to the soul – and repeat, “I am sexy, I am gorgeous, and I am perfect,” over and over.  What the mind believes, the heart knows and the body will show.

Q: How can women learn to love themselves regardless of weight/size? 

Change your perspective. This quote says, “Your body hears everything your mind says.”

T.D. Jakes says, “There is nothing as powerful as a changed mind.”  If you want to change your body, you first have to change your mind.  Live the fullness of life right now, don’t wait until you’ve reach society’s threshold.  You’ll find that your measurements will fall in line with your body image. Lastly, remember that you are worth every effort.

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In addition to being a wellness coach, Christie is a public speaker and storyteller who brings Afro-Caribbean folklore and personal stories to life on stage and in literature. Christie has co-authored a children’s book titled Neecee Finds Home.

To connect with Kesha Christie, you can find her on the following social media handles:

Facebook: Kesha Christie

Instagram: fit_driven_mom (fitness); and speaklife2inspire (public speaking)

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