A recent study found that “more than 1 in 3 adults are unhappy with the way they look.” As a result, if you feel a little uncomfortable in your own skin, you aren’t alone. In fact, many adults are plagued with body-confidence issues on a daily basis. 

While it’s important to note that we’re all beautiful in our own way (magazine model standards aside), there are many ways in which you can safely begin to improve your body image. For example, this could be achieved by transforming your diet and beating emotional eating. 

However, it’s easy to feel weighed down or stressed when thinking of this challenge, as it may take some time to achieve your goals. Changes take time and effort! However, that does not mean it will not be worth it in the long run. 

With that in mind, here are just some of the benefits that come with feeling more comfortable in your skin. 

Improved mental well-being. 

Low levels of self-confidence can often lead to a range of wellness issues, such as anxiety or stress, which in turn can fuel negative dieting behaviours, creating a vicious cycle that is hard to break free from. 

However, as you begin to feel more comfortable in your skin, you’ll also notice a marked improvement in your overall wellness. For example, healthy weight loss often means you begin to think of your appearance more favourably, meaning you’ll be less likely to criticise yourself or your appearance. As the way we talk about ourselves matters, embracing positivity over negativity will reduce feelings of sadness and anxiety, leaving a smile on your face each time you look in the mirror. 

You start dressing for yourself.

Many of those who deal with body-confidence issues will attempt to wear clothes that ‘hide’ their figure – such as baggy, loose-fitting clothing. However, this often leads to more confidence issues, as you aren’t dressing in a way that makes you feel good. Instead, you’re burying your true style and personality between layer upon layer of fabric.

However, as you begin to feel more comfortable in your own skin, you’ll start to dress for yourself – wearing clothes you love and feel comfortable in. As a result, this is the perfect opportunity to shop for new clothes and shoes online, treating yourself to some truly stunning items. 

Improved confidence.

It goes almost without saying that feeling more comfortable in your own skin will also make you feel more confident. However, this enhanced confidence and self-esteem can impact many different areas of your life, often in unexpected ways. 

For example, when you are more confident, the way in which you present or carry yourself changes. You’ll walk with your head held high into every room. In a professional setting, this newfound confidence can open many doors, whether you’re searching for a new job or climbing the ladder within your current company. This sense of confidence could also help you to stand up (or show up) for yourself more in your personal life.

You’re open to new challenges.

Whether you’re looking to get back into fitness or strut your stuff this summer in a bikini, improved body confidence will help you embrace the challenges you may have shied away from previously. After all, it means you feel comfortable enough in your skin to step out of your comfort zone and embrace change. 

Being open to new challenges moving forward can bring forth a range of positive changes in your life. For example, it could encourage you to take a risk at work that pays off or to try out a new exercise routine that helps you to reach your ideal weight. 

You’ll stop comparing yourself to others.

Comparing yourself to others is one of the easiest ways to kill your motivation or shatter your self-confidence. After all, when we do so, we’re looking only at the physical difference between ourselves and others – and not the fact that we’re likely at different stages in our health or wellness journey. Despite this, according to a recent report: 

• 90% of women and 60% of men compare themselves to others on social media. 

• 40% of these people have a negative perception of themselves as a result of comparisons.

Of course, this is easy to do, especially when the only thing we have to do to kickstart these feeds is open Instagram – and while there’s something to be said about remembering that social media is not a reflection of real life, you’ll definitely notice a marked decrease in the desire to compare yourself to others as you grow in self-confidence. This is because you’re more aware of your own worth. 

However, if you find that self-comparison still plagues you, it’s time to hit that unfollow button. Social media was designed to be fun, not a cause of stress, and you don’t have to surround yourself with content that makes you feel bad about yourself. 

You can inspire others.

As you progress in your weight loss journey and your confidence soars, you’ll also be able to inspire those around you, especially those who may be just starting out themselves. After all, they’ll not only be able to see how far you’ve come – but the difference in how you carry yourself – and this alone is a great inspiration. 

On a similar thread, this could also help you to stay motivated when you encounter challenges moving forward. For example, if you’re moving on from sugar addiction, there are times when you may feel familiar cravings creep in – while this is a natural part of recovery, enhanced well-being and confidence could help you to better avoid these pitfalls or pick yourself up again should you fall. 

You’ll become more resilient.

As mentioned above, improved body image can help you to stay focused on your long-term goals, meaning you’re less prone to relapsing moving forward. In short, it can make you more resilient as you’re more aware of the benefits of persevering and working toward your next goal. For example, this could mean that on a day when you’re feeling a little tired and would otherwise skip your workout, you’ll actually be able to pull yourself out of bed and work up a sweat anyway. After all, you’ll know the benefits of consistency and pushing yourself toward your goals. 

Overall, resilience is a skill that will carry you toward great success in life in both your fitness journey AND your personal and professional endeavors. In fact, resilience is often considered one of the best personal attributes to have when it comes to achieving long-term success in many areas. 

Final thoughts.

In short, there are many different benefits associated with becoming more confident in your skin. This includes: 

• Improved mental well-being (reduces stress, anxiety, and low mood)
• Getting the chance to embrace your personal style, and wear outfits you look and feel good in.
• Massively improved confidence and self-esteem
• Being open to new challenges
• Less self-comparison and negative self-talk
• Getting the chance to inspire others and lead by example 
• Improved resilience in all areas of life

However, improved confidence and self-esteem are perhaps the most important – as you deserve to feel positive about yourself, especially if your past self was overtly negative. 

As a result, if you’re currently looking for a way to become more comfortable in your own skin, it’s time to get started on your wellness journey. Figure out what negative habits are currently holding you back, and begin to make the relevant lifestyle changes that will allow you to live a life where you feel more confident than ever before.