5 Things Every Female Athlete Should Know About Body Image
Last week, we kicked off the Lead Insiders with a live, honest conversation about REAL Body Image with professional sport psychologist Dr. Megan Cannon and Body Image Advocate & Influencer Victoria Garrick. Megan and Victoria chatted with participants and provided an overview of body image, the influences of body image, and how social media is used to depict body image. We took a deep dive into their first-hand experiences as a former Division I Athlete and how body image changes throughout high school and college.
This was an incredible session and we wanted to share it with YOU. Check out our 5 biggest takeaways from the conversation below. ICYMI, you can also stream the full webinar and download our companion worksheet to take notes as you follow along.
“We couldn’t be happier with how our Body Image webinar turned out. Bringing together these two powerhouse women really showed our audience not only the emotional side that can come from body image but also the science side and why it’s so important that we as athletes celebrate and nurture our bodies so we can perform at our best. Our hats go off to Dr. Megan and Victoria for being incredibly vulnerable and honest, and truly bringing their A-game to this session.”
— Kara Lynn Joyce, Founder/CEO, Lead Sports Co.
5 Things We Learned from Dr. Megan and Victoria:
There isn’t one “perfect” body type as an athlete. You and your teammates will look different (and that’s okay!). Embrace your differences and know that they help you play a key role within your sport. Your body gives you power so give yourself credit for being a strong female athlete!
Prioritize yourself and maintaining a healthy relationship with your body. There are so many influences on body image from the media, to social media, friends, family, and teammates. Recognize the situations that are triggering to you and remove yourself from situations that negatively impact you. Take a break from Instagram or unfollow accounts that don’t inspire you or exude positivity. You deserve to be happy and feel confident in your body!
Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself. Have conversations with loved ones that outline ways they can become a support system for you. There are some external factors that you can control to help minimize the amount of negative body image messaging you're exposed to on a daily basis. By utilizing your inner circle, you can become more empowered to speak out about how you feel.
Stick up for yourself. You have a right to speak up when you feel uncomfortable or something is hurtful to you. Lean on teammates or trusted staff members to express how certain activities make you feel in training or competition. You’ll find that they are people who want to help you and can initiate communication with your coaches when issues that are difficult for you to navigate arise.
It’s okay to ask for help with your mental health. You’re not meant to do it alone. Many female athletes across all age levels and sports struggle with mental health. It’s important to acknowledge that your mental health is a top priority and that there are people who want to help you be the best person you can be. Understand that your mental health journey is an ongoing process and is one that will allow you to grow and come out stronger on the other side. Show yourself some compassion and be kind to yourself!
Want more tips?
Check out our Sports Psychology course to learn more about body image at the Lead Academy. From now until April 22, receive 15% off Dr. Megan’s course using code BODY!
Check out Module 1 for a sneak peek of what to expect in the course.