You may be thinking, here we go again. It's probably going to be another cliche post about how important loving yourself and your body is. Well, you're absolutely right. At the end of the day, we are given one body, so you might as well learn to accept it. This article is mainly targeted towards those struggling with body image issues, but I think we can all take something from it.

1. Create healthy, obtainable goals for yourself.

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You should start small, as building new habits don’t come naturally. We all have an idea in our heads of where we want to be, but slow and steady wins the race. You should allow yourself to create a check-list to follow and stick to it. By having a set schedule, you will become more inclined to follow it and therefore, reach your end goal.

2. Give yourself room to make mistakes.

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We might think we know it all, but there’s only room to learn and grow. If you give yourself these unrealistic standards, you’ll be more likely to crash and burn. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. Humans are an imperfect species so you must give yourself time to adjust.

3. Give yourself cheat days.

So you're out to dinner with your friends and they order the “Bloomin' Onion" as an appetizer for the table. Everything in you wants to resist, but you give in. Don't beat yourself up for it, you've earned it. It's not the end of the world, you can still meet your end goals and allow yourself some cheat days. If you've created a strict work out and diet plan to follow, you should implement the occasional cheat day. Completely writing out sweets from your diet will make it THAT much harder to stay consistent. So go ahead and eat that “Bloomin' Onion."

4. Limit your time on social media.

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Our lives are practically in these little devices that we carry around with us. I even bring my phone with me to go to the bathroom. I'm not saying completely delete all social media platforms off of your phone, but the occasional break is good for your health. I fall victim to comparing myself to instagram models on the daily. As intruiging as Kim Kardashian is, I don't have her lifestyle. I wake up, go to school, and study my little heart away. My reality is much different from hers, and that’s the cold hard facts.

5. Stop fixating on things you hate about yourself.

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If you’re anything at all like me, I could sit in the mirror for hours picking out little things I absolutely hate about myself. Those stretch marks, beauty marks, sun spots, and premature wrinkles are not a deal breaker, I promise. If anything, they’re unique to your body and add personality. Sometimes when I sit down I get self concisous about my stomach rolls. These things are all completely natural, so we should try to embrace them. If I find myself staring in the mirror for too long, I envision this monster in the mirror. I can guarantee, no one else is as hypercritical as you are. I mean, would you point out your friends “imperfections?” No. So why talk to yourself like you’re your own worst enemy. Try changing your mindset and picking out parts of yourself you love, and focus on those.

6. Change is possible.

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If your doctor has a concern about your weight, it’s between you two. I promise you, the difference between a small and a medium doesn’t change the person. It is no ones business but you and your doctors. If this number raises a concern to your doctor, then you can take the proper steps to change this. Implementing new eating habits and a workout routine might be the best route. It’s all possible, and happens over time.

7. Acceptance.

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The number you see on the scale does not make the person. It’s easy to get lost in the world of social media and compare yourself to others. At the end of the day, we have to learn to accept the body we have been given. It may not happen over night, but I promise once you do accept yourself, no one can tear you down. I’m still learning myself, and that’s okay.

No one said it would be easy. Every day is another chance to change for the better. Unlearn that negative mindset. Instead, replace it with healthy thoughts. It's okay to struggle, but it is not okay to give up on yourself. Relapses don't erase progress. Progress is not linear!