Girls and women can struggle a lot with body image - even those female athletes who are physically healthier than most non-athletes.
Talking Points:
- Athletes are some of the hardest-working people by nature, and when a coach, teammates, or even parents push us toward an “ideal” weight or body shape, it can seem impossible to be satisfied with our physicality.
- If we want to be competitive and be physically and mentally healthy, we’ve got to be proactive to tell the wrong voices in our lives “no” when it comes to this issue.
- We must learn our limits and what is healthy for us. An “ideal” weight for one woman is profoundly unhealthy for another. This is something we should figure out with our doctors rather than letting the passing comments of people around us dictate our lives.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever struggled with body image? What happened?
- Have you ever felt pushed in the wrong direction or toward the wrong perspective by someone who was well-meaning? Explain.
- What are some unique challenges female athletes face vs. women in general?
- How can women who struggle with body image and self-confidence support one another?
- How can you be proactive in overcoming body image struggles?
- How can you stop empowering the “wrong” voices in your life?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
