CASEY’S 10 STEPS TOWARDS IMPROVING YOUR BODY IMAGE

1 1 Try not to compare your post-injury body, to your pre-injury body

2 2 Review your social media and mute any accounts or posts that you feel drawn to compare yourself to. Follow more accounts that make you feel good instead, especially other SCI warriors!

3 3 Write down all your positive qualities aside from appearance... and remind yourself of these daily

4 4 Wear clothes that make you feel good. Treat yourself to some new outfits that compliment your post-injury body

5 5 Create a healthy bowel routine and eat plenty of probiotics (good bacteria) to reduce bloating

7 7 On most days, aim to do a physical activity that you enjoy. This will help you to stay healthy and manage your weight

8 8 Try some SCI specific yoga and/ or mindfulness to reconnect to your post-SCI body

9 9 Remember how much your body has been through and write a thank you letter, or a gratitude list, reminding yourself to focus on what your body can still do rather than how it looks

6 6

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein and veggies, aiming for three healthy meals a day to preserve muscle mass and stay a healthy weight. Reach out to a nutrition expert if you are struggling

10 10 And on days when all else fails and negative self-talk sets in, replace it with positive self-talk even if you have to ‘fake it until you make it’!