Glamour survey about women's body image gives 7 good tips for thinking better thoughts

A recent article and survey by Glamour magazine about how women think about their own body image is revealing about something that really needs to change: women need to start thinking better thoughts about themselves.  You can search for the complete story online or you will probably see it on news stands.

According to the story and survey by Glamour, 97 percent of women have at least one negative thought about their body image every single day.  They say on average, a woman has about 13 negative thoughts about her body each day, which accounts for one negative thought every hour she is awake.  Enough already!

As Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund said in her blog "...it's OK not to be perfect. It's OK to have things you struggle with...everyone does. You are not a 2-dimensional image in a magazine. You are a real, living, breathing 3-dimensional woman. You are amazing and special and unique because you are YOU. And no one else can offer the world what you can. Love yourself. Respect your body. Rock on."

I like what Kirsten said a lot, so instead of focusing on the those 97 percent of bad thought numbers, I spotted a list in the article that talks about a few things women can do every day to feel better and live healthier, happier lives. From the Glamour article, here are a few positive things to try when you get into a bad cycle of putting yourself down: say stop, appreciate your body, play up your strengths, and basically rewire your brain to not distract yourself into putting down your own body image when something else is really bothering you.

I believe Miss America is about beauty. I believe the true beauty of Miss America starts inside our hearts, at the national pageant, the state competitions, and even at the local level. I believe every single local titleholder is a beautiful, talented, amazing young woman who will change the world.  I believe 100% of the woman in the program will do great things in their communities this year. And that is true beauty. So in the words of Kirsten Haglund, Rock On!