Olympian Ilona Maher Shares How She Stays Body Confident: "I Try to Remember What My Body Does for Me"

It’s Ilona Maher’s year. From the Team USA rugby star winning bronze at this year’s Paris Olympics to already being a fan-favorite on Dancing with the Stars, Maher somehow finds time to create engaging content every day for her millions of social media followers.

Among her videos, body positive messaging is a staple as she consistently shares advice learned from her own experiences of comparing her body to others. In a recent Instagram post, Maher got vulnerable about a moment of insecurity that she wanted her fans to know about.

“You know I like to keep it real with you all, so I wanted to just let you know that I’m not feeling too body-confident right now,” she says in the video. “But that’s OK, that’s OK, and I know you all are going to hype me up, I know you’re going to hype me up, but just remember the mind be playing tricks, it be telling you different things.”

When she gets in her head about her body, here are three ways the Olympian feels better and reminds herself of the body she has and loves.

1. Remember Your Body’s Purpose and Strength

Before she goes into her tips, the athlete notes that “it’s hard to love your body all the time and to think it’s just so amazing.”

“Even myself, I have problems with that,” she shares. But through this, here’s how she combats her negative thoughts and treats her body with grace.

“So when I get in these moods, what do I do? I try to remember what my body does for me [and] how strong it is.”

Remembering your body’s purpose is important, so respecting it and promoting healthy habits without feeling a need to punish yourself can help revert your mindset. Some ways that Maher reminds herself of her strength is to go on a walk, run, lift weights or dance, all of which are great forms of exercise. As for walking, taking a stroll around your neighborhood has plenty of benefits, from increasing longevity to reducing stress. 

2. Your Body Will Change, and That’s OK

There are so many reasons why you might be gaining weight, losing weight, losing muscle or just feeling “off.” Maher notes how these fluctuations are entirely normal, and she’s experiencing them right now.

“Just remember that our bodies are constantly changing and will constantly change for the rest of our lives,” Maher says. “Doesn’t matter, whether we’re in a different part of our cycle, whether we’re eating more, eating less, working out more. I’m not working out as much as I usually do, so that’s why my body’s changing a little bit.”

Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and promoting a healthy eating pattern and incorporating exercise in your schedule is extremely important no matter your weight. But if something feels wrong, talk to your doctor with concerns about your body’s changes.

3. Give Yourself Some Grace

It’s OK if not every day is packed with nutrient-rich meals, exercise and a quality sleep. Sure, these are important parts of a regular routine, but we all have days where we want to just lie in bed and eat the salty snacks we love—and that’s totally fine on occasion. As Maher puts it: “give yourself some grace.”

“I think it is hard for me,” Maher shares. “My whole workout schedule has been off.” If you’re also experiencing an unexpected change in your daily habits, that may factor into your negative mindset. Adjusting your routine to find time for what you feel is missing—changing your walk from daytime to after dinner, shifting when to take your lunch break, waking up earlier—can help with this.

Maher ends the video with a final gentle reminder: “Take a breath, remind yourself you’re beautiful, it’s OK if you’re going through these. It’s going to be ups and downs for the rest of your life.” Say these affirmations to yourself, and just know you’re not alone.