7 Ways to Love Your Body Now

1)   Treasure your treasures: you already have a ton of awesome qualities. Write your assets down on a piece of paper; read them aloud, post them around your house, have your partner read them to you. Remind yourself of all of the beautiful qualities you already have about yourself- body aside.

2)   Create Self- Care: This should have probably been number one. Take care of yourself; feed it when its hungry, stop when it’s full, bathe, clean, and appreciate your body. Start practices that allow you to really appreciate your body. Care for your body in ways you usually wouldn’t; use a sugar scrub, take a bath, apply lotion, etc. Do this things and do them often

3)   Practice movement: Use your body in a way that feels amazing to you. Not some dreading treadmill run, cross-fit work out, or abs crunch routine. Dance in your kitchen, walk in your neighborhood, pole-dance, take up a salsa class, feel flexible and exhilarated.

4)   Dress to feel your best: Throw out the clothes that make you feel confined, rigid, or to tight. Relax into flowy clothing, clothing that allows you to move, feel free, and spacey.

5)   Play: do what you LOVE to do whether that’s arts, sports, writing, or walking. Don’t stop just because you don’t feel like you have the body you want. WORK with that body you have NOW. That body can still do all of those wonderful things; no matter the size.

6)   Listen to your body: Are you hungry? Or maybe you are just really tired. Really ask yourself ‘what do I need in this moment?’ Maybe a binge sounds good when in reality you need to rest.

7)   Don’t isolate: This is huge. Many of us with disordered eating habits or addictions tend to isolate. When we isolate we are alone with our maladaptive thoughts and ourselves. Get out and experience life; spend time with friends and family; get out of your head!

For me, its so easy to get locked into a head space in which all I am thinking about the way I look, trying to look better, and to please others. This gets me nowhere except face down into a tub of ice cream, my bed, or onto the treadmill. Focus on what really gets you going- what do you love to do?  Also, take a look at the emotion underneath your urges to engage in unhelpful behavior such as binge eating, restricting, and over exercising. What are you feeling right now? Do you feel unlovable? Unworthy? Isolated? These are all feelings we cover up with the word ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’. When in reality the word ‘fat’ isn’t a feeling at all. It’s just our way of overlooking the real truth of our feelings. So you feel unlovable? Ok, that’s OK. Accept this feeling and then turn to something that brings you love, security, and joy such as being around other people, spending time with the one’s you love, and experience belonging and self care.  Take care of yourself in times like these and begin to experience love and joy in your own body and life.