WANT TO LOVE YOUR BODY? START WITH RESPECT

Our bodies deserve love and appreciation for all that it does to keep us in good health, yet many struggle to do it. Here’s the first step towards finding that inner peace.


BY: VICTORIA YATES, RN

Loving your body isn’t something that just happens one day. You won’t wake up and automatically love the skin you’re in. But like any challenge that seems impossible in the beginning,

Loving your body takes baby steps.

Many are under the assumption that in order to be “healthy”, there is some level of dissatisfaction with your body. They may even believe that hating the size of their thighs would be the drive to staying disciplined with their restrictive eating and excessive exercising. There is a false preconceived notion that if you fully loved your body, you would “fall off the bandwagon” with being healthy. As a woman, there are automatic thoughts to be dissatisfied with the way they look. After all, that’s what everyone always talks about, right?

These are often the drivers of orthorexia.

But no, it’s not true that you have to hate your body, or a piece of your body, in order to “keep up” your health and wellness. Actually, the opposite is true. By loving your body, you’re doing the best thing you could possibly do to take care of your body. Of course, loving your body is easier said than done. It’s not something you can just magically decide on one morning as you look at yourself in the mirror.

One of those first steps are to begin respecting it.

There is a difference in loving your body and respecting it. By loving your body, you love every piece of you. By respecting your body, even though you may not love all of your body, you do what is necessary in respecting it for what it does for you to get through the day.

Body respect is waking up and eating a hearty breakfast because it fuels your body in a nourishing way. It’s about not judging your body based on a number on the scale, and listening to your hunger cues, respecting them, and eating when your body asks you to. It’s about listening to your cravings whatever they may be, and not feeling guilty about them. It’s about getting adequate sleep each day, and moving in a way that feels good to you regularly. As you can see, respecting your body doesn’t have anything to do with how you view your body physically.

Respecting your body is about changing your mindset in how you take care of it, because it’s the only one you have.

It’s trusting that your natural processes in your body are here to take care of you, not to harm you. It’s a mindset change that allows you to appreciate your body, even if you don’t love every aspect of your body.

Naturally, as you begin to see your body as something that is your own and to care for, you’ll notice a shift towards love, regardless of cellulite, curves, moles, and wrinkles. After all, it’s your body to take care of, to respect, and enjoy your life in.

And the best thing you can do is show it the respect it deserves.

Adapted from the original article.
HEADER IMAGE: LEON BISS

Victoria Yates, RN is a Registered Nurse & Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor based in Westchester, NY who focuses on helping women reach a healthier relationship with food and their bodies. She is passionate about guiding others reprogram negative thoughts around food and body image so they may experience a truly joyful life. Learn more about Victoria Yates Nutrition.