I know what you’re thinking- love my body, yeaaah right. We’ve all read it a thousand times, listened to the inspirational stories, and reassured our girlfriends that they are the sexiest things in the world. So why are we different? Before you start rolling your eyes, take a minute to clear any judgments you have in your head. I know it’s hard, but stick with me–you’ll be happy you did.
1. You should love your body because….only when you love who you are can you learn to eat.
I don’t mean learn to diet. I don’t mean learn to overeat. I mean that place where you naturally pick about 80% healthy foods, 20% “play foods” (Tribole, Resch, 1995). Because when you love your body, you’ll want to feel good. You’ll start to notice how much energy you have after you eat that brown rice and grilled salmon. And you’ll notice how great it feels to eat that piece of chocolate cake without guilt or worry that you can’t stop.
When you love your body, and trust it to tell you what it needs, you’ll feel great. Your weight will stabilize around where it genetically should be. Many people accidentally lose weight. You’ll be free of the crazy calorie counting, fad diets and obsession that so many of us feel.
2. You should love your body because…you will love yourself enough to love exercise.
How many of you have gone to the gym for the sole purpose of burning off that cookie you just ate? How many of you have started and stopped your exercise regimens as often you started and stopped new diets? How many of your memories of exercising are of torturous ‘body compare’ sessions in the full length mirrors? If this sounds like you, it’s no wonder you hate exercise.
Studies show that girls who have poor body image, actually exercise less than other girls (Haines, Neumark-Sztainer,2006). And why? Because when you go to the gym to obsess about burning calories, you miss out on how good it feels. You want to bounce along in a group fitness class and LAUGH with your friends. You want to feel the satisfying stretch in your muscles as you hold a pose in yoga. And you want to experience that intensified awareness that you feel when you really know and listen to your body- that healthy dose of pushing yourself further, yet allowing yourself to make gains slowly. It’s about you, what makes you feel good, and when that’s the focus, you won’t be able to stay away.
3. You should love your body because…everyone loves a girl with some confidence.
You know that girl who gets all the guys? It’s her confidence. It’s the sexiest trait you can have. You know that girl who is beautiful and funny and kind to boot? It’s her confidence. When you don’t have to be catty or judgmental to improve how you feel about yourself, notice how much nicer you become. You know that girl who is well-spoken, has amazing internships, and you know is going somewhere? It’s her confidence. Imagine how much of a power-woman you could be if you didn’t have to spend hours a day critiquing yourself and worrying.
There you have it, the reasons to love yourself. Now I know they sound too good to be true, but why not try it? Have your fad diets, self-loathing, and promised but failed gym resolutions gotten you anywhere? You have nothing to lose. But it won’t work if you do it half-heartedly. You have to really commit: Love yourself, and the rest will fall into place.
Tribole, E., MS, RD. & Resch, E., MS, RD, FADA. (1995) Intuitive Eating.
Haines, J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D., (2006) Prevention of obesity and eating disorders:
a consideration of shared risk factors