Body Love 101
Do you feel joyful and alive in your body? Or do you feel less-than and hyper-focused on every little "flaw" you see?
Are you moving your body from a place of pleasure and ease? Or from a place of punishment and a need to burn off calories?
Are you nourishing yourself with a variety of delicious foods? Or restricting and feeling guilty about eating "forbidden" foods?
Wherever you are on this spectrum, I guarantee you I have been there.
I have struggled with an eating disorder, undernourished my body with starvation diets and over-exercised to the point of injury.
And...
❤️ I've learned to love my gorgeous, divine body. To embrace my stretch marks. My soft stomach. My thick thighs.
❤️ I now feed myself with pleasure and nourishment in mind. No foods are forbidden.
❤️ I move my body in ways that are fun and make me feel alive.
❤️ I feel sexy, vibrant and strong.
I share that because I want you to know that it is possible to stop the war with your body.
I spent years in the depths of self-loathing and perfectionism. and—with intention, practice and time—was able to move to a place of unconditional self-love and a sense of worthiness.
I know how shitty it feels to be engaged in a never-ending battle with yourself. Which is why I want to help you feel joyful in your body too.
I also know how overwhelming it can be to change when you don’t know where to start. So today I’m sharing 3 tips to help you get started on your body love journey.
#1 Edit your online environment
This might sound trivial, but it was one of the most powerful (and easy) tools I used to start loving my body more.
When you’re scrolling online and you notice even a tiny tinge of feeling less-than while looking at someone’s content, unfollow, hide or delete.
It’s amazing how many tiny cues you get every day telling you you should look differently. Turn that shiz off.
On the flip side of that, start following people and brands that showcase bodies of all sizes and colors. Don’t underestimate the power of surrounding yourself with images that make you feel like your body is normal and not a home-improvement project.
#2 Read The F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner
This book changed my life. For reals.
It contains so much good advice for gradually moving into a space of food freedom and joyful movement.
Caroline also shares her own journey out of Dietland, which is so helpful if you want to stop dieting but are afraid of what will happen. (You can also check out my journal post on What REALLY Happens When You Stop Dieting.)
#3 Eavesdrop on your own thoughts
Set a reminder on your phone to go off once an hour that says something like: What are you thinking right now? Then use your notes app or a piece of paper to write down what you were most recently thinking about. (No need for perfection. Just try to capture 5-6 thoughts a day.)
When I did this I was shocked at how often I was thinking negative thoughts about my appearance.
Noting these self-critical thoughts that usually fly under the radar is the first step to banishing them for good.
If you could use a little extra support, I'm hosting a free Body Love 101 workshop on Wednesday Feb 9th!
If you want 2022 to be the year you finally fall in love with yourself and start treating your body with kindness, this is for you!
I'll be sharing:
My body-love journey
Ways to step off the treadmill of diet culture (which can be scary af) and into feeling empowered & fulfilled
Practices for finding peace in your own unique & miraculous body
Resources for ditching the diet mindset and giving yourself permission to eat and move joyfully
