Posts tagged body acceptance

I finished re-reading a book the other day called “Feed Me!: Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight and Body Image.” I picked this book up years ago and decided to read it again. Sometimes you just need to be reminded of why you’re doing what you’re doing. What I love about the stories in the book, which are all written honestly from the heart, is that they are completely relatable. You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, feel their pain and share their victory.

At the beginning of the book, there is an “I-Love-My-Body Pledge.” The author encourages the reader to print out a copy of this and post it where it can be seen - may it be on your bedside table, vanity mirror or refrigerator door - as a constant reminder of why we’re all fighting the good fight.

I encourage everyone to pick the book and read it, not just once, or twice, but as often as you can. It’s a good read and offers a lot of lessons and insight.

The I-Love-My-Body Pledge

• I pledge to speak kindly about my body.
• I promise not to talk about the size of my thighs or stomach or butt, or how I have to lose 5 or 15 or 50 pounds. I promise not to call myself fat, pig, gross or any other self-loathing, trash-talking phrase.
• I vow to be kind to myself and my body. I will learn to be grateful for its strength and attractiveness, and be compassionate towards its failings.
• I will remind myself that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and that no matter what shape and size my body is, it’s worthy of kindness, compassion and love.

If you’ve ever been subjected to bullying, abuse, self-harm or an eating disorder, you’ll know how it takes a lot of courage and bravery to look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself, “I love you,” and mean it. It takes a lot of kindness, gentleness and forgiveness to love the way you look or the way you are. All the meanness and cruelty people show us, and that we even show ourselves, find ways to brainwash our minds into thinking we’re completely unworthy and undeserving of all the traits of the heart. 

Yesterday I came across a tumblr called “Stop Hating Your Body.” I cannot tell you how happy I was to find a niche in the community that is all part of the body acceptance movement. The owner of the tumblr states,

“I wanted to create a space where people could express themselves about body image, where all sorts of different body types, age groups, ethnicity, beliefs, can unite over one thing: the desire to be happy, the desire to love themselves completely.”

The more I read their stories, the more I felt a surge of love and pride for each and every one of those beautiful people. As all of you know, for the longest time I’ve struggled with bulimia nervosa and all the nastiness that goes with it - depression, body dysmorphic disorder among other things. The strength that these men and women have fuels my own strength to love and accept myself with all my flaws and imperfections.

Click the link below and open your eyes to the truth - that we are all beautiful. ALL beautiful.

Stop Hating Your Body