It is hard to reject the diet mentality if we are overly critical of our body size or shape. If you are a size eight shoe, would you feel shame if you needed to size up in a particular brand? Likely not, but it may feel familiar to feel shame if that were to happen with clothing sizes. Why is this? Well, if you’ve been following along, you may have guessed it… that’s right! Our old friend–diet culture. From a young age, we are surrounded with messaging promoting a thin-ideal body standard, which can lend to a disordered relationship with our bodies and food. Learning to respect your body can be very challenging after years of trying to change it or if your relationship with food has been tumultuous. One of my favorite mantras I’ve picked up along the way when working through body respect is “treat your body likes it belongs to someone you love.” Sometimes body love or positivity is an unrealistic standard to reach, so replacing the word “love” with “respect” may feel more realistic at this time to feel helpful, so if that is where you are, that is okay too. 

Our genetics are what makes us diverse. Accepting your “genetic blueprint” takes time and intention. This principle encapsulates all 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating and therefore can take the longest to work through. Respecting your body and loving your body are two different things. You can practice respecting your body while learning to love it again or reach that body-neutral place.

Some helpful steps to get started:

• Find social media accounts that spotlight different types of bodies and unfollow accounts that make you feel like your body is not worthy. 
• Get rid of the bathroom scale in your home and stop weighing yourself. The scale does not tell you anything about your health, your body composition, or your worth.
• Donate clothes that do not fit or make you feel uncomfortable. Wearing clothes that are too tight or uncomfortable reminds us of the unrealistic thin ideal that may cause us to think we are “failing” at achieving what we once believed to be our “ideal” body. You deserve to wear clothes that you like and that make you feel good.
• Move your body in a way that makes you feel good: If you find that you have to push yourself to engage in exercise and it is not something that you truly enjoy before, during, or afterwards, you should not be doing it. Exercise should be exciting and empowering. 
• Surround yourself with loving and supportive people. Do not be afraid to let go of those that cause you to feel negatively about yourself. 
• Do nice things for your body (massage, face mask, haircut, manicure, etc.,). Even if you are struggling to like your body, make steps to take action to respect it. 

Some helpful reflection questions when considering body respect:

• Think about what your life would look like without body negativity and objectification. What would body respect feel like for you? What new things could take place in your life?
• If you were once at what you believe to be your “ideal” weight, ask yourself were you happy then? What did you have to do to maintain that weight?
• How many projects, plans, or events have you put off because you were not comfortable in your body? Make a list of all the things you would do if you were in your “ideal” body. Then pick one of those things to start doing. You deserve to live a happy and engaging life where you don’t miss out on events because of your body image. 
• Reflect on the qualities that make you unique. Think about the aspects that you appreciate about yourself that have nothing to do with your physical body. Such as: “I am a good friend, I am fun to be around, I am creative, I am strong, I am passionate. 

*Focusing less on physical-based compliments puts less emphasis on our physical attributes being the most important part about us.

Try practicing the above steps and reflections one at a time. As mentioned before this principle is not easy and can be ongoing.

It is easy to judge your body when comparing it to others. Most of the time, you do not know the story behind a person’s body or the reason behind their potential weight gain or loss. Maybe they are on a restrictive diet or have an eating disorder, maybe they are in a high point of life, or maybe a low point. The list goes on. We all have very different body stories that are not told from a glance at our physical figures.

Learning to respect your body takes time and intention. If you think you’ve been struggling to heal your relationship with food on your own, it may be beneficial to seek extra support. Click here for more info about our services offered.