Respect your body

So what’s the recipe for body respect? Below are a few of the tips from Tribole and Resch’s book on how to respect your body:

1. Get comfortable. As they write, “you should not have to settle for leftovers or dowdy duds.” And that includes buying new underwear: “When is the last time you bought new underwear? Don’t laugh. All too often we have clients who feel that they don’t deserve new underwear (let alone new clothes) until they reach a certain weight or clothing size. Think about what that means at a basic level.”

You might laugh or you might not think about it at all but underwear that’s uncomfortable and that pinches is the last thing that brings your body ease – and only boosts your body phobia. Dress for the body you have right now.

2. Change your body-assessment tools. “Remember, the scale is the tool of a chronic dieter.” I love that. So Tribole and Resch suggest you stop weighing yourself and avoid using other “pseudo-scale” tools like trying on a pair of tight jeans – daily or weekly – to see if you’ve lost weight.

3. Stop body-checking. How often have you asked yourself if you’re the smallest or biggest one in the room or just compared yourself to someone else in general? You might feel like it’s automatic. But here’s the thing: According to the authors, comparing yourself to others can lead to more dieting and body dissatisfaction. And ”You do not know how someone acquired their current body shape.”

The authors describe an example where one of their clients was admiring another woman’s body, thinking that she should be able to achieve the same results. Turns out the woman she was admiring was another client, who was trying to recover from bulimia.

There’s no secret that someone else knows that you don’t. There’s no need to work harder at losing weight. Some people happen to be naturally slimmer, while others may engage in unhealthy behaviors to get to a certain weight. The bottom line is that genetics play a prominent role in our weight and shape. Try to put the focus back on yourself, eating intuitively, taking good care of yourself and moving your body by doing things you love.

4. Do nice things for your body. A big part of body respect is pampering and feeling good. The authors suggest scheduling regular massages; trying a sauna; buying luxurious body creams; and taking bubble baths with oils, salts, candlelight and music. These are also great ways to reconnect with your body, which is important for your body image, too.