10 Lessons on Loving Your Body

Shifting from “I’ll only love my body when I reach a certain weight” or “I’ll be happy when I look like this” to simply loving yourself for who you are can be a tricky journey. As a dietitian and eating disorder expert, I’ve worked with many women and learned a lot about this journey. I’m also a woman with curves and doubts, so I get it. Here are ten lessons to help you start loving your body just the way it is.

1. Appreciate Who You Are Now When you look back at a time when you felt great about yourself, you might think, “I didn’t realize how awesome I looked back then!” Instead of trying to get back to that look, focus on loving yourself now. Enjoy who you are today so that when you look back, you can say you made the most of every moment and loved yourself fully.
2. Be Kind to Yourself in Photos It’s easy to criticize yourself when you see photos or videos. Instead of judging yourself harshly, try to see the good stuff. Look for something you like about the picture or celebrate a positive moment. It takes practice, but with time, you’ll start to see yourself in a kinder light.
3. Don’t Let Body Goals Steal Your Fun Focusing too much on how you look for a special event can ruin the experience. Whether or not you reach your body goals, worrying about your appearance can keep you from enjoying the moment. People who focus on feeling good rather than hitting a specific goal often have the most fun. So, focus on what makes you feel happy and confident.
4. Connect with Others to Boost Confidence Sometimes, you might feel nervous about being around people you think are prettier or more popular. Instead of avoiding them, try to get to know them. One of my clients was nervous about a party because she envied someone there. When she decided to befriend that person, she ended up having a great time and feeling more confident. You might find the same thing happens when you open up and connect with others.
5. Face the Mirror and Embrace Self-Care Avoiding mirrors or skipping self-care can make it harder to love yourself. One client used to avoid showing her legs but started wearing shorts and taking care of her skin. Over time, she began to appreciate her body more. Facing the mirror and taking care of yourself can help change how you feel about your body.
6. Feel the Freedom of Self-Love Loving your body can make life feel more freeing. You’ll have more clothing options, get dressed more quickly, and stop settling for clothes that are uncomfortable. You’ll feel better about yourself and enjoy moments without worrying about your appearance.
7. Focus on Connection, Not Appearance People remember how you make them feel, not what you’re wearing or your size. Being obsessed with how you look can make you self-focused and less connected with others. True connection comes from being yourself and engaging with those around you.
8. Enhance Your Relationships Feeling good about your body can improve your relationships. When you stop being so critical of yourself, you can enjoy being close to others more. This positive change can strengthen your connections and make you feel happier.
9. Give from a Place of Self-Acceptance When you’re confident and happy with yourself, you give more freely and with more energy. Instead of seeking validation, you give from a place of fulfillment, which is more rewarding and doesn’t drain you.
10. Reclaim Your Energy The energy you once spent worrying about your appearance can be used for things that really matter to you. Once you let go of constantly thinking about your body, you’ll have more energy for fun, growth, and personal goals. You’ll live more freely and fully.