Problem Areas

I was asked last night by a well meaning individual "What part do you hate?" When I gave her a blank stare, complete with slow blink, she continued, "You know, what part of your body do you hate? Like if you could change any one part of your body what would you change?"

I shook my head no and told her, "I don't hate my body."

She reiterated and said, "Well, you know, everyone has a body part they wish was thinner or firmer or something, what's that part for you? Like when you finish losing weight, what part are you hoping to look amazing?"

I smiled kindly and shook my head no and explained "I love my body." I got a skeptical look from her and continued, "It took me a long time to even look at my body in the mirror without wanting to cry. I was raised to be ashamed of my body, to hate everything about it, but now I can honestly say I love my body."

It's true. I love my body. That doesn't stop me from wanting to be healthier, though. You see, you can want to get healthy, you can want to get fit, you can want to tone up, all without hating the body you live in.

If you hate the body you live in, then I promise that you will never be happy with what you see, because it will never be good enough. You will always be five pounds away from happy, you will always feel like you aren't muscular enough, etc, and you will never like what you see in the mirror.

Do me a favor. Go to the closest full length mirror, and in your underwear, look at yourself. Don't look at yourself to tear yourself down, don't look for the negatives, don't look for what you would change. Instead, look for what you like. Look for the areas that make you feel confident. Look for the areas that don't need improvement in your eyes.

It will take awhile, but I can promise you that eventually the list of things you like will grow, and eventually you will be happy with your entire body.

Don't let society tell you that you have to hate your body. Society has been doing that all your life, and that is why the diet and beauty industries are the top industries in the US. When you hate your body and are desperate to change it, they have won. Be stronger than that. Embrace your curves, because guess what: You are the only one with those curves!

You are unique, you are powerful, you are strong!

There is NOTHING that says you can't love your body but want to live a healthier lifestyle.