How to Love Your Body, No Matter Your Size

Learning to love your body regardless of how big or small it is seems to be an impossible undertaking for some folks. Because of certain social pressures, many people are led to believe that their bodies are not good enough unless they look like the photoshopped pictures in magazines and on TV. Luckily, there are two sides to every story. Those models you see have their own body-image issues as well, and it’s because they realize that nobody is perfect. Anyone can be a model in his or her own right; you simply must know how to love your body no matter its size. There are four basic steps to appreciating your body: realization, acceptance, specification, and celebration. Let’s break it down:

Realization

If you want to love your body for what it is, you are going to have to realize that there are all sorts of different shapes and sizes in the world. Yes, this does sound a little cliché, but it is so incredibly true. Beauty comes in all forms, but it starts and radiates from the inside out. Once you realize that your body has its own purpose for being the size that it is, you will be able to move on to the next step.

Acceptance

Now you have realized that your body has its own special purpose for its unique appearance and condition. Even if your body could use some improvements because of health concerns, it still needs your love to get it there. You need to learn to accept your body for what it is. Perhaps observe yourself in the nude for a while. Take in those attributes you see as flaws and try to predict what you or others might say. Remember, nobody can hold something against you that you have already accepted about yourself.

Specification

Here comes the point at which you must lay down the law. You have to specify some boundaries for others so that they no longer make you feel bad about your size. To do this, you need to take inventory of the comments that bother you the most and find a way to request respect in a kind yet firm way.

Celebration

By now you are probably well on your way to loving your body regardless of its size. You have earned the right to celebrate. Stop hiding your body under layers of self-esteem issues. Get dressed up, even if it is only every once in a while, and revel in the beauty that is you.

If you are concerned about your health, check out the healthy BMI tool to help you find out which weight range is healthiest for you.