Number 9: “Acknowledge the impressiveness of your body” — I came to understand this piece of advice several years ago, when I fell ill for several months. During that time, I came into a deep appreciation for my body’s ordinary functions and its capacity heal. I didn’t care what my body looked like, as long as it was healthy. Thankfully, my body worked its miracles and is now doing great. I now look at it with reverence and gratitude.
Yes! Our bodies do so much to keep us alive and (hopefully) thriving! I’m sorry you had to go through illness in order to fully experience and embrace your body’s power, but I’m so happy to hear you are doing great now. ♥️
Bodies are meant to change with us - there are only beautiful things about a body's ability to adapt and change to support you + your child in life. I wish we could live in a world that celebrated our bodies and I hope that someday we will. Sending you so much compassion and support. <3
New revelation. I no longer body check. No idea when I stopped. It must have been a gradual thing. At my height I checked the mirror at least 30 times a day, touching up lipstick, checking tummy side view, brushing hair, checking teeth, fluffing up clothes. And to make matters worse, I am immunosuppressed and work at home, go to no crowded spaces, and rarely see anyone other than two girlfriends, the Trader Joe's checkout team, pharmacist, barber, and manicurist. Each Friday for 1/2 I zoom with my boss, but currently I'm on disability so don't even do that! Why the hell was I body checking? Boy it feels good to be free of the mirror, free of the imagined male gaze, free of my own judgment.
No. 8 is my new source of pain. I'm mostly vegetarian although when I feel like I'm not getting enough protein I throw a piece of wild caught sockeye in the oven. For health reasons I've had to cut sodium from my diet with a limit of 1000mg daily. I swear I breathe at least 500mg of sodium each morning. It means no bread among a whole litany of other things. Life without sourdough? This week I've had to face the fact that I'm lactose intolerant, which wouldn't be horrible except that dairy is a staple and a pint sized serving of Haagen Dazs Dulce de leche is sometimes dinner. Latte with whole milk is the best way to have a latte. And did I say that I've had to give up caffeine so that's decaffeinated latte, which, I swear, is a horrid compromise to this woman who used to drink 64 ounces of caffeinated coffee every single day. I can feel my kitchen squeezing me out. To my dietician I go. Again..
Number 9: “Acknowledge the impressiveness of your body” — I came to understand this piece of advice several years ago, when I fell ill for several months. During that time, I came into a deep appreciation for my body’s ordinary functions and its capacity heal. I didn’t care what my body looked like, as long as it was healthy. Thankfully, my body worked its miracles and is now doing great. I now look at it with reverence and gratitude.
Yes! Our bodies do so much to keep us alive and (hopefully) thriving! I’m sorry you had to go through illness in order to fully experience and embrace your body’s power, but I’m so happy to hear you are doing great now. ♥️
I’m 15 months postpartum with my youngest and struggling hard with body image. This list is just what I needed. I’m going to read this everyday. 💜
Bodies are meant to change with us - there are only beautiful things about a body's ability to adapt and change to support you + your child in life. I wish we could live in a world that celebrated our bodies and I hope that someday we will. Sending you so much compassion and support. <3
New revelation. I no longer body check. No idea when I stopped. It must have been a gradual thing. At my height I checked the mirror at least 30 times a day, touching up lipstick, checking tummy side view, brushing hair, checking teeth, fluffing up clothes. And to make matters worse, I am immunosuppressed and work at home, go to no crowded spaces, and rarely see anyone other than two girlfriends, the Trader Joe's checkout team, pharmacist, barber, and manicurist. Each Friday for 1/2 I zoom with my boss, but currently I'm on disability so don't even do that! Why the hell was I body checking? Boy it feels good to be free of the mirror, free of the imagined male gaze, free of my own judgment.
No. 8 is my new source of pain. I'm mostly vegetarian although when I feel like I'm not getting enough protein I throw a piece of wild caught sockeye in the oven. For health reasons I've had to cut sodium from my diet with a limit of 1000mg daily. I swear I breathe at least 500mg of sodium each morning. It means no bread among a whole litany of other things. Life without sourdough? This week I've had to face the fact that I'm lactose intolerant, which wouldn't be horrible except that dairy is a staple and a pint sized serving of Haagen Dazs Dulce de leche is sometimes dinner. Latte with whole milk is the best way to have a latte. And did I say that I've had to give up caffeine so that's decaffeinated latte, which, I swear, is a horrid compromise to this woman who used to drink 64 ounces of caffeinated coffee every single day. I can feel my kitchen squeezing me out. To my dietician I go. Again..
Number 10 is critical IMO. 💗
YES absolutely! Our mental health is so interwoven with our sense of self-worth!
Saving/printing/sharing this. Thank you!!!!!
♥️♥️ thanks for the support - I’d love for you to share it with your people who could use a body love boost!
This. Is. BRILLIANT. Such an honest, realistic guide. I love it so much. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! Exactly what I was going for - we don’t need more surface level body advice 😊
🙌🙌🙌