Hi Kelly
I’ve struggled with various forms of eating disorders since I began college. The girls here always look airbrushed….and it scares me because they are not in a magazine. They are in front of my face–reality. I’ve been to a therapist and am considered “recovered.” But I don’t think anyone really fully recovers. I was hoping you could give me a few suggestions on how to go about improving my body image without having to talk to a therapist about it! Any good books or websites that have worked for you or others? Thanks.
-Clare
I only answer for me, but its a simple answer: workout! Anyone can be skinny if they are born with it or diet obsessively, but no one is naturally muscular- it takes work! Hard work! and its rewarding. Even if i dont have the skinniest legs in the world, or some junk on my trunk, I work hard for the body I have and I know that it is going to last me a very long time. It makes me feel good that I can run around and not get winded, beat my guy friends at arm wrestling (some of them), or carry 5 bags of groceries and not get tired.
I’m proud of my body because I work so hard for it and it does so many things for me.
Another thing, which is kind of catty of me, but it works, so who the hell cares, is I talk to the boy about it- but not in a way he knows. except now he knows. But anytime i need affermation that guys DONT LIKE FAKE GIRLS WITH BLEACHED HAIR AND ORANGE SKIN AND ZERO BODY FAT I bring it up, and he agrees. Guys dont like sticks. and they don’t like tons of makeup. I think girls glam up like that either because they think guys like it, or they do it more for other girls. Im not sure- Ive never been like that, but Im glad that I can put my hair in a knot, wear workout clothes all day long, and my boy still loves me.
Alright peeps- I need your input! What do you do to boost your body image?