Help with body image

[leathela]

I love the advice in this thread. So many women have such fraught relationships with their bodies, when our bodies can do the most incredible things. As others have mentioned, I really think the key to appreciating and respecting your body is thanking it, literally and figuratively, for what it allows you to do.

I had an eating disorder for many years. When I was very skinny, I looked 'great' (actually, I looked sickly), but I was not strong, had no stamina, and was also not happy. I finally got tired of damaging my body and not treating it the way it deserved to be treated. I've been in remission for my ED for 3 years, and the changes I have seen in my abilities are amazing. I have the strength and endurance to take long, hard run and rides, and can now truly enjoy the sense of release, empowerment, and satisfaction that comes with recognizing what your body can achieve.

Cultivating and nurturing a healthy body image is not easy, and your views of yourself are not always consistent. I know that I have 'good' days and 'bad' days. When I made the commitment to overcome my anorexia, I gained what seemed to me a significant amount of weight. While it was weight I knew that I needed to gain, going from 95 pounds to 120 is still kind of a jump. At times, I felt quite horribly about myself. People were extremely encouraging and frequently told me how great I looked, but I didn't believe them. As validating as outside opinions can be, you will truly only feel good about yourself when you realize your value, your uniqueness, and your beauty. And sometimes you DO need to tell yourself, out loud, that you are a strong, valuable person and that your body is perfect because it is yours. I know that sounds cheesy, but it helps!

[redrhodie]

I love the advice in this thread. So many women have such fraught relationships with their bodies, when our bodies can do the most incredible things. As others have mentioned, I really think the key to appreciating and respecting your body is thanking it, literally and figuratively, for what it allows you to do.

I had an eating disorder for many years. When I was very skinny, I looked 'great' (actually, I looked sickly), but I was not strong, had no stamina, and was also not happy. I finally got tired of damaging my body and not treating it the way it deserved to be treated. I've been in remission for my ED for 3 years, and the changes I have seen in my abilities are amazing. I have the strength and endurance to take long, hard run and rides, and can now truly enjoy the sense of release, empowerment, and satisfaction that comes with recognizing what your body can achieve.

Cultivating and nurturing a healthy body image is not easy, and your views of yourself are not always consistent. I know that I have 'good' days and 'bad' days. When I made the commitment to overcome my anorexia, I gained what seemed to me a significant amount of weight. While it was weight I knew that I needed to gain, going from 95 pounds to 120 is still kind of a jump. At times, I felt quite horribly about myself. People were extremely encouraging and frequently told me how great I looked, but I didn't believe them. As validating as outside opinions can be, you will truly only feel good about yourself when you realize your value, your uniqueness, and your beauty. And sometimes you DO need to tell yourself, out loud, that you are a strong, valuable person and that your body is perfect because it is yours. I know that sounds cheesy, but it helps!

Not cheesy at all. I'm glad you've gotten through this (I had similar problems in my 20s).

Now, I have a good body image most days. On days it's not so good, I try to remember my body is just a tool, and it works really well for me, so be thankful for that.

As someone who has been there, I still haven't been able to help my friend. It's very frustrating, but also eyeopening to how I saw myself in an obscured way, and how that must have been hard for the people who love me.

[cylegoddess]

Yeah strong and STRONG! Im still having a few issues with old eating disorder ghosts, so it is great to hear about this!!
I found out today, that if you eat some sugar in middle of ride, wow! you ride home at top speed! Im not supposed to have sugar, but a little wont hurt.
I was so thingy about eating things in middle of ride, and now I feel like a idiot!
We all suffer a bit from body image, and eating thingies so its so great to have support!
And I thought she looks great in her swimmers! What is beautiful to me is that you are healthy. I as, said before, am chronically ill, so when I see ladies whizzing by me at great speeds on their bikes, often twice my size( Im pretty small) I think - wow! what a cycling goddess!! Shes gorgeous! And its made me loosen up on my idea of what I should look like, and thats so nice.