5 Things I do to be More Body Positive

The following blog was written by a fan of appeeling.  We want to continue to share everyone's story and pointers for achieving a greater sense of body positivity.  If there is anything you would like to add, please email us at: andrea@beappeeling.com.

I’ve been overweight my entire life … seriously I think I was born a size eight and I just grew from there. I would work on being funny to compensate for being heavy. It was a way to get people to like me. Now I’m in my 50’s and I really don’t care if people like me or not and I’m so much more comfortable with who I am. Over the years I’ve come to love the value of me and my body. Here are a few tricks that helped me along the way.

I haven’t had a scale in my house for decades. I focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit rather than a depressing number on a scale. Even at my thinnest, after the divorce, when I looked super hot (if I do say so myself), the number on the scale was still saying that I was ‘obese’ according to fitness charts. Hell, if that was obese, I had no chance!

 2. Accept That He/She Loves You

I am so fortunate to have a partner who loves me wholly and completely. After 20+ years, he still tries to sneak a peek if he knows I am changing. Why? I don’t know and I’ve decided that I don’t have to understand it … I just need to accept that someone loves me – that much! That shouldn’t be hard to do!

3.Affirmations

They really work! Pick your affirmation and say it to yourself – out loud at least once a day – more often if you can. Definitely repeat it before big meetings, job interviews or any time you are feeling nervous. Choose what’s right for you. Mine? I usually go with: “I am loved. I am sexy. My body is part of who I am and I am amazing.”

4. Focus on the Good

Everyone has a few things they like about their body. Focus on those and highlight them. Maybe it’s your hair. Maybe you have great fingers and long nails. My legs (below the thigh) are actually quite shapely so you’ll often see me in shorts or skirts.

5. Exercise – to Feel Better, Not Look Better

This is one of the best things you can do for your body image and for your overall health. It doesn’t matter if I lose weight, but it does matter that I don’t lose my breath going up a flight of stairs. Or that I can walk a golf course and not feel exhausted. And even though there isn’t a sizeable weight loss, I do feel more toned and I notice how my clothes fit differently.

One last tip … take the time to find the beauty in everyone around you. Notice the little things that make them the gorgeous creature that they are. The more beauty you find in others, the more likely you are to accept it in yourself.