When we suffer from Eating Distress/Eating Disorder our relationship with our body is a complex one filled with ups and downs. It’s hard to say when the battle with our body started, but we now know that we can do something about it.
The road to recovery is a long and winding one and is different for everybody, but everybody deserves to feel good within their body and capable of enjoying their body. Our body is not our enemy; our body wants to work with us, to communicate with us and to have a long lasting loving relationship with us. Now is the best time and the best place to start, here are some suggestions that can help you improve your relationship with this precious instrument we call the BODY.
For people with Eating Distress/Eating Disorder the body seems like an obstacle to try overcome. We need to learn to explore a new relationship with our bodies. Our preoccupation with our appearance goes much deeper than the outer image. The body is a basic part of who we are, and it affects the choices and psychological issues we pursue.
Our body is a structure of 100 million individual cells. Cells, like individual people, have differences as well as similarities. They live together in ‘families’ and work in groups towards the well-being of the whole person.
Our body is a beautiful element of Nature which makes us Natural Beings. The more we listen to our bodies, the more we feel peace and health within our bodies.
Creating a positive relationship with our body, is not about creating a perfect body; it is about learning to live happily in one which feels good and works well. The body can be a loyal friend or a strong enemy. Nothing happens without a commitment and regular practice. Our body wants to communicate with us, we need to accept it as our friend and to take care of it. When suffering from ED we often associate it with discomfort, unease, fear and anxiety. To be able to live with our body in a positive way, we must be able to treat it as a source of pleasure, without feelings of insecurity or guilt. Our physical bodies are constantly expressing what our mind is talking about
Negativity is an emotional, spiritual force, which has a compounding effect on the body. What we focus on becomes our reality. One cannot think negative thoughts and achieve positive results. Negative thoughts are destructive. To achieve a different result – you are going to have to think differently. How you feel about your body can have a dramatic effect on your self-concept. It describes the bundle of beliefs, judgments and perceptions that you have about yourself, every moment of the day. By dwelling on the aspects of yourself that you cannot change and do not like, you begin to think negatively about yourself. It is important to look at your health and nourishing habits when you think of your physical self. Although your physical being is only one part of you, it is important. In recovery we develop constructive nourishing ways which we can follow the rest of our lives.
What is your Relationship with your Body?
Your body is your most loyal life companion, but how do you interact with it?
It lets you move, touch, breath, smell, see, and so much more.
From love, hate, rejection to affection and obsession, how do you really feel about it?
Is your body a source of pride and something to show off, or a part of you that you barely give a moment’s thought to? Or perhaps you see it as a thing to continue getting to know throughout your lifetime?
It is important to start accepting yourself today rather than waiting until you get to your desired size. If you don’t accept your body today, you will not feel differently about your body even as you lose weight. It is helpful to first concentrate on the part of the body you like the most. Once you learn to accept that part, it is easier to generalize that feeling to other parts of your body. For example, if you like your eyes, look into the mirror and say, “I like you eyes. Thank you for allowing me to seeing for me and being there for me.” Then choose another part of your body and do the same.
When you hate a part of your body, think about what its use is and how it would feel without it. For example, change the hate of your hips to the thought that hips are necessary for you to move. They also protect your organs inside your body.
Learn to Value What Your Body Does Instead of How It Looks
What is some positive feedback you have received about your body?
If your body could talk what would it say to you?
What would you like to say to your body?
Let your body become your friend instead of your object of fear or disgust. What does this bring up for you?
What changes in your thinking can you make?
What are your fears in developing a positive relationship with your body?
List your beliefs that you have that keep you from accepting your body today:
Beliefs you can change about your body include:
“Let my body become my friend instead of my object of fears”
Your body is your treasure box!
M:)
