Many women I work with (including my past self) struggle to recognize and appreciate the unique and remarkable nature of our bodies. Diet culture has significantly contributed to this issue, promoting unrealistic standards, emphasizing weight over health, creating negative body image, and ultimately disconnecting us from our bodies.
Through my professional work, I’ve seen how these unrealistic expectations profoundly affect emotional and mental well-being. But we can shift all that stress and negative body image to cultivating respect for our bodies’ inherent worth and importance.
As I discovered myself, the result can be truly transformative. It takes consciously choosing to nudge our perspective bit by bit towards a healthier relationship with our bodies. I’m going to show you 12 ways you can do just that.
Understanding Body Respect
Recognizing our bodies’ inherent worth and importance is crucial for fostering a healthy relationship with ourselves. Respecting and attuning to our bodies allows us to appreciate their unique strengths rather than focusing solely on appearance or performance.
This shift in perspective can bring numerous benefits, including improved mental and emotional well-being.
By honoring our bodies and responding to their needs, we can reduce stress, enhance self-esteem, and develop a more positive body image. Embracing body respect can ultimately lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life, and, as I always discuss with my clients, it frees up mental space to focus on things we love and enjoy.
12 Ways We Can Do Every Day To Show Respect To Our Bodies:
1.) Shift Focus from Appearance to Function: Instead of fixating on how your body looks, appreciate what it can do—whether it’s walking, running, stretching, hugging a loved one, or simply sitting comfortably.
2.) Engage in Joyful Activities: Participate in activities that bring you joy, not as a form of punishment or calorie-burning, but as a celebration of what your body can enjoy.
3.) Tune into Your Body’s Needs: For athletes, consider setting aside wearables and focus on how your body feels. Listen to its signals—do you need rest, or can you push a little further?
4.) Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Ensure your body is well-hydrated and adequately nourished. Respond promptly to hunger signals, as they indicate your body’s need for energy. Just as you wouldn’t ignore the urge to use the bathroom, don’t ignore your hunger cues—they are essential information, alerting you that your body is asking for something.
5.) Practice Personal Hygiene: Simple acts of self-care, like washing your face and hair or maintaining good hygiene, can significantly improve your sense of well-being.
6.) Choose Comfortable Clothing: Wear clothing that fits well and is comfortable. Avoid constricting or poorly fitting clothes, as they can serve as constant reminders of self-doubt or discomfort.
7.) Challenge Negative Thoughts: When negative thoughts about your body arise, acknowledge them, and practice redirecting your focus to what your body can do rather than its appearance.
8.) Educate Yourself: Learn about body diversity and the impact of media influences on body image to better understand and appreciate the natural variations in body types. This video is a provider favorite!
9.) Surround Yourself with Positivity: Build a supportive environment with positive influences that encourage a healthy and respectful view of your body. I often encourage my clients to detox their social media accounts.
10.) Set Realistic Health Goals: Establish achievable health goals that focus on overall well-being rather than body appearance.
11.) Adopt Mindful Eating Habits: Practice mindful eating by paying attention to hunger cues and nourishing your body with a balanced diet, all while avoiding self-judgment or placing judgment on the foods you are eating
12.) Celebrate Your Body’s Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and capabilities of your body, no matter how small. Petting your dog or cat, soothing a child, or cooking a meal are all achievements.
Dr. Suzanne Manser, author of I Hate You (A Love Letter to My Mother), elaborates on the concept of body respect in one of her blog posts. She references the Cambridge English Dictionary, which defines “respect” as “a feeling that something is right or important and you should not attempt to change it or harm it.”
Dr. Manser extends this definition to body respect; by recognizing that our bodies are perfectly right, just as they are, and hold great importance to us, we can begin to cultivate respect for them. By incorporating the suggestions above, we can start to show this respect in tangible ways. Although this journey is not always easy, it is undoubtedly worthwhile.
If you need additional support in embracing body respect and cultivating a more positive relationship with your body, contact one of the Rooted Path Providers. We are dedicated to helping you develop a healthier relationship with food and your body.
Interested in learning more about healing your relationship to food and your body? Join us for the Unlearning Diet Culture online group program, where we dismantle the status quo when it comes to the current paradigm of diet-culture and weight stigma. We provide the most up to date science-backed information when it comes to weight and health, and healing your relationship with food. Next session starts this Fall.
by Emina Suta, MS, RDN, IFNCP