Recovery

Recovery is not only about being at a healthy weight, but more about learning to love your body and who you are.

Body Image is:

How you see or picture yourself.

How you feel others perceive you.

What you believe about your physical appearance.

How you feel about your body.

How you feel in your body.

 

BODY IMAGE QUESTIONNAIRE - HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?

When you look in the mirror what do you see? When you walk past a shop window and catch a glimpse of your body, what do you notice first? Are you proud of what you see, or do you think, "I’m too short, I’m too fat, if only I were thinner or more muscular?" Most people answer negatively. Take the following quiz and see how your Body Image I.Q. measures up. Check the most appropriate answer:

1. Have you avoided sports or working out because you didn’t want to be seen in gym clothes? Yes______ No ________
2. Does eating even a small amount of food make you feel fat? Yes_______ No______
3. Do you worry or obsess about your body not being small, thin or good enough? Yes____ No ______
4. Are you concerned your body is not muscular or strong enough? Yes_____ No_____
5. Do you avoid wearing certain clothes because they make you feel fat? Yes _____ No_____
6. Do you feel badly about yourself because you don’t like your body? Yes _____ No_____
7. Have you ever disliked your body? Yes ______ No ________
8. Do you want to change something about your body? Yes _____ No ________
9. Do you compare yourself to others and "come up short?" Yes______ No_______

If you answered "Yes" to 3 or more questions, you may have a negative body image.

 

Here are some guidelines (Adapted from BodyLove: Learning to Like Our Looks and Ourselves, Rita Freeman, Ph.D.) that can help you work toward a positive body image: 

1. Listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry. 
2 .Be realistic about the size you are likely to be based on your genetic and environmental history.. 
3. Exercise regularly in an enjoyable way, regardless of size. 
4. Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape 
5. Work towards self acceptance and self forgiveness- be gentle with yourself. 
6. Ask for support and encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful. 
7. Decide how you wish to spend your energy -- pursuing the "perfect body image" or enjoying family, friends, school and, most importantly, life. 

 

In Margo Maine's book "Body Wars," she teaches women to reclaim their bodies and offers ways to help women love their bodies. Here are examples of 10 ways you can love your body: 
 
1. Affirm that your body is perfect just the way it is. 
 
2. Think of your body as a tool. Create an inventory of all the things you can do with it. 
 
3. Walk with your head high with pride and confidence in yourself as a person, not a size. 
 
4. Create a list of people you admire who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Was their appearance important to their success and accomplishments? 
 
5. Don't let your size keep you from doing things you enjoy. 
 
6. Replace the time you spend criticizing your appearance with more positive, satisfying pursuits. 
 
7. Let your inner beauty and individuality shine. 
 
8. Think back to a time in your life when you liked and enjoyed your body. Get in touch with those feelings now. 
 
9. Be your body's ally and advocate, not its enemy. 
 
10. Beauty is not just skin-deep. It is a reflection of your whole self. Love and enjoy the person inside. 

The following information was provided by ED referral I encourage you read this entire page as well as browse the site.

Additional Body Image Links

Positive Body Image: Eating Disorders - Positive body image and issues like eating, weight, sexuality for people suffering with anorexia, bulimia, dieters, and overeaters. Click Here

Love Your Body: More Ideas for Promoting Positive Body Image- Make a pact with yourself to treat your body with respect, and to do things that promote positive body image. More

This body image site is for women of all sizes. Monthly articles, forums, body image exercises, fitness ideas for large women and activism ideas. For more info visit Body Positive 

Ten Steps to Positive Body Image (PDF File) - One list cannot automatically tell you how to turn negative body thoughts into positive body image, but it can help More 

Loving Your Curves is about positive body image attitude for curvy women. Articles about positive body image attitude and convincing today's society thin isn't always in. Click Here

Make Peace with Your Body: Creating Positive Body Images, as featured in Fabulous Foods, the net's favorite cooking community. More

BBC-Relationships, Improving your confidence. Learn how to value yourself and get a positive image of your body. Western society is obsessed with body image. Women want to be thinner, men want to be more muscular. More 

 

FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN

Does your daughter have a positive body image? Teenage girls tend to struggle with body image in far greater numbers than boys. Visit this website for information, Parenting Teens

Help Your Children Develop a Positive Body Image - Make sure your kids create and maintain a positive body image. Help your kids develop a healthy relationship with food. More

Positive body image in youth: body types, body shapes More

Developing a Positive Body Image for children. Click Here

Reality Check: Encouraging a Positive Body Image in Children - Protecting your child from negative attitudes about food and weight. More

Mom's Today- Monkey See, Monkey Do...Modeling Positive Body Image to Children. Starting early will go a long way toward helping your children develop a positive image of their bodies later in life. Click Here