how can i respect my food time

I would criticize it openly and awfully to whoever was in earshot.  I think about the way I would speak about my body years ago and it makes me cringe.

How awkward it must have been for people I would share my “real feelings” with.  I was constantly making fun of myself for being “fat”, “cheating on my diet”, “not good enough”, etc.  This was even during moments of my life that I was at a “normal” weight… I’m not just talking about when I was in a larger body.

LEARNING TO RESPECT YOUR BODY IF YOU HAVE SPENT YEARS HATING IT, IS A PROCESS.

I am slowly learning to appreciate my body more and more.  Notice I didn’t say love my body, I think that is a common misconception.

You can respect your body and still work on learning to love it.

I am thankful my body carries me throughout the day and allows me to do the things I enjoy.

I am thankful my body has given me 2 boys, and a little girl on the way.

I am thankful for a healthy body that is free of disease.

I do not love everything about my body, but I respect my body because of all it does do for me.

If you set the standard that the only way to move forward is to love your body, I have a feeling you’ll give up before you give yourself an honest chance at making peace with it.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE AT WAR WITH YOUR BODY IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF AND FOOD.  -INTUITIVE EATING BY EVELYN TRIBOLE AND ELYSE RESCH

Learning to respect your body means that weight loss needs to become a secondary goal, and for most of us, this is difficult to swallow.

I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to be a thinner person.

So, to take several months and focus on healing my relationship with food and my body has been an enlightening experience.  I have said to my husband time and again that I am so thankful I am doing this work while pregnant.  It hasn’t given me the option to “sneak” back into diet culture.

This doesn’t mean I am disregarding my body and my health, in fact, I’m respecting it more and paying closer attention to it’s needs than I likely ever have.  I’ve had to have patience with my body during pregnancy, which has meant I’ve had to be patient as I’ve learned how to eat more intuitively.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY TO RESPECT IT.  RESPECTING YOUR BODY MEANS TREATING IT WITH DIGNITY AND MEETING IT’S BASIC NEEDS.  -INTUITIVE EATING BY EVELYN TRIBOLE AND ELYSE RESCH

How have I learned to respect my body?  Here are just a few ways.