Intuitive Eating Challenge Day 8: Respect Your Body
Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, creators of the Intuitive Eating approach, said:
“Accept your genetic blueprint. Just as a person with a shoe size of eight would not expect to realistically squeeze into a size six, it is equally futile (and uncomfortable) to have the same expectation about body size.”
They also say:
“Body vigilance begets body worry, which begets food worry, which fuels the cycle of dieting. As long as you are at war with your body, it will be difficult to be at peace with yourself and food.”
Unfortunately, because of our diet culture and fatphobia, people often blame their bodies, as well as judge their bodies , and others’ bodies.
There is a fear of respecting, and accepting, one’s here-and-now body, because one worries they will become complacent and no longer work hard on changing their bodies - that it is seen as respectable to continue the fight for the ‘right’ body and weight.
But by not respecting, and accepting, our here-and-now body, we are delaying the good things in life. Someone might say, “I will go on that vacation once I am at a certain weight” or “I will wear that dress when I reach X weight.”
In Intuitive Eating, “Respecting your body means treating it with dignity, while holding the intention of meeting its basic needs” and “Basic premises of body respect” include:
My body deserves to be fed.
My body deserves to be treated with dignity.
My body deserves to be dressed comfortably and in a style I like.
My body deserves to be touched affectionately, with my consent and with respect.
My body deserves to move comfortably, to the extent it is possible.
Ways to respect your here-and-now body:
Buying clothes that fit your body, not trying to get your body to fit in certain sizes (or buying clothing that is too large in order to hide your body).
Getting rid of body assessment tools, such as a scale and calorie-counting phone apps.
Not body checking (for example, not looking at your body every time you pass a window or mirror, or flexing muscles to check for muscle tone or fat present).
Not comparing your body to others’ bodies, including ways your body is better or worse.
No longer using ‘big events’, such as class reunions or vacations, as motivators to change your body.
Stop engaging in saying negative things about your body, and others’ bodies.
Do kind things to, and for, your body - such as treating yourself to a day spa with different temperature pools and saunas.
I also want to give a gentle reminder that this information is simply an introduction to the skill created by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. If you want to learn more, please check out their wonderful book, Intuitive Eating!
Please be gentle with yourself today as you try this principle of Intuitive Eating, and if you are interested in getting my emails filled with reflective questions and ideas for practicing today’s principle, click here and sign up for my newsletter!
