5 Ways to Love Your Body

Let Cupid Take Aim at You

-- By Carrie Myers Smith, Health & Exercise Expert

SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more

Change your inner dialogue
It’s been said that we teach others how to treat us. If we believe that, the message that comes across to others is that we are not worth being liked, loved, or treated with respect. Most of it comes from what we’re not even saying. Choose to believe that you are worth taking care of and that you have the right to be respected and treated with dignity – and act like it!

Take care of your body
Diets, pills, quick-fixes, binging, not exercising, over-exercising, all these things disrespect one of the greatest gifts you have been given – your body! You only get one per lifetime, so give it the respect it deserves. You will not only feel better, but you just might become someone else’s role model!

Click here to to redeem your SparkPoints

You will earn 3 SparkPoints

‹ Previous Page Page 2 of 2 Return to main wellness page »

Stay in Touch With SparkPeople

About The Author

Carrie Myers Smith
Carrie Carrie is an ACSM-certified personal trainer with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and health education. Her work has appeared in Shape, Fitness, Cooking Light and Energy for Women.

View All Comments (207) Leave a Comment ›

Member Comments

JGMARIE80

Thank you. This is so true. Love your body and keep it healthy. A healthy body is a beautiful one. - 4/14/2013 5:27:41 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
ECRISSI

Thank you! It's so true that an illness can make you appreciate your healthy body so much more. Such a good point to focus on taking care of it and making it stronger rather than criticizing it. - 4/4/2013 5:53:11 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
CONSTRGIRL

Thank you so much for this article. It is nice to be reminded about the pressures society and magazines put on us regular people. I had almost forgotten about everything a girl must go through just to get their photograph taken. I love it when celebrities allow photos of themselves without any touchups. It shows that they are real people too. I try to remind myself that my hips are a gift from my grandmother, not a curse. My beautiful red hair is from my great grandmother. It is a reminder that our ancestors are living within ourselves and we are able to carry their memories and genetics forward. - 3/6/2013 2:57:54 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
ICANDOIT1220

This is a very significant message and needs to be conveyed to our young children as well as to adults, particularly women! I would benefit from reading it every day. I am especially prone to picking myself apart and I even find that I look at and analyze other people's bodies --- in comparison to my own, or even just to be critical. Not good. I'm working on it. - 2/20/2013 10:31:41 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
TWINCENT

I saw my shadow this morning whilst jogging and I was shocked to see my 'side love handles' in the shadow!! I felt very despondent most of the day thinking that I was doing the wrong exercises all along. But thanks to all the comments I have read tonight. It has made me realize that some of these pictures we admire all day are 'not real' and there is nothing wrong with my body. One day at a time . Thank you. - 2/18/2013 1:27:35 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
LOPEZB2012

Fantastic article. I really needed this today. Thanks ever so much. - 2/15/2013 2:54:02 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
BARBARAJ73

Thank you for the reminder that what we see as "role models" in the media is not real. Recently saw an article about what women do to prepare to walk the red carpet - not eat for days???? And then there is photo editing. I can barely look at a magazine without scrutinizing the body lines and chuckling over the Scarlet O'Hara waistlines (not!) - 2/14/2013 1:30:18 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
ARKMOGAL

Thank you so much I really needed this today and everyday!! - 2/14/2013 10:37:11 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
QUAIL75

Great article! I needed this today! - 2/14/2013 9:06:30 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
WAYCAT

This is great - the human body is a marvellous machine that should be cherished.

- 2/14/2013 7:06:12 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
FLAMINGOJAN

Excellent article! Acceptance of ourselves is the biggest hurdle we face regardless of our size. This helps put everything in to perspective. Concentrate on being healthy, not a number. - 2/14/2013 6:17:02 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
FAT2GAINHEALTH

i like your point that celeberties even have problems with their bodies. they also have to spend time with diet and exercise and even get air-brushed for their photos to look the way they do. - 10/20/2012 1:45:51 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
PINKVAPOR1965

I like this thank you - 8/7/2012 6:25:42 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
MZADANIG

Sometimes it is hard to remember these things. We forget what we do have rather than what we don't. Thank you for this article & reminder! I will be putting it into practice a s a p :) - 6/12/2012 12:13:27 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
FLKAIN

Great reminder to take care of your inner self before you can tackle the "outside". - 6/7/2012 2:58:25 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment