There are many rules and opinions about what we should or should not do with our bodies. Everyone has a different perspective on beauty, health, weight, etc. I realized a while ago that radical body acceptance usually comes from breaking the rules.  Yes! That’s right.  If you really want to evolve into a loving space with your body, you will probably break many social “rules.”  That means you have to be willing to go against the norm and blaze your path in your body journey.  There are hundreds of ways to break the rules and honor your body.  There are as many ways to be radical as rules and expectations imposed by society.   Just in case you aren’t sure where to start with your rebellious body acceptance, I have five ideas to share with you:

Smash the Scale

You are so much more valuable than any finite number could describe.  Your worth is not defined by numbers on the scale, measuring tape, or the tag on your jeans.  Those numbers are in no way correlated to how much love you deserve because the truth is that you are worthy of infinite love.  Do you know that anxious, uncomfortable feeling you get when you prepare to weigh yourself? You don’t have to subject your body or emotions to that.  There are so many other ways to measure and track your body evolution on your wellness journey, including but not limited to the following:

• Noticing your energy levels
• Acknowledging changes in your endurance, strength, and stamina
• Honoring your connection to your body signals
• Celebrating improved consistency and commitment to your wellness choices and habits
• Expand your perspective to include all the ways you evolve as a being: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually because it is all a part of your health and well-being.

Enjoy the Food

What have you been feeling guilty about when it comes to food? Do you eat something and then calculate how many minutes you must exercise to burn it off? Do you ever feel ashamed when you eat a dessert in public because you think other people might judge you? Have you felt compelled to explain your food choices to a friend or loved one? Do you deprive yourself of food as a punishment or a reward?

Food can be a way to nourish and honor your body.  It can be a way to connect with your body’s needs. You can learn more about your body and self by learning about your hunger, thirst, and cravings.  So, rather than judging the things you desire, you can learn to use them as guides on your journey towards body peace.  Yes! You can enjoy food and make eating an integral part of your body acceptance experience.  When you connect with your body, you can eat the cake, the apple, or whatever you choose and know why you made a choice.  Knowing your “why” will begin to free you from the judgment of self and others when it comes to food choices.  That newfound freedom will help you “eat to love and love what you eat!”

 Buy the Shoes

Have you ever wanted to buy a piece of clothing but battled with thoughts of what other people would think? Maybe you asked yourself:

• Is this too sexy?
• Is this age appropriate?
• Is this in style?
• Does this flatter my body?

I understand if you’ve had these thoughts or even asked your friend these questions while in the dressing room.  I’ve asked myself all of these questions before too.  However, dressing became much easier once I began to work on my body confidence and self-esteem.  I started to choose my clothing, shoes, and other accessories based on what allowed me to feel most fully expressed. What does that mean? When you are at peace with your body and accept yourself inside and out, you make choices that affirm that acceptance.  You can adorn your body as a form of self-expression and self-affirmation.  You no longer have to “dress to impress” others.  You become liberated from social expectations, shame, and judgment.  That doesn’t always mean being eccentric or garnering attention with your choices.  It can mean wearing what is comfortable for your body, what feels good on your skin, and what makes you feel most confident.

So next time you see those shoes, clothing, or earrings that feel good, don’t worry about anyone else’s opinion; buy them because they feed and nourish your soul!

Shake That Booty

There are advertisements, articles, and other messages about getting fit everywhere we look.  Most of the time, these messages are connected to the goal of getting thinner or sexier.  A “better body” is often the proverbial carrot that companies use to market fitness and exercise sales to consumers.  However, I want to remind you that a great way to honor your body is through movement that you enjoy.  Fitness and exercise are not about punishing or changing your body.  Body movement is a great way to connect with your body lovingly.  I know that it can be challenging to disassociate body movement from the concepts of extreme fitness and weight loss, but here are some ways you can start now:

• Try new activities- explore ways to move your body that you’ve never tried before
• Find something you absolutely LOVE and do it often- the more you enjoy an activity, the more rewarding it will be to your mind, body, and soul.
• Recruit a partner– find a friend or loved one and invite them to join to make it more fun.
• Buy the shoes- (this refers to the previous listing). Invest in gear that helps you feel comfy, confident, and excited to move your body.
• Release the numbers- don’t obsess over calories, miles, or hours; move to have fun!

Body movement can be fun, relaxing, and refreshing.  Use it as a way to love on you!

Cancel The Meeting

How often do you cancel your relaxation time to do something for others?  Maybe it’s for your family, friends, or even your occupation.  I understand how it is to be busy and weighed down with plenty of responsibilities.  However, it’s essential to make sure that you are prioritizing yourself too.  Self-care is one of the primary body relationship tools I teach my clients in coaching and workshops.  Connecting with, caring for, or honoring your body without focusing on self-care is impossible.  Sometimes the most challenging part of self-care is learning to say “no.”  But guess what? You will have to begin saying “no” to others so that you can say “YES” to yourself more.  Sometimes that “no” shows up as taking a few things off your plate and eliminating some items from your calendar.  Sometimes saying “yes” to your self-care shows up as canceling one of your five weekly meetings so you can rest your body and relax your mind.  The best thing about self-care is that there are no rules on how to do it.  It starts with identifying what you need and giving yourself those things one breath at a time.

Now that you have a few ideas of ways to begin honoring your body and nourishing your well-being, which one will you try first? Be sure to share this post with others who may benefit from this list too!