My Journey to Body Positivity: The Tools That Helped Me Love Myself at Any Size

Navigating the complicated relationship between food and body image can feel overwhelming. Growing up in the excessive diet culture of the early 2000s, I experienced my own share of ups and downs. Now, as a mom of two, I face new challenges and opportunities for healing. I want to share the tools and resources that have been vital in my journey towards body positivity. These tools support learning to love your body at any size, while also helping to build sustainable and healthy habits for both your body and mind.

The Power of Mindfulness & Messages You Tell Yourself

One of the most impactful tools I integrated into my routine is mindfulness. This practice involves being aware of my thoughts and feelings & most importantly, the language I use with myself. For example, I use card decks to have a positive statement or area of focus for the week. These have really helped me when I feel down or need a way to reframe & refocus.

The Body Gratitude Deck of Cards: Affirmations to Accept and Celebrate Your Incredible Body

These 50 cards give you beautiful ways to focus on loving & appreciating your body. From the author: Each card reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. It’s time to show your body gratitude for everything it empowers you to do, every day, and celebrate the beautiful scars, wisdom lines, and countless quirks that make it unique. Click Here to Get the Cards on Amazon

The Intuitive Eating Card Deck: 50 Bite-Sized Ways to Make Peace with Food

This card deck is a great support tool as you start learning to listen to your body & its hunger cues. From the author: Grounded in the same evidence-based approach outlined in the breakthrough guide, Intuitive Eating, as well as The Intuitive Eating Workbook, this portable and uplifting card deck offers daily strategies and affirmations to help you pay attention to natural cues of hunger and satisfaction, so you can stop worrying about calories and really savor your food. Click Here to Get the Cards on Amazon

My Favorite Books

The role of community in my healing journey has been invaluable. Joining online forums and support groups focused on body positivity was a true turning point. Websites like The Body Positive and social media platforms allowed me to connect with people facing similar struggles.

Hearing real stories and attending meet-ups have reinforced the idea that I am not alone. For instance, I gained confidence from a discussion in an online group where members shared their challenges and triumphs. This sense of belonging provided the encouragement I needed to continue pursuing self-love.

Through community connections, I learned from those who are further along in their journeys. This collective support created a safe space for all of us to share experiences and insights.

Journaling My Journey

Writing has always been a powerful outlet, and journaling became my safe space to explore thoughts about body image and food. I began with gratitude prompts, like noting three things I appreciate about my body each day.

Journaling has helped me track my progress, confront negative thoughts, and celebrate small victories. Beautiful journals from brands like Paperblanks inspire creativity, making writing even more enjoyable. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that regular journaling can significantly improve feelings of wellbeing, which reinforces its role in my healing journey.

The Intuitive Eating Workbook: Ten Principles for Nourishing a Healthy Relationship with Food

This is one of my favorite workbooks & gives you guided prompts as you work through the 10 principles of intuitive eating. If you are part of my Healing Your Relationship with Food program, we will use this as part of our exploration into your relationship with food. From the author: Based on the authors’ groundbreaking and game-changing book, Intuitive Eating, this fully revised second edition of The Intuitive Eating Workbook shows you how to transform your relationship with food and change your life for the better. Click Here to Get the Workbook on Amazon

The Intuitive Eating Workbook for Teens: A Non-Diet, Body Positive Approach to Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

This is the teen version of my favorite workbooks & gives them guided prompts for the 10 principles of intuitive eating. If your teen is part of my Healing Your Relationship with Food program, we will use this as part of our exploration into your relationship with food. From the author: A new, non-diet approach to adopting healthy eating habits! Drawing on the same evidence-based practices introduced in Intuitive Eating, this workbook for teens addresses the ten principles of intuitive eating to help you listen to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues. Click Here to Get the Workbook on Amazon

A peaceful reading nook for journaling and reflection

Positive Listening

To counter the messages from diet culture, I’ve committed to listening to content that is body positive. Following research, blogs, and other experts dedicated to body positivity has transformed my perspective.

Podcasts like Food Psych hosted by Christy Harrison offer deep insights into dispelling myths about body image and food. These resources encourage me to challenge societal standards and embrace the beauty of diversity in body sizes. Gaining knowledge gives me the power to embrace a healthier relationship with my body.

Ongoing Journey to Self-Love

My body positive journey is ongoing and filled with lessons learned along the way. The tools I've shared have become my allies in healing my relationship with food and my body. Mindfulness, journaling, community support, intuitive eating, positive affirmations, nutrition education, realistic goals, and continuous learning have collectively guided me toward self-love and acceptance at any size.

I hope these resources resonate with you as they have with me. Every step in your journey is valid, and loving yourself is a powerful act against diet culture. Here’s to celebrating our bodies, in all shapes and sizes!