Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit to help boost your body image — and kick-start the week on a positive note!

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

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Last week Jess Weiner’s Glamour article, “Jess Weiner’s Weight Struggle: ‘Loving My Body Almost Killed Me,’” caused quite a stir (and for good reason).

It sparked a debate that had many of us questioning Weiner’s definition of body acceptance communities and what loving one’s body really means.

(By the way, thanks so much to everyone who commented. I appreciate your thoughtful words!)

Today, I thought it’d be fitting to think about what accepting and loving our bodies really means to each of us. It’s a vital conversation because it concerns our well-being and health mentally, physically and emotionally.

So spend some time this week considering what body acceptance and body love signify in your own life. You can even brainstorm a list on paper.

To me loving my body means:

• feeding it nutrients like my fave fruits and veggies
• hydrating it properly
• eating intuitively and mindfully
• being flexible (so if I overeat sometimes, or feel crummy after a certain food, that’s OK. I note it and move on)
• moving it with fun physical activities that are either heart-pumping or relaxing
• but not pushing it toward pain
• getting enough sleep
• putting it in clothes that feel good
• not letting numbers like weight and size rule my life – or even more so, my worth
• being grateful for what my body does for me on a regular basis
• not criticizing it, even on days I feel uncomfortable in my own skin
• visiting various doctors regularly (like the dentist and gyno)
• pampering it

What does loving your body mean to you? Please share below!

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    Last reviewed: 15 Aug 2011