{via It Gets Better Project; helps to fund anti-bullying & suicide prevention efforts}

Today I’m pleased to present this guest post by writer Brittany Lyons. Below, Brittany sheds light on an important topic: the prevalence of body image issues and eating disorders in the gay community and what might be to blame.

Brittany aspires to be a psychology professor, but decided to take some time off from her PhD program to help people learn to navigate the academic lifestyle. She currently lives in Spokane, Washington, where she spends her time reading science fiction and walking her dog.

When people think about body image or eating disorders, they usually imagine young, impressionable girls who come to hate their own bodies because they don’t match unrealistic advertisements, TV shows and movies. And, in fact, most eating disorder awareness and assistance programs are aimed at women.

However, a 2007 study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that women aren’t the only ones who need such programs, as gay and bisexual men may be just as much at risk (or even higher risk) for poor body image and  eating disorders as women. Thus, instead of just focusing on women, it is imperative that eating disorder programs focus on all groups.

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts 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!

{via etsy}

For many of us, our perfectionism tends to blossom or peak around the holidays. We want our houses to be perfect. We want our presents to be perfect. And we want ourselves to be perfect: the perfect hostess with the perfect makeup and outfit.

{A hilarious and oh-so true illustration from the amazingly talented Elizabeth Patch!}

On Monday I talked about fighting for a better body image and shared five ideas on how to hold on. One of my tips was to make things easier on yourself and get rid of the items that essentially make you feel like crap. One of those items: women’s magazines.

Here on Weightless, sometimes I like to call out these publications for their ridiculousness. These magazines are very much part of our culture. And so many women rely on them for their “healthy” food and fitness advice. Advice that in actuality is misleading, shame-inducing and downright depressing.

We’ve all had a pair of those jeans somewhere in our house. Jeans that haven’t fit us for years, but we keep anyway. Thinking, hoping and maybe even praying to fit back into them. Thinking that somehow fitting into them would shift our lives for the better.

In her book Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful and Live Intentionally, Patti Digh talks about her high school Levi’s and what they represented.

Over the years they’ve become a symbol, a talisman, an icon of my perfect high school shape, that lean and strong teenage body that ran and hiked and climbed and bicycled everywhere, that simpler shape before broken hearts, sexual harassments, dead parents, business suits, big promotions, missed deadlines, inane meetings, working with mean people, being mean myself, dead friends, terrorist attacks, hydraulic systems failing on planes I happened to be on, and just plain living the overrated adult life.

Digh tried desperately to get into those jeans — to no avail. (Something else I bet we can all relate to.) She felt like an utter failure, despite her successful and fulfilling career, wonderful family, great friends and all-round good life.

{via pinterest}

I’ve had a visible scar on my forehead from chicken pox since second grade. In fact, I have several throughout my body.

I have a big scar of moon-like shapes on my left knee from falling on the ground at my grandparents’ house in the Ukraine. I remember it hurting — a lot.

I already have wrinkles on my forehead that I’m sure any cosmetic surgeon would recommend I Botox away.

I definitely have love handles, and my hips keep expanding. And when I’m bloated, I look like I’m with child.

I have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris, which means that I have little bumps on my skin, particularly my arms.

At 29, I still have acne. I have a weird indentation on my middle finger (probably from holding a pen and writing so much). My hair is thin.

I have stretch marks and cellulite and my boobs could use a boost.

Some might call these flaws or imperfections — if they’re trying to be subtle or sort of polite.

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts 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!

{via pinterest}

Last night I read a beautiful post by Anna at Curvy Yoga about the winding path of loving her body. I talk all the time about how a positive body image is truly a process. But Anna’s post reminded me about the real ups and downs, setbacks and triumphs.

{via pinterest}

I used to think that people with a positive body image simply were thin and muscular (and thereby fit our odd Western standards), so how could they not like and appreciate their bodies?

Or I used to think that I couldn’t like my body until I lost weight, until I actually deserved to love it. In my current shape, it just wasn’t right to have a healthy body image. I had to be ashamed if I weren’t thin.

But, as we know, nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve learned, thankfully, quite a bit since those days. That’s why I wanted to share with you some of the things that people with a positive body image know. The real stuff. Not what you read in women’s magazines or see in weight-loss commercials.

{via pinterest}

How we start our days can often make or break our mood. I think the same is true for body image. Here are 10 simple ways to start the day on a positive note that either directly or indirectly boost your body image.

1. Move your body. This isn’t about punishing your body into weight-loss submission or purging it of last night’s calories. This is about engaging your mind and body in pleasurable movement. About getting those feel-good endorphins circulating through your bones.