Raw food and Body Image: what do you love about yourself?

[kidkid]

Because this forum is about food (it is in many ways a diet forum), i also notice that there's a bit of emphasis on body image, weight loss, etc. Sometimes I feel pangs of empathy and pain when I see people struggling with body image even as they embrace a healthy lifestyle. Empathy, because I have always dealt with body image issues, pain because I don't wish that kind of psychological hardship on anyone including myself.

I just experienced a really wonderful moment. I was undressing for a shower and I happened to glance in the mirror and instead of the nagging voice that says "Oh, you're kind of fat" or whatever it usually says, I was struck by how beautiful I was. I was beautiful and unique and funny and idiosyncratic in my build, in the shape of my face and hair and my stomach and arms and legs. I was overcome by a tender love. You know when you're in love with someone and even their imperfections become beautiful and cherished? That was how I suddenly felt about myself, like I didn't want me to change. I was just totally happy with me.

I have to attribute some of this to my new way of eating and thinking. I haven't lost weight and I don't think I've changed much outwardly since going raw, but I HAVE noticed a HUGE change in my attitude, mood, outlook -- I'm just happier! And tonight it manifested in self esteem, in a very cute and funny patient love for myself, freckles fat and all.

I wanted to share this feeling and maybe start a thread based on what we LOVE about ourselves, as opposed to what we wish to change or heal or make better -- it could be what we love about our bodies, or our minds, our relationships, our skills or our souls. What do you love about you?

[Gaius]

Is it bad that I imagined a beautiful woman coming out of the shower instead of thinking about what I love about myself?

[kidkid]

no it's not bad. The mention of nudity always has its associations and I knew it might be provocative in some way. But I'm being sincere here. I think people should celebrate themselves.:)

[Gaius]

I know, I'm just teasing.

[ViolinCyndee]

I am not 'up to' that.. Still overly-critical of my body.. :(

[kidkid]

most days I am too. Sometimes it's really hard to feel good about my body. But I can usually find something that I like -- the other day for instance I really liked my eyebrows. You don't have to suddenly wake up and love every detail about yourself -- that might be asking too much. But start small, and feel good!

[Eva]

I am doing a Bikram yoga challenge and have no choice but to stare at myself in the mirror for about 90 minutes every day. I'm getting used to it. I've stopped looking at others in the class, stopped feeling any level of self consciousness. It's just me and the mirror and the postures. No more comparison to another person that is SUPER strong, just me.

I must say, it is much nicer to just be happy with myself.

There is a song that comes on the Christian radio stations a lot these days that rings with me, "There could never be a more beautiful you." The lyrics are lovely. I don't want to delve into the religious side of it, but it is comforting having the thought that I was made as I am, no more, no less.

Thanks for this thread.

Ha, by the way, the specific thing I love about myself now is my legs.

[artgirly4]

A lot of what I post is about personal growth and developing as a person. Most times I mention loving oneself. I see that as the FIRST place to start, even though for some it is easier than for others.

I love the inner transformational shift the most!!!

As for skin I am in, I am thrilled with raw power!! I love my body in such a healthy way. I see my body as when I was 25(and I am double that) because it is that youthful. I am thin and although wearing previously size 12,now 7/8 and still getting fitter. I am not my weight nor my size at all!!!

So what I love about me is: that I am(all boiled(sorry) down and to the bottom line, with all the stuff stripped bare) love and compassion. think I shall make this the subject of my blog today its sooo good.

pix of me dancin my heart out.(the one on the left haha)

[Raisingplenty]

Eva, I love that song too. I also find that when I practice yoga, I tend to be more connected with my body which gives me more of an appreciation for it. I think many of us tend to not be connected with our bodies and so it is easier for us to criticize it. It's almost like it's not a part of us. So we try to change our bodies(we think this is easier than changing our thoughts) instead of trying to change how we think about our bodies. This is true at least for me. Sometimes when I start thinking about beauty I wonder, who defines it? Why not define it yourself-You are beautiful! That is a wonderful thought.
Crystal

[contessa20]

Physically, I love my eyes and face. More importantly though, since I've been raw I've learned to love myself as a whole. There are LOTS of body parts that I dislike the looks of naked but I've learned to love ME as a person regardless.

[snoops]

I hope to get there someday soon.

[artgirly4]

snoops...you will!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Because this forum is about food (it is in many ways a diet forum),

What do you love about you?

First off... I've never thought about this forum as a diet forum. Not once. Ever. Unless you are using the term in the way it's actually meant... as a way of eating/feeding your body rather than a way to release weight/fad. For me... this is my life. It's the way I eat, it's the way I live.

And... what do I love about me? I started a thread like this awhile ago... I soooooo agree with celebrating where you are and who are in this moment, cause heck, it's all we really have!

So what do I love...

I love my hair - the way I can style it with my hands, no products at all.
I love my feet! They are so much smaller and thinner than they used to be and I've always loved my feet... but I love them more now.
I love my wrists. I don't remember them being this beautiful before... but I notice them now.

I sooooooo love my collarbones!!! I reach up and feel them all the time. So cool to feel my bones.

I love my skin. The blemishes from the last twenty years are gone and my skin is glowing.
I love my eyes. Especially my fasting eyes!!! Sooooo blue and clear.
I love my body... my butt, breasts, ab, hips... the package.

(((hugs)))

[freelive]

Our bodies are so much more than just fat amount or muscle shape.
Actually I have my rampage of gratitude for my body on Abe forum, where I write regularly, here are the snipets from it.

I love my body for:

feeling so comfortable and healthy

bringing me from place to place

allowing me to feel physical pleasures like touch, taste, smell, sight, movement, sounds

being so dependable

taking care of itself without me putting much thought about it

for all of the parts of my body working in unison- truly best aparatus there is

for my body reacting right away, when I make healthy choices - and never scolding me for my previous choices. Always doing the best it can under the conditions.

for loving me always

For my fingers learning quickly new combinations on the guitar, and my voice for singing - I have so much fun with this. I just never realized how much fun my physical body allows me!

I appreciate my body for planting beautiful tomatoe and cucumber seedlings in my community garden plot(and my nose smelling warm soil smell). And then planting some flowers for hummingbirds in my balcony. You, my body, rock! I do so many fun things because of you.

I appreciate the cozy warm feeling my body feels today at home, when outside is sooo coooold and wiiiiindy. And also my warm casmere blend sweater - so soft and incredibly warm

.....I LOVE myself because I am a beautiful and wonderful expression of Source energy expressing in this physical dimension through this wonderful, awesome body.

I appreciate my body healing a cut on my toe so quickly and beautifully.

Also, now when I learned to trust my body, I see how wise it is. Before If wouldn't feel like eating, I would eat anyway just so my metabolism wouldn't slow down, and if I would want ot eat more one day- I would feel bad about doing that too. Now I trust my body to make the best choices, and I feel great. My body is much wiser than experts. And I feel so free. I don't even count repetitions in my work out anymore - my body knows the best how long to do and what that day. Thank you, my gorgeous and wise body!

I appreciate my ears for hearing all the beautiful music and talking, and Daniel's laughter.
I appreciate my hair being so playful in the wind - naughty hair, I love you.

Food is my friend now. And my body is my friend too. Now I trust it to make the best food and other choices. Believe it or not- now my body loves to exercise. I can feel electricity running through my body as I compliment it.

I am in love with my body now!
I appreciate my musles getting stronger- I love feeling my body. I enjoy work out dvd variety I have, so I allow my body to choose any or even a combination of them. It is so much fun to move. I love it!

I love feeling wind on the beach. And my fingers running on the guitar strings.

Hey, my gorgeous body, now we are having fun!

[Colorawdo girl]

Hmmmm... I love my heart and my every other lil part.



A POEM ABOUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ME

My hands and that I use them to create, paint and love.

My eyes that I can take in all the colors above,


My legs and feet that carry me through,

My ears....cute lil ears that can hear I love you .


My arms that hug and carry lil ones.

My face that can feel the wind and the sun.



But especially my heart which is my biggest part!

[Cerellia]

What I like about myself:

- My eyes (nice blue color, always liked them)
- My snub nose
- My face in general is quite acceptable.
- My skin color: I have got so much more tan since I am skating in the sun most days.
- My hair is long, soft and voluminouse, but I would prefere it to be brighter
- My body has quite an hourglass shape, I find it kind of difficult to love that because it can be very unhandy but optically, it is nice.

[lizbar]

freelive,
i loved loved loved your post. it was adorable.

let's see,
i love my eyes, very blue
i love my butt, always had a good one (hee hee)
i love my hands, i should treat them and stop biting my nails.
i work out daily and love the way i feel afterwards.

[Veronica01]

i felt the same way this morning getting into the shower, i thought wow eating this way sure has made me feel better about myself and i am closer to my goal size by eating this way than i ever was counting calories and exercising like a maniac. I am very happy with my body for loving me back.

[Green_Woman]

What I Love About Her

She is beautiful

She is gracious in communicating her needs to me, and accepts my failings in caring for her at times, and yet is overwhelmingly grateful to me when I care for her rightly, and rewards me with new expressions of natural beauty

She is lithe and flexible

She has an incredibly unique look and personality all her own

She is strong, hard-working, and innovative even when I do not provide her all the best materials to do her work

She is forgiving and merciful when I do her wrong

She heals, and heals rapidly, and when a rare scar remains, she uses it to tell me of her desire to help me do better by her, next time

[freelive]

Thank you for beautiful words. Here are a few more from my body appreciation:

I love my skin for being so soft and healthy, for protecting the rest of my body

My body is a love story that continues day after day. All the cells in my body love one another deeply. Every part of my body gives what other parts need, and receives from them what it needs. I am a walking, talking story of love.
Gary Zukav

It feels so good to feel my muscles after work out and a warm soft water in the shower. I looove the feeling of soft silky bamboo fiber socks on my feet.

I also loove my five year old tiny feet, soft cheecks. Well, technically it is not my body, but a little bit is, since he was formed in my body, right?

I appreciate my fingers for getting better at barre chords Gm and Cm. Now I can play Bach/Gounoid Ave Maria.

The funny thing is that it was my mind, who was in a way - I was resisting barre chords, because I didn't believe I can play them. Once my mind allowed it, my fingers learn them so quickly. I thought it was a "real" problem, but it was all in my mind. As it always is with any situation and any object.

Since I started to appreciate my body in a more focussed way, I attracted information about workout, that builds small nice musles(not just the large groups), and I am having fun with it fo several weeks now. In case you want to check it out- Tracy Anderson Mat Work Out.

I actually enjoy the movement and feelings in my muscles while I am working out.

And today I noticed, that my arms are shaping up wonderfully- not just couple big muscles - nicely all around.

Also, I attracted information about bloodroot paste, and my skin tag is gone.

But the best part of loving my body is feeling good in it.

I love it, that my body can enjoy food taste- this morning I made a nice smoothie from banana, avocado, kiwi and lacinato kale-it was such a treat. Delicious and smooth. Fresh and sweet. Yammy...

I appreciate the warmth I feel in my muscles after planting garden yesterday in Gratitude Gardens event. It was so much fun - there were a lot of fun people, delicious food and even live music!

And my five year old son also had fun playing with a dirt and shovels, that he let me work for 3 hours straight

I appreciate my body for having a nice pillow fight with my son.

And for making my barre chords sound better and better!

For the fine I had on a hike in this beautiful local canyon with my abe friend- it is amazing how much we can help each other on those hikes. My body loved the sun, the hike, the animals and the fresh air.

For that fresh delicious juice enjoyment my body gave me this morning. I made it from celery, carrots, spinach and kohlrabi. Kohlrabi I grew myself from seed, so it is extra special juice.

All that refreshing juice and green smoothies were not just delicious, they made my skin litterally glow- so I appreciate my glowing skin.

Oh, and I am thankful for my hands learning a new strumming patterns for guitar - with muting. I love learning new tricks!

I appreciate my eyes being able to see the falcons in the park- they are such a beautiful birds. Also for my mind being open now to see the beauty in them hunting and eating a smaller bird. Okey, so I still have slight resistance to that sight, but much smaller than I would have had before...

[Green_Woman]

I love my voice...

I love my clear blue eyes...

I love my skin, and how soft it feels and vibrantly it glows...

I love my hair for being silly and curly and having a mind of its own...

And I love my toes!

[spicyfull]

Every......thing.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Thought I bump this up!! :heart

[JennaHoneyBear]

I need some self love...


I love my nose--I see some of the other noses out there, and I'm so glad I got a cute little button nose
I love my shoulders and upper back--soo slender and fierce
I love the beauty marks that make a necklace around my neck, have always loved that
I love my slender ankles and wrists
I love my muscles, and how strong they are
I love my hair, how long it is and how it can be straight or wavy, and how it changes how I look depending on if I have bangs or not. Also how I look good with any hair color :)
I love my eyes, almond shaped and hazel, I would always get compliments
I love the tiny beauty mark above my lip
I love my hair line at my nape
I love my awesome rack, lol!
I love my hourglass shape, I can look good wearing clothes of all sorts of styles (except flapper, lol, NOT for me! but not like I go out in clothes like that :P)
I love my soul and emotions :)
and most of all....I love my brain! without which I would not be alive

[lodestar]

i love being me ... having said that--i am stretching to improve each day. xox

[kaleboy]

I love my alter ego :)

[green goddess]

I love my alter ego :)

Ha ha! That's cute.

But seriously.

I love my hair, how when I do nothing to it at all but tousle it after showering, it dries in cascading waves down my back, and when the sunshine hits it just right, it looks like a golden waterfall.

Oh, sheer poetry! :)

:encore:

[jazzygirl]

Right now... nothing.

I just stepped on the scale :(

[green goddess]

Right now... nothing.

I just stepped on the scale :(

Aw, jazzygirl! Well, since this is a thread of affirmations, of anything at all that you like about yourself, I thought I'd do one for you!

Ahem...

I like that jazzygirl is curious enough about such a life-affirming thing as raw food that she's joined this raw food talk! I think it's awesome that she's striving towards something healthful and beneficial for herself and she will be blessed with rewards for her efforts (and soon she'll be happier stepping on the scale!) :)

:heart

[RawHealthyBeauty]

JazzyGirl ~ I love your username!!!

Every detail that we're all born with is beautiful in every way so everything that you are is beautiful beyond your comprehension!!

Praise every detail of you and you'll be amazed to see how truly beautiful you are inside and out!! :heart

[jazzygirl]

Aw, jazzygirl! Well, since this is a thread of affirmations, of anything at all that you like about yourself, I thought I'd do one for you!

Ahem...

I like that jazzygirl is curious enough about such a life-affirming thing as raw food that she's joined this raw food talk! I think it's awesome that she's striving towards something healthful and beneficial for herself and she will be blessed with rewards for her efforts (and soon she'll be happier stepping on the scale!) :)

:heart


JazzyGirl ~ I love your username!!!

Every detail that we're all born with is beautiful in every way so everything that you are is beautiful beyond your comprehension!!

Praise every detail of you and you'll be amazed to see how truly beautiful you are inside and out!! :heart

Thanx guys, you brought tears to my eyes.

There are some things about me that I like....

I am open and honest

I love trying new things

I never give up

Thank you again :heart

[ReneeH]

I have a nice butt!!!!! :woot:

Other than that, I love my spirit...my zest for life!!! I love how I teach my Raw Classes (they are so much fun!!!!) and I love that I live what I teach!!!

I love that I don't stay down or get defeated...when I've fallen, I've gotten back up and never gave up!!! I truly believe that success lies in getting up and moving on!

I love my smile!!!

:heart

I love that I give my all to whatever I do!!!

[Truaymica]

I love my eyes because my father gave them to me! and he has passed on now and I can see him when I look in the mirror. I love my smile because my mother gave it to me and she to has passed on as well. I thank my family for my passion, my humor, and letting me become who I am without judgement because no matter what others think of you it matters most of what you think of yourself. Love yourself so others can love you, once that is done you will truly start to live!!!

[Conscious Midwife]

~my hair
~my breast, so volumptuous and a perfect tear drop shape, soooo organic
~my skin

[damaru]

What has helped me is remembering that the people who have inspired me the most in my life have not been super models! And because they weren't so concerned about their body image, they had more focus on inspiring me to do great things. It absolutely doesn't matter how you look, when you die, no one will care. What matters is how many lives you affect positively, and I must say, eating 100% raw has helped me do that a lot easier. As a school teacher, what the kids need is love, not a magazine cut-out of a girl.

[damaru]

also, even though I basically don't know what anyone on this forum really looks like, I automatically assume everyone is beautiful, because your words are so wonderfully amazing :) !!!