The Terrible Horrible Thing

I have a terrible, horrible, thing that won't go away. It's called my body, and I won't go into detail as to how I do not like it, as we all know how difficult body image is to conquer. Here, Web MD discusses body image, especially in women. Body image is a topic my therapist and I discussed last Monday. Here are some tips to building better body image:

1. "Well, that's uncomfortable..."
Next time your jeans don't sit just right or your shirt feels a bit tight, just say to yourself "That's uncomfortable," and adjust. Then...

2. Stop the negative thoughts
Immediately. Just cut them short, or even say "stop!" out loud if you must. This ends the loop before it begins.

3. Disagree and Disobey
If you've ever read Life Without Ed you'll know what I'm talking about. Disagree with the negative thought (say: "No I don't believe...) and disobey the thought and do not let it affect your behaviors for the rest of the day.

Even if you still believe the negative thought, the most important thing is that it does not affect your eating disorder behaviors. Additionally, research shows that as you approach your ideal body weight, the negative and unrealistic thoughts lessen. Just another reason to follow your meal plan and gain weight (if that's a part of your recovery): body image may actually improve.