Sunday: finished reading Locker Room Diaries by Leslie Goodman
Monday: granted myself permission to relax (watched Glee)
Tuesday: voted in favor of my reproductive health
Wednesday: actually got things done on my to-do list
Thursday: attended a yoga class
Friday: meditated
Saturday: went to my parents’ house for family dinner
Sometimes, it’s just not about the body. Sometimes, other things are just more important. In the past, I’ve taken those more important things as opportunities to use and abuse my body, such as not exercising, sleeping, or eating while as I completed a major project or other task.
But this week I tried to take a different approach. What if those more important things helped me mediate my various physical needs and find balance in my body? I took a step back and thought about why I am doing this challenge in the first place.
I have clearly taken on this challenge because I want to develop stronger positive feelings about my body. Having positive feelings about my body is important not just because I like feeling good about myself but also because feeling and being healthy helps me do the things that I care about, for example, teaching, blogging, developing relationships, etc.
That’s why staying in on Wednesday night to work on my to do list was a body positive act. I spent a couple hours sitting at my computer, celebrating the physical and creative energy I have and getting to spend that energy on what matters to me.
Do you ever find yourself misusing your body as you stress about other things? What helps you find perspective and balance between your body and other life tasks? What motivates you to be body positive?
Anonymous says:
HI Mimi,
I'm Ilana's sister and she forwarded me your blog since we're both into public health/prevention. At your suggestion I started reading Locker Room Diaries. Some good points, but some parts are making me feel LESS confident/more body obsessed. I'm curious to hear your reactions.
Erica
Mimi says:
Hi Erica,
I agree that Locker Room Diaries is a complicated book. I hesitated to read it for quite a while. Eventually, I picked it up only when I felt ready to enter the world of insecurities and body-negativity. Additionally, I had to be ready to validate my own exercise/ non-exercise habits even if they weren't validated in the book.
One thing that I enjoyed from Locker Room Diaries is the focus on pampering. I was inspired to take longer, warmer showers and to spend lots of time putting on lotion and generally rewarding my body after working out. (I also read it while staying at a hotel for the weekend.)
It's definitely not the best book out there in terms of body positivity, but it did give me a different perspective on a couple issues. And, since I do spend time in my gym's locker room, it helped remind me to try to view others in a positive light.
Which parts made you feel less confident? Which did you feel were the good parts?