Do You Often Say"I Hate My Body Shape?"

If the title describes you, there's hope. Recognizing that something isn't the way you want is the first step to changing it. That change seems hard, of course. It often is. But facing reality already puts you ahead of the game.

So, what's the next step to getting the body shape you want? Learn, learn, learn. That is, explore what started you eating more than you need. Discover what evaluations keep you chained to overeating. Find out where and how you can get guidance to help you change.

Most programs for those with an eating disorder explore the reasons you are stuck (or at least feel that way). Change is hard. It's easier, though, if you find out why you feel you're stuck. Along the way you explore why you developed binge eating disorder, bulimia, or your particular illness.

Sometimes it is as simple as succumbing to feelings of shame induced by taunting classmates. For others it's more complex — a poor relationship with parents that induces anxiety, for example. For many, it's a combination of factors that have to be teased out into the light.

Along with finding those roots, you can explore the present. Evaluations — about your body shape, societal ideals, etc. — determine the feelings we have about those.

But those evaluations are not poured in concrete nor inevitable. Some heavy people are fine with who they are. Others who were dissatisfied learned how to change their (mis)perceptions. They can now say "I like my body shape."

Beyond exploring the past and re-thinking the present, the overriding goal is to change our future. That may feel impossible. Yet look around and you'll soon see many who did change. They have no power you lack. They may have some knowledge or techniques you lack, but that can all be learned.

To learn them, it's simple (though not always easy) to find eating disorder help that works for you. Usually you'll benefit from guidance from others. It's a rare person who can simply "will herself to health."

Fortunately, that help is available — in abundance. Affordable, effective methods for making your body shape what you want does exist.

"Not for me," you might say. "My body shape has always been bad." The second statement may be true; the first is not. Everyone, yes everyone, can change. Anyone can stop overeating, improve health, and raise her self-esteem.

It's true that changing the phrase "I hate my body shape" to "I love my new body shape" isn't easy. It will be difficult, at least at first, to keep that new body shape the way you want. Many who stop overeating and shed body fat gain it back.

But we always have a choice. Explore how you (subconsciously) chose your eating disorder. Discover the self-sabotage that sustains it. Find out how you can obtain treatment to overcome it. You'll soon see that you can make new choices and get a new body shape, one you feel good about.