Learning to Love Your Body and THE LOVE HATERS by Katherine Center
- Marisa Gelfand
- May 27
- 2 min read
This is a love story, but not the one you’re expecting. Don’t worry, there’s romance. But, IMO, this is the story of Katie learning to love her body.
Katie’s body image struggles started early. Her step-mom’s cruel comments fueled self-doubt, and she started yo-yo dieting. After her boyfriend became famous and broke-up with her, Katie was ridiculed online for her appearance. She tried changing her body to cope. Doing things like starving herself, bingeing, and creating impossible rules like “my thighs can’t touch.”
Katie was terrified of swimsuits and did everything she could to hide, often dressing in black layers. When her cousin asked her to name things she liked about herself, she listed her ankles and fingers.
Katie had negative body image.
Body image is how we see our body and judge it. Many compare their appearance with unrealistic beauty standards. Myths that link thinness with wealth, power, moral superiority, and health abound. Messages are spread within families, friend groups, and social media. These beliefs are both unfair and inaccurate. They create unrealistic standards that contribute to negative body image, which can be destabilizing on a day-to-day basis.
Here are tools for learning to love your body.
See the Full Person: View yourself as a whole person, not a set of disconnected parts to be judged. Focus on qualities like kindness, drive, and creativity, rather than appearance. You’re more than just a body to be scrutinized.
Call Out Negative Comments: Speak up when you hear body shaming. Say it's hurtful and unnecessary. No one has the right to comment on another person's body.
Live in the Moment: Don’t put life on hold, waiting to be a certain size or weight before you start living. You can be happy and fulfilled at every shape and size. Don’t set appearance-based goals as a condition for happiness. You deserve to live your best life now.
Recognize Your Body’s Power: Appreciate the amazing things your body does for you. Be grateful for its strength, abilities, and energy. Your body is working hard for you every day—show it some love.
Love Katherine Center? Me too. Check out my posts on Achieving Catharsis and The ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center and Accepting and Requesting Help and HELLO STRANGER By Katherine Center.
