Loving your body is hard to do when everything around you suggests you do otherwise. This becomes an especially sensitive issue when you are overweight or obese.  As an obese woman, I’m afraid to say I have a hard time loving my body. It’s hard to love being in a state that so many people work hard to avoid. But what I want you all to know is that even if you aren’t happy with your body you can still love it. If that doesn’t make sense just hear me out. Love is just another word for devotion, and who better to be devoted to than yourself. Love and accept your body so that in turn you can love and accept yourself. That is really what Love Your Body Day is all about. Embrace the body you have and the rest will follow, whatever that may be, assuredly it will be different for each of us, which is what's so exciting. This is only one reason why Love your Body Day is so important.

Obesity issues aside, I am first and foremost a woman.  To quote Jeanne Kilbourne, the media industry is "killing us softly." Each day we are bombarded with ads, billboards, and flyers that objectify us as a gender. If the media continues to exploit and dehumanize women then our self-esteem will continue to degrade, we will become even more objectified, and ultimately they will succeed in instilling within us feelings of subordination to men. 

Love your Body Day is all about fighting against that oppression, by filling our day with positive images and thoughts.  Luckily, there are a handful of companies who are wising up to this “Killing us Softly” campaign and refusing to comply. Front-runners like Dove and Cover Girl are stepping out and stepping up for women.   In their ad campaigns they are now choosing to show real-looking women of diverse ages, backgrounds, and body types. Best of all, they choose to portray women embracing their bodies, and taking an active role in the world.

Challenge yourself to do the same, support companies who stand up for women. Embrace your femininity, and most of all Love Your Body.  Turn Love Your Body Day into Love Your Body Life!

For more information, tips, and ideas on how you can Love Your Body check out:  http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/

Christi