Diet.

One has to learn by experience what a temperate, normal diet will bring to the person. In the first and foremost place it will bring good health and you will enjoy it . T.S.Sundaram

Yoga succeeds by the six (qualifications) zeal, bold determination, courage, true knowledge, firmness and renunciation of the company of unsuitable people. T.S.Sundaram.

I used to be very self-critical about my body but have learned to accept it. We are all beautiful individuals. Thanks for sharing so honestly!

You are so right! I think women are way too critical- we are experts at seeing every little flaw in ourselves. Over the years, I have learned that no one seems to notice the flaws that I notice, and if they do- oh well!

I don't know if I could ever get to this point, but it would be worth a try!

Right! Just love yourself and be confident

I appreciate the positive attitude of both men and women to discuss on this important subject. It is true that each person whether man or woman should know how to look naked beautifully. It will help you to strenghthen your sexual relationships with your spouse. What would be better than that on this beautiful earth.

I relate to the "second-guessing" ourselves. I've been active in size acceptance and body positive circles for years and *still* have moments when I'm overwhelmed by criticisms about my body. Good piece, and good timing for me!

great advise if you can really start to think that way!

Thanks so much how can we love others if we do not love ourselves. I know about those mountains your talking about, 2 c sections and so many pounds later. But ya know what I am a Wife, Mother, Daughter and a Friend and even tho my outsides are mushy, Whats inside is true beauty.

I am often my own worst critic. Why is that? We are loved for who we are by those we love, but so often we do not love ourselves for who we are. This is a common problem that I believe stems from comparing ourselves to others more often than we celebrate our personal victories. Love yourself flaws and all! Listen when people compliment you & BELIEVE them!

I agree definitely with the idea of the show and the thought behind your article. Not enough women take the time to just stand in front of a mirror naked. It's such a powerful exercise. Just stand, go from head to foot, and say other positive things. It's a stress reliever and you get all of that bad mojo out of your system.

I so agree with this. I am always telling my partner to stop cutting herself down and just love herself the way she is. She is always talking about how she is too selfish/fat/lazy/lumpy/you name it. I feel that when you cut yourself down like that to others, you are actually cutting down the other person too. Saying you are a horrible person or whatever states that the person who is with you is also horrible for being with you. Its a judgement call on your part. Realize that people who love you do not want you to hate yourself. Listen to them when they tell you why you are wonderful and you may learn something.

I enjoyed this article, because there aren't many women (at least my age) who are aware of just how much of attractiveness is based on attitude. There's a comedian who talks about women and "fashion" in relation to men that kind of applies here. Women are largely responsible for the creation of fashion, and they hold themselves to those standards a lot more frequently than men do. Only... he says it in a way that is funny. One thing that isn't mentioned in this article is that women tend to have an overblown sense of their own imperfections. You're amazing creatures, and I think most men with any degree of maturity would agree that we appreciate (or even love) your imperfections.

Well said!

Thank you Ninabella1001, I am more confident in my stomach and scars issues than I used to be. I have become more confident in that area thanks to my husband to be perfectly honest. There are still days that I fight that image in my mind but I work on it each and everyday :) That is the good thing about learning more about yourself and dealing with self confidence, I still have a lot to learn but when I start to doubt myself etc I am able to stop those thoughts right away and realize that everything about me is the way it is for a reason.

For instance those scars on my stomach without those scars my oldest son would not be here, it was from an emergency c-section and they could not do a normal csection...while I can be totally honest it still bothers me on some days on other days I see it as a joy and a blessing because my 15 yr old son is here with us today because of those scars.

Bekah

I think this post and Carson's show are fabulous for making women feel empowered and not ashamed about their bodies. The media is usually responsible for setting some unachievable standard of beauty that only makes people feel bad about themselves. However, to the author, I do think that you need to take a little bit of your own advice. When describing your stomach and your scars you don't seem very self confident. I'm sure you are beautiful and your husband thinks so too :)

This is some valuable advice. I never really realized the benefits from being confident. Some days when I have a pimple or something you, I feel that everyone notices it and my confidence shoots down. But if I were to realize what good things I have, i'm sure I could turn my attitude around.

Great blog and thanks for sharing your thoughts although rather personal. I have just recently been able to look at myself in the mirror and on a daily basis I say "damn you are sexy!" I have gained weight due to medications and beat myself up about it but finally I am alright with it. Heck I will put on lingerie in a minute..not gross just confident. Thanks.

Fantastic advice! It's a lot easier said than done, but even just small steps help tremendously. It's very hard to get out of that negative mindset, and I'm still working on it myself.

I really enjoyed your honesty in this blog. I, too, struggled with eating disorders and trying to hide from my own husband. I wish it were as easy as just saying that we can love our bodies. It is a completely different, and difficult task to remember to believe it daily.

This is very insightful, and so true. Something that I have been practicing, on a daily basis, is right before getting dressed, I take a look at myself in my full length mirror. I appreciate all parts of my body. I also have started repeating, as an affirmation/mantra, "I approve of myself." Something I took from Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life." It really does work! Thanks again!

Great blog article! I do love that show! The best piece of advice I ever got was "fake it until you make it". I have found that also applies to self confidence in the naked body.

Kagrath, when I was a teenager I was at the point your girlfriend was and the only help I got was by my parents taking me to see a doctor. Sometimes we cannot help people like we want to,and sometimes we cannot help ourselves at that point that is when we need to see advice from a professional to help us achieve the goals we want and to help us with our self esteem. As an adult I am better able to conquer the beast so to speak because of the help from my past as well as very supportive people in my present life. I deal with depression, as of last week I could no longer deal with it on my own so I went to see my doctor and he put me back on my anti anxiety meds after being off them for 8 years.

I hope your girlfriend realizes what a help you are, but she may be where I was at one point and thought people only said that to say it instead of it being the truth. That is the point that a professional might be of help. Its not a bad thing to seek help.

It was very hard for me, even this time it took me almost 2 months to decide to go back to my dr's and get put back on my anti anxiety meds.

Bekah

This seems to be a common message seen every day, but does it help? My girlfriend is having a terrible time with her self image, thinking she is "unworthy" of my love because she tears herself apart. I love her but every time I try to build her back up she just demolishes herself again. I can't really understand where she's coming from because I've never cared about my image (I'm a tubby one). Though articles like this give great messages, I hardly find any advice more than letting people work it out on their own. Sorry for venting, great piece and I'm glad you recovered from your past traumas. Just a little side note, girls should have a little meat on their bones. Twigs are NOT that attractive. You get a yes.

I think this is great advice, but do you really believe it? You mention that you still feel bad about yourself, but you still go into the specifics. They're clearly a little too close to the center of your thinking. But you're probably closer to where you'd like to be than most of us!

What a beautiful article. It's hard to stick to the advice, but I take it on a day to day basis. It usually balances out, lol! I too am blessed to have a significant other who tells me how beautiful I am on a daily basis. Sure, some days it's the last thing you want to believe, but it sure is always nice to hear.

euroni, I think what you need to do is what I did, it took me a long time to do this BUT eventually it sinks in LOL

Start out looking in the mirror, find ONE thing you do like about yourself...tell yourself all day long you have beautiful eyes, you have beautiful legs etc...than after 5 days find something else you like about yourself physically or spiritually or emotionally like you are a good friend, a good support to those around you.

When you have those days you are second guessing yourself remember those things you do like about you, or start a gratitude journal...

Like I posted I still fight with this myself and I think most every woman does at some point but its the knowing that helps, because you can catch yourself because you are more aware that you no longer want to look at yourself negatively.

I am lucky though as much as I hate my body my hubby told me one day "Those scars are from you having my two sons and living through it..." He told me he looks at those scars and thanks God everyday that both my oldest son and I are alive...I had a horrible pregnancy with my first born son we both almost died. They had to do an emergency csection...he is most times by mirror to remember that there is plenty to love about myself.

Rebbekah White

Oh man, I don't know if I can ever "look good naked" as you put in your title. Everything that you mentioned in the blog is what I do! I always get critical of myself, as a wife and an employee, and I don't have a high esteem of myself. I guess I'm critical of myself in saying the fact that I should have higher esteem. But putting that aside, I do agree that I WANT to be confident in who I am. Thanks for writing this; I realize I need to change in this manner.

Powerful blog. It's hard to find your own self confidence, but I'm proud of you for overcoming. And thank you for giving every woman hope to overcome as well!

Kalii2 I don't like to use the word "fat" but that is what I felt...that is what I was told for many years even as a teenager who was really underweight...the word "fat" here was used to describe HOW I FELT.

I don't judge people from how they look on the outside, I never said someone was ugly or bad etc I used to be over 200 pounds at one time too and to me I hated it I felt "fat" it was an adjective to describe how I FELT.

I have battled with my weight since I was a teenager. I apologize if I offended you that was not the intention.

Everyone is beautiful no matter the size, shape, color of skin or type of hair etc...if we all looked the same this world would be very boring.

-Rebbekah White

Honey, if I could see you in person.. I'd either hug you or give you a standing ovation. I used to be so hard on myself, because of my size and what I looked like. Being with someone, that put you down for it, didn't make things any better for me. When I finally got the nerve up to get up and get out, I found confidence in myself. It was amazing. I completely agree with this blog, in every way. All of my friends, some who are overweight, are always putting down on themselves. It's so hard to convince people that they're beautiful. My friends are always telling me how they wish they could be more like me. I have the confidence. I KNOW I'm beautiful, I KNOW I'm one of a kind, and I KNOW I'm special. Other girls needs more blogs like this, it's such a well written blog. I'm going to refer each and every one of my friends, who still don't get it, to this blog. Job well done, Honey. -applauds-

Im rather put off by the inclusion of the word "fat" in this: "I talk all the time about women needing to love themselves but I too have my days that I feel ugly, unloved, fat, unattractive. Heck I'm human too lol."

Fat is an adjective, and it does not mean ugly or bad or wrong. The only thing it means is someone is larger than someone else. Please re-think your wording.

Excellent article. I respect the fact that what women do in day to day life, a man will not be able to match that from a perspective. Thank you for sharing.

Beautiful advice, to feel beautiful. Not an easy feat but absolutely necessary as it affects other areas of our lives. Of course the media doesn't help, so maybe we should do a little more reading instead.

Very powerful piece... I agree that as women we are really over critical of ourselves... I went through hating myself when I was a teenager but somewhere along the line someone told me.. if you see th beauty within yourself other will see the beauty and it will no-longer just be within you.

When I think of women I think Life and Beauty and I want all women to see that within themselves too