WE-BE MAGAZINE Summer 2013 | Page 54
Fitting Into YOUR Body
8 ways to love your body through thick and thin. ©
Debbie Devine M.A. MFTI
Okay, let’s talk about it…So summer’s here and it’s that time when most are confronted with how
they might feel about their beach body. Our self-esteem with regard to our bodies can really take a hit
at this time of the year. Most people are thinking it; some talk about it, but honestly not much is being said about how to learn, understand and cope with the quiet issues that haunt us about how we
truly feel about our summertime figures.
Powerful voices make an impact. Debbie Devine has one of those voices. She is a family therapist
intern with a focus on body image counseling, a job she does very well. Her book “Fitting Into YOUR
Body– 8 ways to love your body through thick and thin, will be out in the near future. Debbie shared
with us the why and how to’s of loving yourself, as well as learning to value the body you have.
Throughout this interview she touched on the topics of confidence, dieting, as well as ways to manage the emotional build-up which can lead to eating disorders or depression with regard to body image. At times when we deal with stress, anger, and/or sadness we take it out on our bodies through
eating, over-exercising, and/or extreme dieting. These are all temporary, unhealthy ways of coping
with these strong feelings.
We-Be: Would you share with us a few key core values you share with others when you counsel them
with regard to body image?
DD: Body image is not really about the weight or appearance of your body. Body image is about how
you FEEL about your body and how to cultivate confidence and acceptance without having to look
‘perfect’.
Some great ways to increase positive body image are:
Learn how to resist internalizing media messages that show only one kind of (Thin) ideal. (Talk
back!!)
Move your body for pleasure, stress relief, and health instead of focusing on weight loss.
Learn the process of mindful eating and focus on a variety of mostly nutritious foods (learn to reframe the notion of “good foods or bad foods” into a rainbow rather than a black or white cycle of
restricting and overeating.)