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52 Ways to Love Your Body
It's time to step away from the scale, ditch the fad diets, and embrace the body you’re in. In this powerful book, Kimber Simpkins, yoga instructor and author of Full, gives you 52 ways to love your body and discover your own unique beauty!
Do you look in the mirror and see all the things you dislike about your body? For many of us, the first step to loving our bodies is being able to look at our reflection and not criticize what we see. And in a culture that worships thin, beautiful celebrities, it’s easy to feel like we just don’t measure up. So, how can you get over your flaws and focus on your fabulous?
52 Ways to Love Your Body is packed with easy and fun practices—one for each week of the year—to help you toss perfectionism out the window, turn down the volume on that nagging inner critic who is always going on about what's wrong, stop the never-ending comparison game, and finally love your body. You'll also find encouraging, in-the-moment affirmations to keep negative self-talk at bay, and give you a much-needed pick-me-up, any time, any place.
If you're ready to start loving your body, this book gives you 52 ways to get started now. So, what are you waiting for?
Do you look in the mirror and see all the things you dislike about your body? For many of us, the first step to loving our bodies is being able to look at our reflection and not criticize what we see. And in a culture that worships thin, beautiful celebrities, it’s easy to feel like we just don’t measure up. So, how can you get over your flaws and focus on your fabulous?
52 Ways to Love Your Body is packed with easy and fun practices—one for each week of the year—to help you toss perfectionism out the window, turn down the volume on that nagging inner critic who is always going on about what's wrong, stop the never-ending comparison game, and finally love your body. You'll also find encouraging, in-the-moment affirmations to keep negative self-talk at bay, and give you a much-needed pick-me-up, any time, any place.
If you're ready to start loving your body, this book gives you 52 ways to get started now. So, what are you waiting for?
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2016
19 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Kimber Simpkins
4 books28 followersHi, I’m Kimber Simpkins, author of “Full: How I Learned to Satisfy My Insatiable Hunger and Feed My Soul” (New Harbinger Publications, Apr 2015).
From civil rights lawyer, to mother, to yoga teacher, and now writer, I’ve learned over the years that the most important thing is letting my heart guide me, even when I was unsure of the direction it was headed. Hey heart? None of this looks familiar. Are you sure this is the right way? Shouldn’t we stop and ask for directions?
The heart has its own internal GPS, the inner workings of which are mysterious to me. Instead of asking for directions, my heart will take me to sit for long hours at meditation retreats or lead me to practice yoga poses as the sun sets over a walnut orchard. Once I’m quiet, mostly my heart repeats the words, “Listen. Wait. Feel.”
Heart also says: “Write.” Full is the story of learning to listen to my heart and finding out how to include my body in the circle of what is beloved. I hope it speaks to your heart too, and encourages you, as Anne Sexton said, to “Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
My heart is also guiding me through a second book, "52 Ways to Love Your Body" (New Harbinger Jan 2016), which is full of simple practices you can use daily to treat your body with more love. When I’m not balancing on my wobbly indoor standup paddleboard yoga mat, I might be outside in the garden meditating on our flock of backyard chickens while getting ready to go teach a yoga class or workshop. I am a big fan of the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement and community, and welcome students of all sizes and levels in class. I’m grateful to be a long-time Bay Area resident, enjoying the California weather with the love of my life, son, dog, and cat in Oakland.
(Profile photo by In Her Image Photography)
From civil rights lawyer, to mother, to yoga teacher, and now writer, I’ve learned over the years that the most important thing is letting my heart guide me, even when I was unsure of the direction it was headed. Hey heart? None of this looks familiar. Are you sure this is the right way? Shouldn’t we stop and ask for directions?
The heart has its own internal GPS, the inner workings of which are mysterious to me. Instead of asking for directions, my heart will take me to sit for long hours at meditation retreats or lead me to practice yoga poses as the sun sets over a walnut orchard. Once I’m quiet, mostly my heart repeats the words, “Listen. Wait. Feel.”
Heart also says: “Write.” Full is the story of learning to listen to my heart and finding out how to include my body in the circle of what is beloved. I hope it speaks to your heart too, and encourages you, as Anne Sexton said, to “Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
My heart is also guiding me through a second book, "52 Ways to Love Your Body" (New Harbinger Jan 2016), which is full of simple practices you can use daily to treat your body with more love. When I’m not balancing on my wobbly indoor standup paddleboard yoga mat, I might be outside in the garden meditating on our flock of backyard chickens while getting ready to go teach a yoga class or workshop. I am a big fan of the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement and community, and welcome students of all sizes and levels in class. I’m grateful to be a long-time Bay Area resident, enjoying the California weather with the love of my life, son, dog, and cat in Oakland.
(Profile photo by In Her Image Photography)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 3, 2018
How if you treat your body like it is your best friend?
This is the best (and very sage) advice from this book.
In 52 chapters the authoress offers 52 psychological/mindful tips for loving your body.
Some offer a simple wisdom I like, some were not for me.
Fortunately, I have never truly hated my body truly and/or for a long time (sure there have been some times of insecurity, I am female after all), so maybe this is why I can not always relate to the issues presented in this book. Or maybe there is too much "mindfulness" without going really deep - meaning that the body hate/lack of body love might very well be the part of the unhappy package of the lack of proper self-love (theme of self-love is on the background, but might have been explored deeper, I think.
Still - it is important to think about your body positively. It is your vehicle here in this life, and what would we be without our eyes to see the beauty or say without our brains to be able to think?
So while not the whole of the book works for me, I am thankful for the important message.
This is the best (and very sage) advice from this book.
In 52 chapters the authoress offers 52 psychological/mindful tips for loving your body.
Some offer a simple wisdom I like, some were not for me.
Fortunately, I have never truly hated my body truly and/or for a long time (sure there have been some times of insecurity, I am female after all), so maybe this is why I can not always relate to the issues presented in this book. Or maybe there is too much "mindfulness" without going really deep - meaning that the body hate/lack of body love might very well be the part of the unhappy package of the lack of proper self-love (theme of self-love is on the background, but might have been explored deeper, I think.
Still - it is important to think about your body positively. It is your vehicle here in this life, and what would we be without our eyes to see the beauty or say without our brains to be able to think?
So while not the whole of the book works for me, I am thankful for the important message.
February 19, 2019
This book was not the best or the worst. It had some really good suggestions on how to love yourself and your body more. It took me a little time to get through but I think it's a good read for women struggling to love themselves. You can find some good tips to help you find your body as a best friend and treat it with kindness and love.
April 17, 2018
This book is organized in 52 chapters so that the reader can digest one each week. The messages are very positive and fulfilling. I especially liked the last lesson about how to share body positivity with young girls. So that we can change to cycle!
May 10, 2020
This was a good read and I loved that she actually tells us to treat are bodies as though they are a our best friends.She makes so really good points that every women has said and can relate to
Want to read
April 17, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 26, 2020
Transfiguration- Splayed edges or red cover
November 3, 2015
Title: Fifty-Two Ways to Love Your Body
Author: Kimber Simpkins
Genre: Yoga, Physical Fitness, Mental Health, Self-Help
Plot: In a world filled with magazines, TV shows, books and movies featuring super skinny attractive women and numerous products geared toward helping women achieved that longer for body ideal, it can be very hard to love the body you're in. Diets that don't work, exercise programs and schedules that leave you exhausted, and your own inner voice cutting down your every effort are some of the obstacles in everyday life on the road to the perfect body.
But in her new book, Ms. Simpkins tells us to get off the road to the body we'll never achieve and learn to love the one we've got. With fifty-two tips and tricks to get to know yourself, you'll learn to silence your inner critic, have tea with your inner demon and discover your inner best friend who is always there with an encouraging word and possibly some chocolate for a much needed pick-me-up. Easy to read and laid out with a project for each week of the year, this book could very well change your life.
Likes/Dislikes: I usually don't read body books {except for all the pregnancy books I got form the library}, but my husband has said I have insecurities about my body so I thought it'd be fun to check out this book and prove him wrong. Just kidding; I do have a few insecurities but thankfully, not as many as I thought. With a catchy title and an appealing idea of things to try to love my body more, it seemed like a good idea. While I did enjoy the journaling ideas and the nature chapter especially, a lot of the stuff in this book really just isn't for me. I thought the idea of inviting your inner demon to tea was creative but a little weird and all the ritualistic ways of dealing with stuff {like rubbing your back against a tree like a bear} were ever weirder. One of the quotes I really enjoyed was, "We forget that our bodies are as natural as rain when we spend more time with our devices than we do with tomatoes and moss and birds." It's a very true thing to say and made me want to scoop up Baby and go for a walk. But it was nighttime and she was asleep so we'll have to do it another day. Also some of the simple yoga poses could be fun to try; maybe they'll help with my back pain. I didn't like the three or four scattered swear words however. That seemed unnecessary.
Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content {swear words and frank body talk} and reading level.
Date Review Written: November 1st, 2015.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.
Author: Kimber Simpkins
Genre: Yoga, Physical Fitness, Mental Health, Self-Help
Plot: In a world filled with magazines, TV shows, books and movies featuring super skinny attractive women and numerous products geared toward helping women achieved that longer for body ideal, it can be very hard to love the body you're in. Diets that don't work, exercise programs and schedules that leave you exhausted, and your own inner voice cutting down your every effort are some of the obstacles in everyday life on the road to the perfect body.
But in her new book, Ms. Simpkins tells us to get off the road to the body we'll never achieve and learn to love the one we've got. With fifty-two tips and tricks to get to know yourself, you'll learn to silence your inner critic, have tea with your inner demon and discover your inner best friend who is always there with an encouraging word and possibly some chocolate for a much needed pick-me-up. Easy to read and laid out with a project for each week of the year, this book could very well change your life.
Likes/Dislikes: I usually don't read body books {except for all the pregnancy books I got form the library}, but my husband has said I have insecurities about my body so I thought it'd be fun to check out this book and prove him wrong. Just kidding; I do have a few insecurities but thankfully, not as many as I thought. With a catchy title and an appealing idea of things to try to love my body more, it seemed like a good idea. While I did enjoy the journaling ideas and the nature chapter especially, a lot of the stuff in this book really just isn't for me. I thought the idea of inviting your inner demon to tea was creative but a little weird and all the ritualistic ways of dealing with stuff {like rubbing your back against a tree like a bear} were ever weirder. One of the quotes I really enjoyed was, "We forget that our bodies are as natural as rain when we spend more time with our devices than we do with tomatoes and moss and birds." It's a very true thing to say and made me want to scoop up Baby and go for a walk. But it was nighttime and she was asleep so we'll have to do it another day. Also some of the simple yoga poses could be fun to try; maybe they'll help with my back pain. I didn't like the three or four scattered swear words however. That seemed unnecessary.
Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content {swear words and frank body talk} and reading level.
Date Review Written: November 1st, 2015.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.
January 21, 2021
I used this book for a body image group and loved it! It has so many great thoughts and ideas on how to challenge societal beliefs and personal core beliefs about body image; and how to become more accepting or loving of one’s body! Would highly recommend to anyone searching for a different relationship with their body.
October 19, 2015
Fifty-Two Ways to Love Your Body by Kimber Simpkins is like having a conversation with the author, instead of reading a book. It very personal and open. I have only read a few "self help" books, usually I get bored right away and skip to the relevant parts and then go on with my life. Fifty Two Ways to Love Your Body peaked my interest from the description so I thought I would give it a try. I honestly didn't expect much, but it was a great read with wonderful advice. Advice anyone can try and implement without the sarcastic words that seem to look down at you or fifty things you need to buy to make this work.
When Kimber suggested treating your body like your best friend, that totally impacted my way of thinking. I defiantly treat my friends better than I treat myself. I push myself because I can take it and feel guilty about breaks. This book was really refreshing with its simple things you can do to improve your outlook on not only your body, but your life. One of my favorite quotes from this book is "do you want to be perfect, or do you want to be real" . The book even gives the statistics of how many people actually fit into the "perfect" scenario that we all try to push ourselves to.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This is an easy book to read and relate to and it can benefit anyone who reads it.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review from NetGalley.
October 13, 2015
This is the first time I write a non-fiction book review and also the first time I read a self-help book.
The pink on the cover grabbed my attention and after reading the synopsys and thinking about for a bit I thought "Why not?" and decided to give it a shot.
Lucky me!
Fifty-two Ways to Love Your Body was a reading I can only describe as amazing! I usually only give 5 stars to a book that really affects me, a book that makes me think about important aspects of life and even change some opinions or habits of mine. Kimber Simpkins' book did all of the above!
I never considered myself as someone who had a negative relationship with her body and it was only once I started reading what Kimber stated as bad body relationship habits and identifying myselft with many little details that I realised how wrong I was and how I could change that.
Fifty-two Ways to Love Your Body requires patience and motivation. It helps you make your body your always present and always caring best friend. You just have to listen and care for him too!
I higly recommend, even if you think you already love yourself a lot. This is an eye-opener, a way to become happier and more satisfied not only with youself but with those around you. And it's written in such a wonderful way I'm sure that you, just as me, will fly through it.
The pink on the cover grabbed my attention and after reading the synopsys and thinking about for a bit I thought "Why not?" and decided to give it a shot.
Lucky me!
Fifty-two Ways to Love Your Body was a reading I can only describe as amazing! I usually only give 5 stars to a book that really affects me, a book that makes me think about important aspects of life and even change some opinions or habits of mine. Kimber Simpkins' book did all of the above!
I never considered myself as someone who had a negative relationship with her body and it was only once I started reading what Kimber stated as bad body relationship habits and identifying myselft with many little details that I realised how wrong I was and how I could change that.
Fifty-two Ways to Love Your Body requires patience and motivation. It helps you make your body your always present and always caring best friend. You just have to listen and care for him too!
I higly recommend, even if you think you already love yourself a lot. This is an eye-opener, a way to become happier and more satisfied not only with youself but with those around you. And it's written in such a wonderful way I'm sure that you, just as me, will fly through it.
July 27, 2016
Honestly it took some effort to get past the author's personality to judge the content of her book. "Lawyer-turned-teacher-turned-writer who talks to her heart while balancing on a wobbly indoor standup paddleboard yoga mat unless she's raising chickens" didn't exactly scream 'I'm relateable! I get what you're going through!" to me.
That, and the self promoting (don't forget she wrote another book, guys!) got on my nerves. It took away from actually flipping through the chapters to find something that I could say "yes. this is useful to me." About a third of the way in, I was losing hope, but the Aspirations chapter finally got on my level.
But I don't really get the sense that Simpkins really got to a point where she seamlessly loves her body. In a few chapters she mentions things like "If I don't do this, I feel horrible but then I do it again and the bad voices go away."
I'm not trying to take a medicine for self love that only works if you do it. I think of a self-relationship as just that--a relationship. I should be fine indulging in a spa day every couple of weeks, not going into 'self massage' withdrawals.
Overall, not for me. I don't buy it, but if you're also a lawyer-turned-hippie-turned stay-at-home-whatever then you might like this book.
That, and the self promoting (don't forget she wrote another book, guys!) got on my nerves. It took away from actually flipping through the chapters to find something that I could say "yes. this is useful to me." About a third of the way in, I was losing hope, but the Aspirations chapter finally got on my level.
But I don't really get the sense that Simpkins really got to a point where she seamlessly loves her body. In a few chapters she mentions things like "If I don't do this, I feel horrible but then I do it again and the bad voices go away."
I'm not trying to take a medicine for self love that only works if you do it. I think of a self-relationship as just that--a relationship. I should be fine indulging in a spa day every couple of weeks, not going into 'self massage' withdrawals.
Overall, not for me. I don't buy it, but if you're also a lawyer-turned-hippie-turned stay-at-home-whatever then you might like this book.
January 11, 2016
52 Ways to Love Your Body, what a force of nature this book is! A well written ode to the many reasons people should let go of what they believe they are lacking, and finally fall in love with who they are. This book is a great contribution to body positivity. The breakdown in short passages, the simple yet powerful statements, they strike you deep within because they are all simply true.
One of my favorite pieces talks about getting curious; letting your mind react to sensations, thoughts, and feelings so you can learn more about who you are and what you enjoy. What an incredible insight into accepting one's self in such a simple way, and that is only in the beginning of the book!
I am teaching my daughters to love their bodies, and they have the confidence I never had, and still don't. With the help of 52 Ways to Love Your Body I am learning to see myself as beautiful, and worthy of my love and acceptance. I applaud Kimber Simpkins for sharing her story with the world, to help others feel less alone on their own journeys of finding happiness inside and out.
*I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
One of my favorite pieces talks about getting curious; letting your mind react to sensations, thoughts, and feelings so you can learn more about who you are and what you enjoy. What an incredible insight into accepting one's self in such a simple way, and that is only in the beginning of the book!
I am teaching my daughters to love their bodies, and they have the confidence I never had, and still don't. With the help of 52 Ways to Love Your Body I am learning to see myself as beautiful, and worthy of my love and acceptance. I applaud Kimber Simpkins for sharing her story with the world, to help others feel less alone on their own journeys of finding happiness inside and out.
*I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 29, 2015
A little bit of mindfulness, without saying the term because there's already too much stuff around with that title, plus a little bit of yoga practice and philosophy, to get to love your body more than now so to stop binge and dieting in their eternal cycle. Easy and full of tips.
Un po' di mindfulness, ma senza usare questo termine che ci sono giá troppi libri in giro sull'argomento, e un po' di yoga inteso piú come filosofia che come esercizi, per arrivare ad amare il tuo corpo molto piú di ora e interrompere l'eterno ciclo di dieta e abbuffate. Facile e pieno di suggerimenti.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND NEW HARBINGER PUBLICATIONS INC. FOR THE PREVIEW!
Un po' di mindfulness, ma senza usare questo termine che ci sono giá troppi libri in giro sull'argomento, e un po' di yoga inteso piú come filosofia che come esercizi, per arrivare ad amare il tuo corpo molto piú di ora e interrompere l'eterno ciclo di dieta e abbuffate. Facile e pieno di suggerimenti.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND NEW HARBINGER PUBLICATIONS INC. FOR THE PREVIEW!
March 15, 2016
I won this book through goodreads and read it in just a few sittings. I really enjoyed this book - it has great tips about how to change your view and relationship with your body. The author does a great job of using analogies to give a new perspective on your relationship with your body. Very good book with a great message.
April 5, 2016
I got this book from goodreads first reads. It had a number of brilliant tips and some kind of meh tips and a number of good quotable moments. The nature of the book - little snippets on things - cause a slightly disjointed read if you powered through all at once but was great if you did a little bit at a time or ever needed a quick pick me up.
November 7, 2015
I enjoyed the idea and most of this book. But, some of the "52 ways" just were a bit silly. A lot really do seem helpful towards the idea of loving the body you have.
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
January 4, 2016
Full of inspiring practices to enjoy one's body and take better care of it in a loving, mindful and joyful way.
October 28, 2016
I mostly skimmed through this book. It looks like a wonderful workbook for recovery, with weekly essays and ideas for appreciating your body.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews