Approximately 91% of women say they’re unhappy with the way they look. Yikes. When you love a woman with a negative body images, there are certain things you can do to make her feel more comfortable in her own skin. Please don’t be the guy who body shames his girlfriend. Here’s how to love a woman with body issues:
- Come up with a pet name for her that expresses how beautiful you find her. Greet her with it frequently: “Hey, gorgeous” or “Hey, beautiful.” She might roll her eyes at first, but she’ll get used to it and start to really appreciate it.
- Tell her how sexy she looks. If you’re thinking it, say it out loud. Never let an opportunity go by to tell her you find her attractive.
- Love the parts of her body that she hates. Trace her scars gently with your finger. Tell her how much you love her curves and her hips. Comment that she looks good when she shows off a part of her body that she usually hides. Let her know you love all of her.
- Love the parts of her body that she loves. No matter how self-conscious she is, she almost certainly has a part of her body that she’s proud of: her breasts, her butt, her hair, her nails. Figure out what she loves about her body and make sure you pay extra attention there.
- Let her leave the lights off if she wants. But make sure she knows that you’d totally be into and excited about leaving them on.
- Never, ever, ever ask her to change any part of herself. If she asks you if she should go on a diet, the only correct answer is no. If she fantasizes out loud about getting plastic surgery, tell her she’s ridiculous. Let her know that you love her just the way she is and you don’t need or want her to change.
- Encourage her to wear sexy lingerie or clothing. Don’t by any means force her to wear anything she doesn’t want to, but it can be nice for her to know that you see and love her sexuality, and that she shouldn’t feel silly or embarrassed to dress up for you just because she’s not a supermodel.
- Don’t forget to complement her brain, too. If she’s got body issues, she probably doesn’t think she’s a 10, no matter how much you protest. So make sure you tell her about all the things you love about her, including how her mind works.
- Take tons of photos of her. This is important for two reasons. First of all, the more photos you’ll take, the more likely that she’ll find one she likes, even with her critical eye. Second, it shows that you love how she looks and want to capture the moment.
- Walk the fine line between legitimizing her worries and dismissing her feelings. If you protest too much when she tells you how frustrated she is with the way she looks, you’re dismissing her feelings and making it seem like you don’t respect what she has to say. But if you agree with her, she may become even more self-conscious. I know it sounds complicated, but there’s a lot you don’t understand about women’s bodies. Try to tread carefully.
