Body Image Mad Libs

We all played Mad Libs as a kid, and chances are, it probably made you laugh at least once or twice. I adapted this exercise from an article in Self magazine, and when I did it, I realized just how much hating my body was holding me back from. Pick your words to fill it in blindly, or just read the paragraph and put in whatever fits or try it both ways. I guarantee this will make you see something that hating your body is holding you back from and hopefully make you want to work on feeling better about yourself.

-Jessica Barker

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Something you would like to accomplish/do:
Favorite indulgent food:
Dreaded exercise ending in “ing”:
Favorite heart-pumping activity:
Something you are afraid to do:
Insulting name:
Glowing adjective:
Steamiest Movie youíve Ever Seen:
Clothing You Wear on Ugly / Fat days:
Article of Clothing / Outfit You Long to Wear:
Favorite Nightspot:
Person You Know:
Famous Person:
Saturday Errand:
Action Verb Ending in “ing”:
Party Food:
Brazen Action:
Personal Physical Accomplishment:
Nickname You Would Give To
a Superhero of Your Own Gender:
Regrettable Weight-Loss Related Purchase:
Big Dream in Need of Funding:
Body Part:
Personal Strength:
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If I loved my own body

If I woke up one morning suddenly adoring my body, the first thing I’d do is (something you would like to accomplish / do).

I’d allow myself to eat (favorite indulgent food) when I felt like it because I’d know that moderation, not deprivation or overindulgence, is the healthiest way to go. I’d exercise to have fun and keep my body healthy, (rather than lose five more pounds, or to work off last night’s dessert, or this morning’s binge), so I’d stop (dreaded exercise ending in “ing”) and (favorite heart-pumping activity) instead. I’d finally be fearless enough to (something you are afraid to do), and I wouldn’t feel self-conscious or bad about it, and anyone who would look down on me is just a/an (insulting name) anyway. When I get home, a romp between the sheets would be (glowing adjective) because I wouldn’t be bashful about ripping off my clothes. Hell, I bet it would be better than that scene in (steamiest movie you’ve ever seen).

Afterwards, I’d burn all of my (clothing you wear on ugly/fat days) and wear (clothing/outfit you long to wear) and sexy shoes to (favorite nightspot). I’d go to (person you know)‘s or even (famous person)‘s house without even looking in the mirror! I’d even do/go (saturday errand) without a shred of self-consciousness. Or I’d go out to a party and spend more time (action verb ending in “ing”) than obsessing about the party food or clinging to the wall feeling insecure. I might even (brazen action).

If I focused more on my body’s awe-inspiring ability to (personal physical accomplishment) rather than on how I look, I’d probably start calling myself (nickname for a superhero of your gender). Plus, with all the money I’d save not buying (regrettable weight-loss purchase), I’d have extra cash to put toward (big dream in need of funding).

One thing is for sure: I wouldn’t give a hoot if my (body part) started to sag, because I would be too busy toasting my (personal strength)!