For most of my life, I have struggled with my eating and my weight. I have binged on foods that made me sick. I exercised to the point of exhaustion and severely restricted my calories, all in the name of trying to be healthy and “beautiful.” It wasn’t until recently that I realized that my beauty and how I feel about myself have nothing to do with the number on the scale. For the first time in a long time, I am starting to like myself again even though I am not at my ideal weight. I am learning to accept my husband’s compliments without negating them. I exercise because I know it will make me strong and healthy, not because I am trying to lose 50 pounds. And I feed my body foods that will nourish, rather than punish. It is a constant battle, but I am finally starting to believe my husband when he says that I’m beautiful and that he loves me just the way I am.