Celebrate every inch of the amazing you

(NC)-When you look in the mirror, do you adore what you see? Well, look again. This fabulous, tenacious, sexy miracle of a bod is your greatest gift. Just think about the miles it has covered, pain it has endured and incredible pleasures it has provided on your behalf. How can you get to a state of body-loving nirvana? Here are some tips from Dove Hand & Body Lotions ( www.dove.ca/body ).

Pamper your body
Start treating your body like the best friend that it is. Get a massage or facial once a month. Indulge in a long, hot bath with scented oils surrounded by candlelight. Invite a girlfriend over to swap pedicures. Take a nap in the middle of the day.

Wear comfortable clothes
Life is too short to wear clothes that are tight or restrictive. Go through your wardrobe and pitch anything that distracts you while you're wearing it, whether it's bras with straps that slip down, skirts you have to tug into place or shoes you can only walk in for 20 minutes at a time.

Pitch your scale
This is probably not the first time you've heard this advice, but it's high time you liberate yourself from the numbers game - unless you're monitoring your weight for medical reasons. A scale should never determine your self-esteem or your sense of worth.

Choose your magazines wisely
Numerous studies have shown that the false ideals of the fashion industry have wreaked havoc on the self-esteem of women, particularly young girls. It may feel like harmless fun to flip through the pages but if, in the end, it makes you feel dissatisfied with your own beauty, it's a waste of your time and psychic energy. Invest instead in magazines that celebrate who you are - gardening, design, news, travel, and music - not what you look like.

List your sweet spots
Make a list of all the things you love about yourself. Start with the outside (gorgeous eyes, silky skin, sexy shoulders) and work your way in (generous, honest, loyal, funny). When you're done, ask your spouse, children and best friend to add to the list. Keep it somewhere handy and refer to it often.

Get moving
The best way to celebrate your body? Use it. Schedule a weekly walk and gabfest with friends. Go bike riding with your kids. Yoga is an ancient practice that helps foster the mind-body connection - it's one of the best ways to stay fit and limber while rejuvenating the soul.

Ask for a hug
When we're feeling down, sometimes all we need and all our bodies need is a long hug. So don't be afraid to ask for one. The healing powers of a warm, safe, secure embrace work wonders on our psyches, allowing tightly wound nerves to relax into the strength of another.