This one's (mostly) for the ladies...

As some of you know, I’m on a diet. I just turned 38 and I can whip any NFL nose tackle in the weight department – not a good combination for either my health or a few other things.

With the dawn of a new year, I’m not alone on the dieting front. And it’s got me thinking – how many of us struggle with loving the skin we’re in? Like I said, I need to lose weight – my physique bears too much of a resemblance to Jabba the Hutt for my own good. But what about other people? In a society that seems to idealize women with waists the size of pencils and breasts the size of volleyballs (or bigger), it isn’t hard for most women to feel like their looks just aren’t good enough.

I guess it’s little wonder so many women have such low self-esteem. And as a result, too many women just don’t love themselves like they should. And when you don’t love yourself like you should, you tend to keep out those who will and go for those who don’t. Maybe that is one reason why there seems to be a proliferation of bad relationships and women throwing themselves away on jerks.

So ladies, what is the answer? Well let me start off by telling you what is not the answer. You do not need to diet yourself into anorexia or spend thousands of dollars on breast implants and plastic surgery. Now I’m not saying all diets are bad – but there is often too much of a good thing these days. You just need to keep a few things in mind:

God loves you just the way you are. You don’t have to have the perfect physique to be loved by the One who is love. Whether you’re skinny or fat, tall or short, or whatever else, He loves you. And that’s what matters more than anything.

Don’t sell yourself short. In all likelihood, you’re way more attractive than you give yourself credit for. No matter what society tells us, there is not just one standard of beauty. Some guys prefer curvy, full-figured women. Some like thin, athletic women. Some prefer brunettes and some prefer redheads. So if you’re not blonde, tan, pencil-thin, fitness-model toned and built like Dolly Parton, don’t fret. You don’t have to look like that.

Everyone deserves respect. Period. End of story. If a guy is not satisfied with your looks, he probably doesn’t love you. Sex and love are not identical. If all he cares about is sex and outward appearance, he just wants a slut. Don’t let him treat you like one. You deserve better.

Anyway, that’s my two cents for today…