Week one: You have to start somewhere...so let's get down to the naked truth by self reflecting on our own body image.

Yes, it's time to get fully undressed and see yourself in your birthday suit. The purpose is to build confidence and feel comfortable in your own skin, and allowing others you are intimate with to see you fully naked as well.

"The problem isn't with your body, the problem is what you think of it... and what you think of yourself."

Like many women, I avoid the mirror only to put on makeup, style my hair or check to see if i have anything suck in my teeth. Even though I have a full length mirror in my bathroom, I only glace into it after I am fully dressed and headed out the door to make sure my butt doesn't look too big in the outfit I choose to wear.

So the thought of seeing myself fully unclothed, well makes my stomach turn a bit. But how is someone else going to appreciate my curves, stretch marks and dibbles if I don't first appreciate them too!

The first step in any self improvement journey is to love thyself first. This I know is hard when Body Shamming is at an all time high, "don't be a victim by falling for that crappy nonsense", I tell myself often. I know I am no spring chicken and have my own hang-ups when it comes to my own body image. Me, pushing mid-40, 2 pregnancies, up and down weight lost and gain, plus a few surgical scars, what is it about my body to love?

Love is in the eye of the beholder.....Ask and you shall receive

I asked my life time partner (AKA Hubby) What is about my body do you love?

What I expected him to say I love your big boobs and your ass is nice too. But instead this is what he said:

"I love the curves of your body, I like to sneak a peek at your body when you are dressing and undressing. I know the story of your body, I love your body now just as mush I when I first meet you.

I took that to heart and reflected on why do I not see myself in the same way.

Self Reflection Time... in the sense of seeing my full naked body reflection in the mirror.

To prepare myself; before I stripped down to my birth day suit, I wrote down the image of what I thought I would see:

• Cellulite dimples on my butt and thighs
• Snagging and wrinkled skin
• Uneven and dark surgical scars
• Fat rolls on back and stomach area
• Skin tags and moles

OK, deep breath and unrobed... Looking into the mirror scanning my body head to toe, yep I was right... flabby-sagging skin, dark uneven scar, more cellulite than I thought was present, my ass looked like the craters on the moon and look...are those age spots! Oh good Lord!

But then I remember what my hubby said about what he saw, "You have curves in all the right places and your skin is so soft". I took another look, this time with a more positive attitude... I do have some nice curves, giving me a hour-glass figure, boobs are full and well rounded, skin looks well moisturized, my hair is long and shiny.

I caught a glance of my face, I was smiling, soon realizing that I am proud of my body; curves, scars and all.

Taking things to a whole nother level....
I challenged myself to take this self body image awareness to the next level by taking a look at my vagina area. With hand-handled mirror in hand and comfortably laying on the bed spread eagle style, I took a look to see what was down there. Knowing no one has ever complained nor commented on the looks of my vagina, I thought it would give me boost of sexually empowerment to see it firsthand.

Note: no touching was involved in this exercise.

Humm not too bad, could use a trim... I see the appeal of a good waxing. Lips of the outer wall were pink in color, no gray hairs is a plus!

"I happen to be very confident in my own skin, It takes time to get to that place, but it's all about embracing yourself and your body."

- Christina Aguliera