I remember in Denver, Texas, and San Diego, when I was in the clutches of my eating disorder, the possibility of body acceptance felt like it was in a galaxy far, far away. When I finally found the right eating disorder therapist in San Diego, California, I first entered her office filled with shame about my body. I felt like a failure. I felt incompetent. I had no hope. Over time, I began learning about fat acceptance, size diversity, and body liberation. At first it confused me, as all I wanted to do was lose weight. I eventually began to understand it, and it was like a new universe had opened up to me. Here’s what I came to understand.