Love the skin you're in: 6 steps toward a healthier body image.(YOUR LIFE)

Last week I engaged in an activity every woman dreads: swimsuit shopping. After flipping through several racks of tiny suits that would look wonderful on a 90-pound preteen, I selected a few more grown-up suits. As I tried them on, battling my longing for certain body parts to be bigger and others to be smaller, I overheard a group of adolescent girls.

"These pants are too tight," a frustrated voice said.

"I'm sure they look fine, Tasha. Come show us," one of her friends replied.

"My butt is huge!" Tasha replied without coming out of the dressing room.

"There's nothing wrong with a little back, girl! Come out and model for us."

"No way. I'm not coming out. I'm too fat to come out. I hate my body!"

When I heard those words, I felt the urge to burst into Tasha's dressing room and give her a hug. How many times did I stand in a dressing room as an adolescent and critique my body from every angle? How many times as an adult have I wished for the elusive "perfect body"?

Unfortunately, most of us can relate to Tasha. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, 80 percent of women are unhappy with their appearance. If you've tried to lose weight to improve your …