I have never been someone who has thought much about body weight, diets, health crazes, and eating habits. However in the past year I have become increasingly aware of and intrigued by different aspects of health, especially those connected with image and, well, those associated with the female body. I used to not think so often about what I was putting into my body, or how my daily activity was affecting my physical health. Because I was playing sports and staying mobile at all times, remaining fit and feeling good were things that always came as second nature to me. This does not go to say that I ate unhealthily in the meantime, but I would almost never withhold from eating something in substitute for a healthier choice for the sake of my weight or shape. Nowadays, with sports becoming less of a focus in my daily life, I have begun to feel more and more aware of these things -- and although this is not always a negative thing, as I feel I have a good understanding of how I should treat my body in order to remain healthy, I think more than anything I have started to grasp more fully the importance of treating your body in a way that makes you feel good, with less emphasis on your appearance and others’ perception of you.

There are countless posts and advertisements on social media filled with different methods on how to “get fit” or “get skinny.” I’ve seen people praising the benefits of the “raw food diet,” “tea-toxes,” and “juice cleanses,” as well as a number of products which claim to miraculously cause weight-loss or muscle definition. And although I am by no means qualified to judge which ones are legitimate or are actual healthy methods or lifestyles, I can guarantee that a large majority of these “fads,” phases, and products are simply ways for businesses and product manufacturers to make money because their consumers lack self-confidence or are yearning to boost their self-image. On the other hand, I’ve also seen a number of posts that nearly romanticize unhealthy eating and laziness to the point where these bad habits become a basis for people to “bond” over. Social media and the general public’s promotion and perception of health is full of contradiction between what is right and what is wrong in the world of food and fitness, to the point where an easily persuaded, desperate, or unconfident girl or boy could be led without hesitation down a path of physical and mental destruction.

Reflecting on such potential evils has made me more and more conscious of what I would personally like to strive for in the realm of my physical health, for the sake of my

mental health. After struggling with a lot of contradictory advice being fed to me from the Internet, friends, and even myself, I have finally decided to stick to the mantra “Do what feels right.” Whether this be working out to the extent that you feel will make your body feel its best, or eating whatever and however much you want in response to what your body craves, I have realized that listening to your body’s wants and needs is better than fighting them for the pursuit of pleasing others’ based on their expectations of how you should look. I have truly felt the most confident when my body feels healthy and fulfilled, not after looking in the mirror and being pleased with my appearance. It’s okay to diet and okay to follow certain lifestyles if they work for you and make you feel your best. And it is also okay to eat excessively and unhealthily, if you trust that your body will react positively, from time to time. It is okay to not workout all the time, and at the same time it is okay if you are able to workout all the time. At the same time it’s okay to forget sometimes that feeling good trumps looking good -- these types of thoughts will always exist, but it’s a matter of working to actively overcome them that shows your true desire to be healthy for yourself and never for others.