Today we live in a society where the fittest people are the martyred, but, many brave and bold activists are trying to change this. Activists, like Ashley Graham and Tess Holiday, are showing that any size is beautiful, even a size 18 woman and a not perfectly chiseled man. Lately, many articles are being written criticizing the body positivity movement because it says that activists are making it acceptable to be unhealthy.

I think what critics fail to see what the body positivity movement is all about: Being comfortable in your own skin because you don’t need a fit/healthy label to do it. American society thrives on the healthy label. To be healthy you need to work out 6 days a week, not eat In n Out or Chick fil a, no soda, no desserts, and basically no enjoyment; and then, you get to be the size 4 to 6 or buff man you need to be. The body positivity movement is trying to change this. There seems to be this myth that if you work out then you will eventually look like every other catalog, stereotypical fit person. However, all of our bodies are like snowflakes: Each and every one is different. A woman can be a size 14 like Ashley Graham and be healthy, while a size 4 woman can be unhealthy. Ashley Graham works out 3 to 4 days a week, eats a balanced meal, has the occasional dessert, but is still not the typical catalog size, BUT she is now the catalog.

As a kid, I developed early. I was always tall and curvy. By the time middle school hit, insecurities about how I looked surfaced because all my friends were smaller than I was. I spent years trying to make myself work out and eat better because I thought if I did I would instantly look like the catalog girls and people would want me and like me more if I was smaller. However, year after year I made these goals:

1. Work out 5 days a week
2. Only drink soda 2 days a week
3. Try to fit into old pants
4. etc.

You can get the gist of it. But my exercising never stuck. Why? Because I wanted to be healthy for the external societal pressures, not for me.

Ashley Graham and Tess Holiday made me realize that larger than a size 2 to 6 is beautiful. They loved every aspect of who they were: personality, body, everything. They are the women I would have loved to see on my magazines growing up and now little girls get to grow up knowing being small naturally or being curvy naturally is okay.

Today, I work out 2 days a week and try not to eat as much garlic bread (which is difficult); but, it has stuck. Why? Because for the first time in my life self-care is one of my main priorities.

You have to feel comfortable in your body to be able to make a change.Working out has to be for you and no one else. Internal over external.

So when anyone says that the Body Positivity movement perpetuates a stance on unhealthiness, that’s a lie. The Body Positivity movement helped me change my way of thinking and have role models that are another size.

If you want to start working out, it’s true, the self love needs to come first. Work out and eat healthier because you feel better, not because someone told you. Most importantly, your body is wonderful whether you fit into society’s construction of “healthy" or not.