Change doesn’t happen overnight, and for some people that is a concept that doesn’t quite appeal to them.

I for one used to be one of those people.

Fad diets, waist trainers, pills, skipping meals and patches; I'm sure you have heard of at least one of these weight loss tricks, but they are not the cure. Loving your body and taking care of it should be your number one priority in life. Every single body out there is different and reacts differently to everything.

I wanted to believe I could change my appearance by taking the easy way out. But guess what? It doesn’t work.

Not eating actually makes you gain weight, and eating actually helps you lose weight.

In our society there is such a high demand to look like the models we see in the media, but in reality not everyone is going to look like that and that is OK.

Although in the media the way the models' bodies are portrayed to have a negative influence on those watching, seeing those models made me realize I was unhappy in my skin and I wanted to make a change. I was always uncomfortable wearing shorts or going to the beach because I knew I did not look like the other girls or even my friends. I wanted to be happy in my own body.

After two years of working out and maintaining a diet, I now can say I am happy in my own body. Of course there are some things I want to change, but I understand it will not happen overnight and that is OK.

I can finally be comfortable going to the beach, and I do not care what people think of me. Some days are harder than others and I wish I could wake up looking the way I want. But, I know that is not going to happen and I’ve accepted who I am, and you should feel the same about yourself, too.