If you’re anything like I am, opening your Instagram means you’re about to be completely bombarded with pictures of skinny Victoria’s Secret Models, Jen Selter with her infamous booty and a slew of other famous girls and women.
As an almost 5-foot-4-inch, relatively curvy and muscular girl, I sit at about 140 pounds, give or take, and to be honest, I’ve never been more proud of my weight or my body. However, if you would take my BMI, it would read that I’m overweight.
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I wasn’t always satisfied with how I looked or my body type. What I came to realize is that I wasn’t alone. Getting ready for a night out, a usually fun experience, seemed to always turn into body shaming. Whether it was me body shaming myself or my friends saying, “Ugh, I feel fat,” or “I wish I was skinnier,” it became the focus instead of our plans for the night. Granted, everyone has those days where they ate a little too much for lunch and are carrying a food baby, but the bottom line is body shaming has to stop.
I blame social media completely. I went through a phase where I counted all of my calories each day and would put in 30-45 minutes of rigorous cardio, while doing the Kayla Intsines's Bikini Body Guide, along with other weight training, about five days a week.
The results were good, great even. However, I would be disappointed when I would look in the mirror and not look exactly like the girls on my Instagram feed.
One day I had an epiphany. I’m a regular girl. I eat well, and exercise regularly. I’m happy with how I look. And I will never look like a Victoria’s secret model. I will never be defined as skinny.That day was the day I set myself free.
I stopped comparing myself to other women and girls, because everyone is different. And skinny isn’t always good. I decided that I would rather be toned and fit and in shape rather than skinny, because at least I put in some amount of work for the body that I have.
I also realized that a number on a scale doesn’t define you. For me, having muscles and saying that I could run three miles with no problem is a lot more satisfying than looking at a scale and seeing a lower number
I urge other girls to take the same approach. Stop comparing yourselves to others and embrace what you have. Strive to be the best version of yourself, not to want to change yourself to look like a 5-foot-11-inch model who barely weighs 120 pounds. Who even set that as the "perfect" body type anyway?
Plus, at almost 20, I realized this is probably the best I will ever look in my life, so I should probably embrace it because it is fleeting.
The moment I started loving myself and my body type, I gained a whole new level of confidence. Releasing yourself from society's standards of being skinny and striving to live a healthy balanced life will only lead to good things. Instead of looking in the mirror and saying “I wish I were skinnier.” Focus on things you love about yourself or progress that you’ve made. Love the body that you’ve been given and embrace it because you can change it, but only for the better. Don't let societies standards of beauty and perfection shape what you think perfect is. Create your own kind of perfect, the kind that came with hard work and motivation.
And always eats the ice cream cone.
