No matter where you look it seems like there is an expectation for women to be skinny –if we aren’t skinny we are unattractive and unhealthy. Back in the days of Marilyn Monroe no one thought of her as fat! She was voluptuous, beautiful and envied. Where did it start going wrong? Now women like Jennifer Lawrence are being called fat and women who walk runways look like they could pass out at any moment because who knows the last time they ate. People have begun to wonder if maybe these models are unhealthy. This alone proves that skinny does not always mean healthy and someone who may “look” overweight may actually be healthier than the size 2 girl sitting across from them.
My inspiration for this blog is the Amy Schumer photo above from a magazine shoot done to show off the fact that she is comfortable with they way she looks, despite the many times the media has called her fat. When I saw her photo I thought that there were not enough discussions out there about how women should be comfortable with the way they look. The bottom line is that women should just make sure they are healthy, whether they are a size 0 or a size 14.
Health and beauty are not defined by your pants size, your weight on the scale, or what society says. Health is determined by what is going on inside your body and beauty is whatever the hell you want it to mean. There are many people in this world who are that size 2, but may have a horrible diet and be blessed with a fast metabolism. However, they could never run half a mile because they are just not healthy.
Skinny on the outside should not be the most important thing—healthy on the inside should be. I do believe that if someone is not comfortable with his or her body then they should make a change, but if someone does not love herself before losing weight then there is a pretty slim chance she will love herself after the weight is gone. Lose weight for the right reasons—to be healthy and feel energetic and alive—not to please someone else or look like a magazine model.
Here are some things you can start doing to love your body:
Everyday look in the mirror and say something positive about yourself and your body.
Be proud of the things your body does for you, because it does a lot!
Think about physical goals you have always wanted to achieve and take steps to achieve them-your body is capable! It is your mind that is holding you back.
Avoid people and media outlets that are body shaming.
Do something your body will love you for everyday-this could be taking a walk, doing yoga, eating more fruits and vegetables or simply just being nice to yourself.
Get rid of the scale if all it does is make you depressed! There are other ways to measure change in your body composition.