I'm going to start off with a Facebook posting by my trainer Logan, which inspired this weeks article:
"So I'm going to do something different today! I'm going to post a pic most will look at and think she's a trainer who doesn't have a six pack! I'm going to look at it and say WOW look at those arms, look at my georgous lashes and those pipes!!! Stop looking at what you DON'T have but be proud of all you have become! THIS ISN'T the end game for me but I REFUSE to hide my body until it's so called perfect! So this is my pic for everyone that feels they aren't good enough.....I want you to remember you ARE!!"
This could not have hit closer to home for me, and I can only imagine, a whole lot of other people out there. Body shaming is a major crisis, which is why I whole heartedly support the body positivity movement.
It was hugely brave of Logan to post this on social media, supported by un-doctored images of her beautiful and real body. Just because your body has battle scars, stretch marks or loose skin, says NOTHING about how beautiful a person you are, and it certainly says nothing about your character.
In the past, I seriously considered skin removal surgery, and a nip & tuck here and there to 'fix' what was 'wrong' with my body. Thing is, I now understand that there is nothing 'wrong' with my body, so therefore there is nothing to 'fix'.
What my body looks like now is a culmination of years of things that can take a toll on anyone: having a baby, battling weight issues for years, the general ups and downs of life and the scars that come with it, along with the most wonderful things in my life: the hard work I've done to lose 90lbs, the muscle I've gained, the challenges I've overcome, the child I grew.
I will work to get my body and my mind to a place that is healthy and maintainable, I will challenge myself and my muscles to do things I've always dreamed of, but I no longer wish for surgery to remove the reminders of how far I've come, and the battles I've faced.
If anything, I hope Logan and myself can inspire other women to think differently about their bodies, to focus on the good your body has done, and the parts you love, and stop criticizing yourself and how you look.
I'll be the first to admit that this is not easy to do, and especially hard when faced with images daily of 'perfect' bodies and faces in media. I still catch myself comparing my appearance to other's, and running an internal dialogue of criticism on my flaws, and I may never become 100% accepting of my body, 100% of the time, but my goal is to work on that acceptance, and hopefully help other's to see themselves in a more positive, beautiful light.
Don't hide yourself, take pride in what you are working towards, and what you look like NOW.
Every 'body' is beautiful.
