What is it to be body positive?
There are so many ‘concepts’ of body positivity. Some are warped perceptions. For example, the people that think body positivity is only for one body type. (YOU’RE MISSING THE POINT PEOPLE!!) Some suggest the notion that body positivity can only truly happen once you have completed a journey that changes the way you looked to begin with ( N O, You are beautiful the way you are RIGHT now) And some fantastic people use it to empower the individuals who are willing to listen and learn. (We LOVE you Lizzo!)
Some people preach body positivity for social media, and then continue to fat shame, or make frivolous comments on peoples appearances. (Some people are dumb, don’t be like some people.) Some people use it to skinny shame, which is again completely against the point of this movement.
SO, what is body positivity?
Body Positivity refers to the truth that all people, men AND women should be allowed to have a positive body image regardless of societies definitions of the ideal appearance of a body. Regardless of whether you’re larger or smaller than what is deemed ‘beautiful’, whether you are disabled or not, no matter your skin colour or your nationality. This movement is for E V E R Y O N E.
To me, body positivity is more than just presenting yourself as a person who loves themselves on social media. For me, it’s real. It’s a truly real experience that I can not and will not ever go back on.
I remember the moment I began this adventure. It started, like most peoples journeys, by stepping on the scales and shocking myself. I was disgusted with what I saw, that number haunted me and forced me into a negative relationship with my body. I assumed that in order to be a better version of myself I would have to be slimmer. I told myself over and over that I was losing weight to get fit, but that was a lie. I exercised a lot (which is still a good thing and I wouldn’t take that back) and I ate too little (the hardest part, restricting food when you’re a human who needs and likes food) and eventually, I reached that target weight. That weight that I thought was going to make me super attractive. The weight I thought would make everyone change their opinion on me. How ridiculous is that?? I believed that changing my body would change the way people thought about ME. As a person. I thought that once I had reached my target, I would finally be happy with my body.
Was I happier? I thought so… except I was still feeling the same as I did when I was a stone heavier. How does that work?
It was then that I drew the conclusion that actually shrinking myself wasn’t the answer to my problem. The answer to my problem was a mindset shift.
When I started to look in the mirror and think, YOU ARE SEXY, even if that’s not what society would say. Even when I put weight on again. Even when I gained back some of the cellulite that I’d worked hard to get rid of. It didn’t make a difference.
I realised that I can and will still love myself and respect myself a few Kg heavier than my “goal weight.” That just because I am not the size that society would have me believe is the only appropriate size… I am still attractive. I am still worthy. I am more than just a number on a scale.
It is not just saying these things to yourself… it is truly believing them. Because once you actually accept yourself, once you genuinely don’t give a crap what anyone else thinks about you or your body, it’s the most freeing feeling in the world. That’s when having a positive outlook on your body becomes so natural and easy. So simple that you won’t even realise you’re doing it.
Thepositivemindsbody 