One of the things when starting to pursue a healthier lifestyle which was important to me was learning to love my body and realising that being healthy goes beyond the way that I look. It’s taken me a while to realise that I’m worth more than my curves and the number on the scales. After always wanting to be like the other girls at school who (in my eyes) seemed to have the perfect figures and could wear anything they wanted, learning to love my curves is quite a feat for me.
The media has forever frowned upon curvier and larger shapes. However, I’m a firm believer that all body shapes are beautiful, whether you are naturally super slim or have more curves. Whatever your shape you’re fabulous because your shape doesn’t define who you are. There’s no need to try to fit in or try to meet societies warped idea of perfect because it doesn’t exist. You’re gorgeous just the way you are and should be proud of your flaws because these are what make you uniquely beautiful – hell, the world would be boring if we were all cut from the same cloth!
These days, especially the changes that my body has experienced after pregnancy my lumps and bumps no longer scare me and I have embraced them fully. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not immune to ‘fat days’ and still have my off days like every other girl out there, but deep down I know that with many trying to look the same my curves are what make me different and I’m happy with that.
I’ve also realised that it’s great to have curves, but my previous and now scary workout routine suggested the contrary. Now I know that it’s not necessary for me to work out and kill myself in the gym. For sure, I don’t have the time for that lifestyle anymore and I realised at that time I didn’t have a healthy attitude towards exercise. I was exercising to be slimmer rather than concentrating on being healthy. Instead, my workout routine is based on gentle cardio, yoga and strength training, which just works so much better for me now. These days I’m very much about going with the flow where my exercise routine is concerned. It’s full of the things that I love and really varied to keep me interested. Rethinking my priorities has meant that doing the best for my body and being happy has become my main focus, as it should be.
As a young impressionable teen, I was always concerned about wanting to be smaller. I have never had an eating disorder, but there was a time in my life when I was obsessive about everything I consumed in order try to fit in with societies ideals. I was trying to convince myself that I was a boyish rectangle trapped in an hourglass body. Despite what the media has to say (and personally I don’t care!) there is nothing wrong with any shape and any size. No shape is more superior than another. All shapes are beautiful. Also, I want to highlight that there is nothing wrong with someone wanting to be slimmer as long as it’s for the right reasons and they are not causing themselves any harm.
At the moment, I am at a healthy weight for my frame, a little bigger than my pre-pregnancy body, but I gave birth to a small human so you know – two fingers to the media for promoting celebrities instantly snapping right back into shape after pregnancy! I’ve learnt to appreciate my curves, embrace them and love them. It has been a long journey, but I’ve finally made peace with my body shape. I figured whether I am smaller or larger I will always have curves as that is how my frame is supposed to be. They are not going to go anywhere so I might as well learn to live with them and my hubby likes my curves, which is lovely and makes me happy!
Despite my woes and off days at the end of it all I do take note that my figure or the way I look doesn’t define who I am and there is so much more out there with more significance like loved ones and my friends. The media insist on bombarding our every day with celebrity diets, quick fixes and how they think we should look. Their idealised visions are often unattainable for most and make us believe that our bodies are inadequate and need serious reconstruction. I’ve learned to accept myself and the way I look, stretch marks, belly jiggle and all!
HAVE YOU LEARNT TO ACCEPT YOUR BODY SHAPE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SOCIETIES PERCEPTION OF PERFECT?
I loathe the pressure the media put on mums to snap back to pre-birth shape – just another stress for new mums! Great post.
Me too! It really needs knocking on the head.
I used to hate my body shape and would kill myself doing crazy HIIT workouts and eating very little. Now that I’m in my 30s and having had lots of health problems I am grateful for a body that (most of the time) works. Nowadays I do low impact workouts and walking which seems to be doing the trick at making me feel good. x
Awesome Victoria! I definitely feel
more settled in my body since turning 30, maybe something finally clicks at this age. Doing exercises that make you happy instead of doing things you think you should be doing is definitely more rewarding.
I’m almost happy with how I am… I’ve finally got to the body I had pre kids…it’s only taken 8 years!! ???? ???? but I did it for myself and no one else.
That’s the best reason to do it Renna!
I’m almost happy with how I am… I’ve finally got to the body I had pre kids…it’s only taken 8 years!! ???? ???? but I did it for myself and no one else.
That’s definitely the right way to do it Renna, good for you!
I don’t know any mother that’s had children and doesn’t have body issues after birth. I’ve always had curves but i’m definitely bigger than i used to be before having children and it’s taken me a long time to come to terms with that but i’ve just learnt to love the lumps and bumps and wobbly bits now. They’re a sign of the two babies i grew! xx
Exactly, a sign of the amazing thing that your body has achieved. 🙂
Such a great post, I think as long as you’re healthy and happy with the way you look then it’s fine. x
That’s such a great attitude to have Rhian!
It’s so sad that the media has this ideal body type and anything outside of that is wrong or not beautiful. That said though things have been changing. Though I’m not a huge Kardashian fan, those ladies, as well as Beyonce etc., have made curves more acceptable and sexy. I think *most* men prefer women curvy whereas most women believe they should be stick thin, like supermodels. It’s bizarre really.
I would say that you are fabulous the way you are – and you have a beautiful little boy to show for it too 🙂
I love the idea of your body changing because of a healthy lifestyle rather than to lose weight. I’ve struggled post pregnancy with my body image but i’m starting to accept it much more and not allowing myself to get dragged down by the medias portrayal of the perfect body.
Nicely written. Good to let people know that they should be happy with their selves. The media is putting a front that we have to look skinny or whatever. F.E. ATM, those girls a skinny, even though Tyra never was. I love my curves, even if they are small. I’m a small person but I have got some booty to hang on …hahahahhahahh.. love your post image.
It is awful the pressure that people are under from the media. I tend to avoid magazines, but I bought one at the airport last week and it has annoyed me because all of the pictures are of very slim women, and even the so called curvy ones have teeny waists and are not really big, they are just normal women with hips etc.
I hate that we have got so used to seeing airbrushed and photoshopped pictures we actually think they are normal. I had so many issues back at school with image I can only think it is worse now. x
I find the medias influence on body image both scary and irresponsible. I have two tiung daughters and I want to protect them from it as much as possible by setting a better example!
Its always good to keep in shape by eating healthy and gentle exercise but not get obsessed with weight loss.
I find it so difficult to be happy with my body image because of social media but I have learnt to be healthy rather wanting to be ‘skinny’
I think with anything you have really got to be strong not to feel the pressure from the media. I think it is sad that people feel so pressured. A healthy lifestyle is what is most important. x
I LOVE this Jemma and agree with everything you have written. We are absolutely not defined by our body shapes and we are SO much more than this!! I am too at a point where I am happy with my size and along as I am feeling healthy that is all that matters.I am also not immune to fat days but I get over them almost instantaneously when I remind myself I am NOT my body and my gifts to the world come from the inside!! Great post 🙂
I wanted to be curvier when I was in my teens. I thought I was too skinny.
I think we all want to change our bodies at some point. I hope you’re happy with your body now.
I think it’s so important for women to love their body shape no matter what their age as it changes continually through your life, free teen, teen, young adult, pregnancy middle age etc etc. We are all so different and yet society sends us images that make everyone look the same. If you can love yourself and be confident and positive it shines through and THAT is what people see
Totally Anthea! You have your body for life so you should try and love it as much as you can.
The media does put too much pressure on us which really doesn’t help when you have had children and can be a bit self conscious
So true, the media have a lot to answer for!
It seems so hard to even win in society when it comes to body image these days. Slim or curvier, someone is always going to tell you the opposite is better! I’m my own worst enemy as I find myself comparing my body to others, and whilst I get how silly that is (diet, exercise and genetics all come into someones body image!) I still do it. *slaps wrist*
I have been thinking a lot about post-pregnancy bodies as there’s a blogger I know of and sometimes watch their videos too, and she’s just had a baby and whilst pregnant she kept banging on about how she can’t wait to go to the gym again and have a flat stomach and slim body. Now, I can only imagine pregnancy can get a little uncomfortable (to say the least!) at times, but I just felt so sad! I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t just be excited to meet her new baby. And guess what? Post-Pregnancy and ‘snapped’ back to her pre-baby body almost immediately.
If you’ve got your own little baby, I can only imagine that most of your thoughts are focused on looking after your baby. I can’t imagine even having time to really get my bum down the gym!
There’s more to life than your body and your body does not define who you are as a person (easier said than done, but hey ho). And more often than not, no one is really looking at you/the parts of your body that you’re insecure about, and if they are for whatever reason, they’re usually pretty insecure themselves!
Great post!
She’s So Lucy // Health, Wellness & Beauty
I agree with everything you’ve said Lucy! There is more to life than your body and how you look and sometimes we are so consumed by it we let life just pass us by.
It took me a year to get back to shape after having my boy, i’m happy with my body and have embraced my lumps, lines and bumps. i just want to get fitter and healthier. Well done for embracing your body and loving yourself, it certainly is a journey!
It really is! Good for your for feeling confident in your own skin and focusing on feeling healthy.
I am the same, I believe that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, regardless of what society makes us think. I always find it hard to accept my own and often wish I was curvier.
I think we all struggle with our own bodies and want to be different somehow at times. However, I think it’s so important to feel comfortable in your own skin.
I am at the stage where I want to lose weight, not for anyone else but for me. As for the media, well they tell you one day it is fie to be a size 16, whatever size that really is, then the next 10-12 so for me, I ignore their views and criticisms x
It’s so much better when you do these things for yourself and not other people.
I am so unhappy with the way my body looks but and trying to feel more comfortable the way I am x
It can be a long journey, but take each day as it comes. I hope you feel better about yourself soon.
I hate the pressure that the media puts on people but for me, I take no notice. My life truly began when I stopped caring about what other people thought about me xxx
Good for you Laura, love your attitude!
I don’t know whether I have become more accepting of my own body, or less bothered about what other people think about it. But I’m definitely happier in my body now than when I was younger, even though I was a lot slimmer back then!
It’s funny how we become more comfy able with our bodies the older we get. Shame we waste so much time worrying when we are younger.
I am in a lucky position that I don’t put on much weight and I can eat pretty much what I want and keep my weight. In saying that my body fat is quite high though yet I am skinny.
I think the changes we go through to have our little ones are badges of honor! Our bodies did an amazing thing bringing life into this world.
Exactly! I share exactly the same viewpoint.
I’m struggling a little lately with not feeling like ‘me’ six months post partum but I know I’ll get there and really it’s not the be all and end all! I’m also learning that my body is looking different as I age, I certainly don’t have the metabolism I had at 21! xx
Great post Gemma. What hope has anyone got looking at all.the cropped and photoshopped pics in the magazines. I wish they would ban it and allow models to go au natural, it’s so much healthier for everyone.