Work out.
Drink water.
Eat a salad.
Spring is basically here which means summer is quickly approaching. For most college students, women especially, this is the time to start hitting the gym and dieting, trying to burn as many calories as possible.
Growing up we were taught by society that “thin is beautiful.” Celebrities, models, athletes, people we admire the most were always portrayed as thin and gorgeous. The internet, magazines and television advertise “tips on losing weight” or the newest way to “hide our imperfections.”
Women are influenced by these unsettling standards every day. Over time, they start to change the way they used to think of themselves and the term “body shaming” comes out to play.
According to the Body Image Center, 89 percent of girls have dieted by age 17 and 81 percent of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. DoSomething.org says that 58 percent of college-aged girls feel pressured to be a certain weight.
From experience, I spent way too many unnecessary hours looking at myself in the mirror and shaming myself for what I saw looking back at me. I would sit there and pick out every flaw.
It is time to break down that stigma of not looking ‘perfect.’
At first, I did not understand what it took to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin. Constantly being surrounded by a society that praised people who did not look like me started to take a toll on my self confidence. Then I realized that it did not matter what others thought. What matters is what I think about myself.
From that moment on, I decided that body shaming was no longer something that was going to affect me.
Self-confidence.
The key to ending body shaming.
You need to look at yourself and be happy with the way you look and feel. What does it matter what others think?
Be your best motivator.
Go to the gym because you want to. Eat what you want. Buy that little black dress because it is so cute. Post that selfie on Instagram because you deserve it.
You deserve to feel beautiful no matter what society says.
“Accept your body the way it is. You’re unique and beautiful. You don’t need to be a certain way. Be you.” -Anonymous
