How to Love the Skin You’re In
I can still remember the day when I looked in the mirror and told myself if I wasn’t happy with the way I looked. I’d beaten myself up several times before but never as I had done on that day. I poked here, squeezed there and scrutinized everywhere. I wasn’t overweight but I was eating what I wanted to eat and told myself that walking to class was my exercise for the day.I had it all wrong. Even though I wasn’t “large” by definition, I was still very unhealthy. I didn’t eat as many fruits and vegetables as I should have, I indulged in sweets more than anything else and I chose sugary fruit juices over water several times a day. My body was a mess and I wasn’t going to take it any longer. Think of all the different types of chicks out there - skinny, curvy, stocky, pear-shaped, the list could go on and on. Each one has a different mind-set - “I’m in the best shape of my life,” or “I need to start trading the Pop-Tart for fruit.” You would think it’s the skinny chick who’s claiming she’s in great shape but don’t be surprised if it’s the curvy chick instead. Standing at five feet, four inches and weighing 130 pounds, I’m not exactly curvy but I’m not exactly thin. Most would say it’s a good size but that’s irrelevant because I’m the one choosing breakfast pastries over spinach egg white omelets - and it’s a problem. The point I’m trying to make is that it doesn’t matter what size you are as long as you’re healthy and happy about your weight. Loving your body regardless of its size is easier said than done. Many chicks seem to fall victim to both print and television ads that claim their body-enhancing product will boost your self-esteem, portray models as the epitome of women, and focus on the women’s body parts - namely the legs, stomach, face, and arms - rather than her inner and mental health. According to a SELF pole, 75% of women believe they need to slim down whether they truly need to or not. It’s time to put an end to it chicks. You’ve got to learn to love the skin you’re in. Exercise Even if it’s only for 30 minutes a day, you need to do something to keep your body in shape. Not only will you have more energy, you’ll also feel a lot better about yourself. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you’ve just done your body a world of good. Find a Gold’s Gym near you here. If the gym isn’t your thing, try out yoga, palates, or kick boxing. Skip the Sweets You don’t have to cut sweets out of your diet entirely but eating them with every meal isn’t the best for you. Although the taste of them is mouth-watering, it’s short lived. After you’ve indulged, the guilt will set in and it’ll all be for nothing. If you just can’t let go of them, try eating just some of it. If you’d normally eat an entire brownie for dessert, eat only half of it. This is something else that’ll leave you feeling proud. Use Someone Healthy as Inspiration That picture you have of Victoria’s Secret model Gisele Bundchen on your fridge? Take it off, throw it in the trash, and replace it with one of plus-size model Crystal Renn. Last month, Glamour magazine featured her, along with Sports Illustrated model Brooklyn Decker and Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, on their cover. They should be commended for their acknowledgment of models that are all different shapes and sizes. If you haven’t, pick up the magazine, read the piece, and tear out the page of the model who best fits your mold. Embrace the fact that you, too, could be a model without being rail thin. Start a Trend The more you learn to love your body, the more other’s will love theirs. Picking yourself apart in front of your friends and family is not only disheartening but also contagious; they’ll start feeling like they need to be more meticulous about their image. Instead, talk to them about how you learned to love your body whether it be because you can run a mile in under eight minutes or because you can make it through an entire zumba class without feeling completely drained. If they see how much happier you are perhaps they’ll start making the effort thanks to your good example. Hide the Scale Weight is just a number. If you’re healthy and you feel good, that’s all that matters. Don’t worry about how many pounds you’re losing as the weeks of exercising go by. Focus more on how good your body feels. Don’t Compare I know; it’s hard to resist the temptation to stare when you see a chick at the beach with a rockin’ bikini body. But try your best to look away. If you can convince yourself that you’ve got as nice a body as she does, you’re in good shape (literally and figuratively). You’re never going to have a body identical to someone else’s so don’t base your own image off of what you see. Look at yourself and admire what you’ve got. As a chick who has struggled with her body image for as long as she can remember, I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and to be unhappy with what you see. It took time for me to finally realize that I was never going to be 110 pounds or have a stomach flatter than hair that’s been kept under a hat too long. But that moment will come and you will be just as proud to flaunt your body whether you’re a tiny Kate Hudson or a beautifully bodacious Kim Kardashian. Stay strong, chicks. You’ll get there - I promise. Chelsea Tirrell is an up-and-coming sophomore at Hofstra University. As someone who has yet to be completely satisfied with her body, she can only hope that chicks everywhere will take the baby steps that she has and eventually attain their goal of feeling good in their skin.
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