Appreciate your body. Appreciate the freckles. Appreciate the way your nose wrinkles when you laugh. Appreciate the way you hold yourself. Appreciate the way your hips look. Appreciate the way that your favorite jeans sit just right on your body.

We often look at ourselves and think: well this could be more toned, I have belly fat, my arms jiggle, my face is oily, etc etc. I’ve done it, although I try not to but I’m human and it happens. It’s life. It’s a work in progress. No one is perfect, including all those Instagram models or just regular models that you see on magazines or social media. Celebrities are human too. They have things they do not like about themselves, things they regret, etc. They may not show it all the time and talk about it openly but everyone has flaws. No one wants to talk about it because God forbid we actually want to hear the truth once in awhile. It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and the glam of social media and celebrity life. At this point I think we should all understand that social media and everything in the magazines is not always what it seems. Those who are in the limelight or those who are able to afford trainers have them by their side to help with fitness and health. Everyone is capable of bettering himself or herself if they want to. It’s about doing it for the right reasons.

If you want to be toned or just be fit, do it because you love your body and yourself enough to understand that change can be made. Not because you see slim and skinny women in magazines. Do it because you want to better yourself, don’t do it because you want to get back at an ex for breaking up with you and don’t do it because its something everyone else is doing. Change is not something that happens overnight, working to be healthier and fit will take time and patience. I’m not an expert in health and fitness but from what I’ve noticed about my own body, it does not happen in a day or so.

Now don’t get me wrong I am NOT bashing on women who are thin, some people are naturally thin and cannot control that. I’m talking about the fact that women still do not 100% feel comfortable in their own skin because society tells us otherwise. But there are some women out there who have been putting body shamers in their place.

1. Iskra Lawerence, a model for Aerie and managing editor at Runway Riot, a website which is meant to be an outlet for women of all shapes and sizes to learn about glamour. She recently posted a picture on her Instagram, showing us how easy it is to fake a thigh gap. As well as she is always talking about body image issues and body appreciation. Check out her Instagram if you’d like: https://www.instagram.com/iamiskra/?hl=en

2. Anna Victoria, creator of The Fit Body Guides, which helps women with meal and workout plans to reach their fit body goal. She also posted a picture to her Instagram over the issue of body rolls and skin folding over. She also speaks about how angles and lighting make bodies seem different than they actually are. She always states that its about loving your body and working to be healthy, but also eating things that you love like ice cream. Her instagram video/profile: https://www.instagram.com/p/8Yd6MrPh_L/?taken-by=a…

3. Demi Lovato, singer and actress who has dealt with bullying and has had an eating disorder since she started high school. She transformed her life and the way that she views herself. She is always posting videos at the gym and advocates for healthy eating. Check out this interview (begins at 1:25-3:47)

4. Gina Rodriguez, most of you may know her from the show "Jane the Virgin" but Gina is always talking about body image issues and how she won't let it impact her and how she views herself. Check out her interview with People magazine: http://www.people.com/article/gina-rodriguez-jane-...

5. Amy Schumer, comedian and actress who is known for calling out body shamers on all forms of social media. Amy talks about her body image issues since she was a kid and how it impacts how she sees herself today. Although she has gotten some criticism for calling out other women about body image issues. I think her goal is just to let women know they are beautiful in their own way. Check out this interview with the Today Show: http://www.today.com/series/secrets-of-success/amy...

6. Khloe Kardashian, we all know who she is. I’m pretty sure you’ve seen her on social media or your television screens. Although she gets a lot of hate for different reasons, she has transformed her body and way of living. She has lost a lot of weight recently and is now an advocate for healthy eating and lifestyle. Khloe talks about her changes and new lifestyle in this interview: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-31806...

I'm sure the list goes on but those were a few that came to mind for me. The point I’m trying to make is appreciate what you have and understand that it is okay to want to change for the better if you truly believe and want to do so. Work hard and you’ll get to that point. But it’s also okay to be human! Don’t over criticize yourself because you don’t look like the models you see everywhere. Never compare yourself to another person; it won’t do you any good. It’s fine to look up to someone and want to achieve the same success as them, but don’t drag yourself down because you aren’t them. We’re all different; things won’t be the same for everyone. Understanding that is important and if you feel as if you are comparing yourself and its doing more harm than good, then put your phone down or log out of Instagram or any social media and move forward.