In all honesty, I didn't intend to write this week's article on this topic. It seemed as though the internet was already full of so many articles and ads that promote healthy bodies of all shapes and sizes. Now a days, people are told that if they want a "bikini body" this summer, all they have to do is put on a bathing suit and voilà.

Although I agree with this idea, there's a lot more that goes into it. Because while you can say that to someone, it doesn't mean she or he will believe it, at least not right away. In fact, self-love is a lifelong process, and some days are better than others.

My inspiration for this article and my thoughts surrounding the whole "a healthy body is a summer body" phenomenon really sparked when I posted a photo on Instagram. I captioned the photo of myself on the beach "Thigh gap? Don't know her" which was meant to be lighthearted and slightly comedic. However, the amount of love and support I received after posting that photo was overwhelming, to say the least.

But I didn't post that picture with that caption in order to receive all those compliments. So why did I post a picture of myself in a bathing suit, huge calves and some faint stretch marks out for all to see? There's no explanation other than the fact that I simply liked the photo (everything else about it, at least) and felt like making an Instagram post. And like I said, my accompanying caption was meant to be funny. Nonetheless, my heart was full of so much love after people left positive comments and reached out to me.

It saddens me that something as minuscule as posting a photo on Instagram can really make or break self-esteem now days, but one way to avoid all of this is to be confident in yourself and whatever you are posting before you even post it. That way, nothing can hurt, and positive comments will only lift your spirits even higher than they already are.

But let's stop focusing so much on social media posts and get into the deeper understanding of all this and the ways you can feel confident.

First off, there really is no such thing as a "summer body." Tell yourself this over and over. Bikini models and famous Instagramers may look generally similar in that they have bigger boobs, flat stomachs, tiny wastes, and toned butts, but most people in the world do not look like this. If you genuinely want to build a frame similar to this, then by all means go for it.

However, know that everyone is built differently. For example, I have always had more of an athletic-build, meaning I have larger hips and thighs and a bigger butt. I've honestly never had a thigh gap and I probably never will, which is something I have learned to accept because of the way I am built. Do I still struggle with this on some days? Absolutely. With all of that being said, though, I still workout and eat healthy to maintain my shape and stay toned. I also live a healthy lifestyle to keep a healthy BMI, or body mass index.

While I'm here to tell you how you can build your confidence and take pride in your body, I'm not here to tell you that you shouldn't worry about your BMI. Because everyone should worry about his or her BMI, as obesity is a legitimate health concern. But if you are a healthy weight for your height and you do take care of yourself, then you've nailed the recipe for a healthy body, a healthy body that may not look identical to all the models and celebrities, but still a healthy body nonetheless!