I cannot count the number of times I have watched women walk by a mirror and grimace at the sight of their reflection. I notice the way you put your hand over your stomach in pictures. I see the way you wear clothes that are too big for you in order to hide your body. I see it all because I know every maneuver in the book to hide the overwhelming insecurities about your appearance. I know how to suck in your belly without expanding your pectoral region, I know how to extend my neck to eliminate a double chin sighting, I know how to float your arm away from your side so it doesn't appear bigger. I see smaller girls that pose with their feet very far apart in order to seem bigger. I see those pictures the small frame girls post in which they are always seated to hide their tiny frame.
Trust me, I know all of the tricks. I also know that I used to do every single trick I had up my sleeve. "Sucking in" became a recurrent muscle workout for the 18 hours each day that I was awake.
I had a problem and I had to cease my way of thinking and implement one of a healthier nature.
It's not easy to love yourself. It's not easy to abandon your derogatory thoughts and establish positive thinking to fill that void.
BUT, It's time to love yourself. It's time to ditch the negative comments you make about yourself standing in front of your bathroom mirror. It's time to stop over-analyzing every jiggle, roll, protruding bone, and thigh gap. If you are plus size, love yourself. If size 00 pants fall off of you, love yourself. What good are you creating by damaging your self esteem?
If you can only scrounge up to one positive thing to say about yourself, begin there. If you can only come up with one thing, that is okay. Any progress towards improvement is better than remaining stationary in your self loathing cycle. Each day that passes is another thing you appreciate about yourself but also a reminder of each entity that you are happy with about yourself.
Changing your way of thinking isn't going to be an easy task, after all, you are essentially rewiring your brain to function in a more positive way. You can do it.
Embrace your body instead of belittling yourself.
