In this day and age with how society is about the "perfect" body, any male or female can have a ha rd time loving themselves for who they are and what they look like.

As a girl who is on the heavier side, it's definitely been hard. I've gone through a lot, trying to find my way and be comfortable with myself. So many have.

I remember in elementary school, being teased for my weight, and it got worse in middle school. It was hard to like myself, and I remember spending hours trying to pick out an outfit that I felt covered me enough that no one would be able to complain about it. I remember hating wearing dresses or skirts because I hated the way my knees and thighs looked. I also always thought that it made me more open to the snide comments or looks from other girls.

My eighth-grade year I met a girl who made me realize that it's really not about what others think about you, but what you think about yourself. This girl, thankfully, is still in my life and I don't think she realizes just how much her out-going, I-don't-care-what-you-think attitude can affect people. She wears what she feels comfortable in, she's not afraid to speak her mind or tell people exactly what she thinks of their opinions of her. After meeting her, I decided I wasn't going to let other people's opinions bother me as much as they had. I decided I wasn't going to listen to them.

So in high school, I started to wear more leggings, some tighter clothes that I wouldn't have had the guts to wear before. I wanted to be an example for other girls or guys my age who were feeling like they couldn't be themselves out in public due to what others thought. When people said something about me or my weight or my clothes, I just started to simply smile at them and say 'thank you' no matter what it was that they said.

I had a fall back in my junior year of high school, though. I had been trying to lose weight, had lost some, but it was like I couldn't get any smaller. I had started to read more magazines and see more about what society thought was the 'perfect' body. I also was single and felt like no one liked me because of my size. I stopped where some of the things that I had loved to wear, and I started cutting back on food a lot. I skipped breakfast a lot as well as lunch.

I had to pull myself out of the funk I was in because no one else would have been able to. It's taken me a while to get back to where I was, but I love my body. There are people out there like me who have trouble losing weight because sometimes it's just not possible. My frame and shape are perfect for me and who I am. I'm going to wear my crop tops and my shorts without caring what you think. I'm going to wear a bikini this summer and be confident about it. I'm not going to let the thoughts or opinions of others bother me.

Is there a limit to size? Yes, there is. I mean, there is such thing as being too big or being too small, but if you don't have the doctorate to be able to tell me that I'm hurting my body by not being a "healthy" weight then I think you need to shut up and go away. I have been to the doctor multiple times within the past couple months and not once has a doctor told me I need to lose weight. So! I will be comfortable with who I am.

It's different for everyone, but you can do it. You can be comfortable with who you are, you can find your way. Wear what you want to and be comfortable in it! Show who you are and show that you are unique in your own way. Love yourself!