They always tell you to love yourself. Unconditionally, love yourself. Love every bump, every dent, everything you have been told is an imperfection. It's put so simply - no one will ever be able to love you until you learn to love yourself.

So, we try. Many of us have to pretend that that stretch mark is our favorite and that we would never want our thighs to slim down just a little.

But we all have something, or maybe several things, that would make us happier if they were changed. So, why are we so ashamed to admit that? We're shown unrealistic images of what or who we should be, but then when we admire the inachievable - we're told we're insecure.

I'm proud to say that yes, I love my body. And yes, I want to change it! I love my legs that have taken me to some of my favorite places. I love my stomach that holds my favorite home-cooked meals. I love that I don't look like anybody else, and I love all that my body has done for me.

When you love something, why would you ever want to change it... right? This isn't always the case. Working out and eating healthy is how I show my body that I love it. I'm tired of constantly battling with my brain between thinking "I look pretty good today" and "if I could just drop that one last pound..." Because I think you can have both. If you're fully confident in your body and love it just the way it is, I applaud you.

If you love yourself and your body, but would be happier with yourself if you toned up, that's perfectly okay and normal! We need to stop shaming ourselves and others for wanting a positive change in our body, and in our lives.

Wanting to change your body for the better is showing self-love, and we shouldn't be taught anything against that.