We are a part of a society that loves to comment on people’s weight. Whether it’s praising them for losing two pounds or shaming them for not fitting in, it seems like the only topics we talk about to each other are our appearances.

Throughout my life, I have heard my friends degrade themselves like it was a competition to see who could find the most flaws about themselves. I grew up hearing my mom point out all the things she didn’t like about herself. I learned how to hate my body before I ever knew how to love it.

When I was younger I craved to be called skinny. All my friends always seemed to get complimented on their weight but I never did. I was never "the skinny one", the one people cared about. It seemed like skinny was one of the most important things you could be beside pretty or smart.

Then I started losing weight in college, and suddenly, I was praised for my weight. My friends would put their own bodies down while admiring mine. I would get comments about how much food I was eating or the size of clothes I was wearing as if it were for everyone's information.

And I realized I didn't want to be known for just my body.

Someone recently asked if I wore a size 0. I don’t. But the point I think she was trying to make was that I looked good, skinny, healthy even. But why do we, as women, continue to comment on each others appearance like that’s the only important thing about us?

What’s wrong with that is that I am far more than a number on my pants or on a scale. I can be healthy and weigh 20 pounds more than I do now. I can be happy and amazing and funny without it impacting my weight or appearance.

I am so much more than the size of my jeans or a number on a scale. We need to start creating praise that has nothing to do with how skinny we are or how we look and everything to do with the person we are.

I no longer get that satisfaction I used to get from someone calling me skinny. Skinny is a disgusting word. I hate that word.

I want my friends and family to look at me and see past my outward appearance. I want them to see my intelligence in the words I say. I want them to see my strength in how I carry myself. I want them to see my compassion in the way I treat other people.