As someone who has always had a big sweet tooth and wasn't always the skinniest girl in school, losing weight was a challenge for sure. Being friends with girls who were skinnier than me in middle school was hard because I'd be envious of their bodies, even though I came to find out in high school that everyone's body is different and beautiful in its' own way. Although I had this mindset in my head, I couldn't help but to compare my body to other girls' bodies at school and become sad because I began working out more and eating right, but still did not look like them.

After many years of frustration with trying to be healthy & lose weight, I decided that I would go on a diet my senior year of high school. Prom, graduation, senior week, and my last summer until college was quickly approaching so I started Weight Watchers in hopes of finally getting that "perfect" body that I desired to have. Three very difficult months of eating small portions, measuring out my salad dressings, and eating lots of fruits and veggies, came to end when I lost more than 30 lbs. I had way more energy than I did before and I became more confident, not just because I physically looked better, but because I had set a goal and worked my hardest to achieve it.

Although my end result of losing weight was really exciting, I learned that the number I saw on the scale did not determine my self-worth. In today's society there is a pressure on people to lose weight because that is what is considered "beautiful". As cliche as it sounds, true beauty really does come from within. We were created as beautiful children of God, and should love ourselves no matter what we look like on the outside. Do I still have days where I get upset with myself for not having the flattest stomach ever or toned arms? Of course! I have had plenty of days where I'm tearing my closet apart yelling that nothing looks good on me, and that I don't have anything to wear that day. It is totally normal to have those days where we don't love ourselves as much as we should, and that's what makes us human.The important thing to remember is that we are beautiful no matter what part of our bodies we don't deem to be "attractive".

Instead of working on your outward appearance, change your lifestyle choices in small ways to become healthier; physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. A few ways I do this is by reading books to make myself mentally strong, going for walks which help with my physical health, doing service for my spiritual health, and listening to music or writing letters to help my emotional health.

So next time you step on the scale and see a number you weren't expecting, don't sweat it. Working on the inside and trying to be healthier in all parts of your lifestyle is all that you could ever ask of yourself.