A few months ago I started hitting the gym. That's not to say I wasn't hitting the gym before, but this time, I came with a new fire in my belly that was driving me to do better. I had everything a new gym rat could desire: new gym bag, a pair of Nikes, work out clothes galore, and supplements I'd spent hours researching. After a lot (and I mean a lot) of trial and error, I finally saw progress I could be proud of.

Gone was the girl who was a little too soft around the edges and in the mirror was a girl who could fit into that dress I bought a few months ago that fit then but a little too snugly around the tummy. Now that dress fit like a glove and I wanted to wear it everywhere.

Now what is the first thing any respectable girl does when she looks good? Take selfies, then post it on Instagram of course! I got a good amount of likes and really positive comments. Even my family noticed the change. However, my mom did express a little concern when she thought I was getting too skinny and naturally I thought she was just being ridiculous.

Then, I realized she wasn't. There were so many things I was trying to fix about myself. Were my thighs too big? Was my stomach flat enough? Oh my goodness, did this shirt make me look chunky? There comes a time when you have to make a choice. Am I changing because I think I'm not good enough the way I am or am I doing this because I want to be healthier?

I don't think it's a battle I'll ever stop having with myself, but my one exercise to a better body is just accepting the girl I see in the mirror. I know, it's cheesy, right? You opened this expecting some great Kardashian style weight loss secret or super food diet. Bare in mind, though, this exercise isn't easy and it's one that people get frustrated trying to do.

I remember in high school being in the arms of the boy I thought was my Prince Charming. We laughed and I was blushing...and then he dropped me. I felt his arms shake from my weight and that was the moment I decided I didn't like the way I looked and I didn't feel like I was good enough. It seemed like that singular moment opened me up to every criticism. It wouldn't occur to me until later that it wasn't my weight, as much as it was my weight and the fact that the boy really wasn't that strong, but I digress. I also didn't realize at the time that the girls always asking what you weighed were only trying to make themselves feel better. But, you don't know that in the moment and hindsight is 20/20. That seems like your whole world then. Especially when said boy is always making small suggestions of how you should look in his eyes even if it's not what you want to look like, but you think it would be better that way.

When I got into my freshman year of college it was just another rainstorm of insecurity. Girls were getting ready for big nights out in crop tops or dresses I had never dreamed of ever being able to wear. Boys only wanted the girls who had shiny belly rings dangling from their perfectly tanned and toned stomachs, small waists, and a big behind. You almost feel lost if you don't look like that. Then you start to workout and pray that you can be like that and you don't even realize that it's just not possible for a 5'1" girl to look like a 5'10" Victoria Secret model no matter how hard you try it's just not who you were made to be (not to mention you don't have a personal trainer or personal chef). But, that doesn't mean you're not amazing the way you are.

I'm not saying that I think I'm perfect now and that I don't struggle whenever I see some picture perfect girl on Twitter with an hourglass figure and a pretty face. But, you find people who encourage you and appreciate you for every curve and muscle. You find a boy that you go to the gym with, that you get healthy with, and the one who's your coach and your biggest fan On your days when you go up in pounds or your BMI goes up he's still smiling and assuring you it's not the end of the world. And you find a girl friend who doesn't ask your weight, but spots you at the squat rack and brings over a delicious cookie/brownie cake on a Saturday night because why the hell not?

I implore you to look in the mirror and try to love the person you see because loving yourself and being easy on yourself is the only way you'll get a perfect body and face the world with confidence and comfort.