Yeah, I know I am with my parents when I constantly hear about my weight. I have been experiencing this ever since I came to the US for high school. Every break that I go back, my parents stress the importance of weight loss because I often gain weight during the semester. I also know that I am not alone in these kinds of situations.

First thing first, know that they love you

A parent's love for their child is unconditional. They love you no matter what. I know it does not feel like it sometimes, especially when they are telling you that you don’t look good enough. But know that they only want the best for you. You can always talk to them when you are perfectly comfortable with your body or when your feelings are being hurt. Just reason with them, they will listen. They are your parents and they love you. My parents just want me to be healthy and to them being the way I am is not healthy enough. They always tell me the heightened risk I have of all kinds of disease and try to convince me to lose weight.

Lose weight or not, know that it is your choice

Hey, it is your body; you and only you can decide what happens to it. If you decide that you are happy with how you look and don’t want to trouble yourself with intense workouts and dieting, don’t do it. You won’t be happy doing it. If you think your parents have a point, no matter what that point is, then do it. But please do it in a healthy way. Don’t go buying magical weight loss pills online. Trust me when I say that they don’t work because I have tried.

Lastly, know that it is about health and happiness

Just be healthy and happy, that’s what every parent wants for their children. Work out, diet, whatever you want to do. Take it fast, or slow, it is completely up to you. Don’t stress out about the numbers too much. Numbers don’t represent everything. Focus on what your body and mind tell you. Don’t be stressed out. And if you ever are stressed out, do some yoga. It really helps.