This is such a hard concept for people to believe. Trust me, this has been the number one battle my whole entire life. So many girls today are fighting to be prettier. In order to be prettier they buy clothes that cover less and makeup that covers more. This covers a small portion of today's standards of beauty, but number one? The number on the scale.

My weight is something that has always dictated me all of my life. When I was in high school, I was harder on myself than I have ever been before. I had countless meltdowns, nights in the bathroom, and skipped meals because I just couldn't handle the way I looked... The problem was? I was only 125 pounds and all collar bone.

I kept getting bigger and bigger until about my senior year when I was an average size. I was by no means "big" but I still felt just as terrible. The stress started eating me away because the girls in my class were little, the girls in the media were little, and I? I was not little. Finally, I came to college.

At college there were girls of every shape and size here. I had a rough start here at college because I had some things to deal with. I got put on a medication where the number one side effect was indeed weight gain. I knew this was a problem but this was the best option for me. The doctor told me that average weight gain was going to be anywhere from two to five pounds a week. This killed me. Sure enough... he was right.

I started to get really upset about my weight gain so I altered the way I worked out and ate. I lifted more and I also ate more. Both hurt my body. Finally, I started realizing stretch marks. I felt a complete sense of loss.

Please, ladies listen when I say this. Stretch marks are just marks. They do not define you, they do not define your personality, and they definitely do not define how other people feel about you.

Since my body started changing so fast, I got a lot of them. When I was struggling along, I had a really upfront encounter with Jesus. In February, I decided to get baptized and give my life up to Christ. I have felt so loved and so valued in the eyes of Christ that some days I feel like I can do anything. I also have the most wonderful boyfriend in the world. You see, he loves me for who I am and not for what I look like. I am fortunate enough to have a man who reminds me of my beauty both inside and out every single day.

So here I am today at the biggest I have ever been. I am still working so hard to lose the weight, but I have finally found comfort in the battle that I have been raging in against self-image. Here is the thing:

1. It is OK to gain weight and have stretch marks. If you don't fit into your shorts from high school, the world still goes on.

I have so many friends that I have made here that didn't even realize that I put on the weight that I did. All of them just love me for who I am and not for what I look like. Maybe after this long journey towards weight loss I will return to my original size, but maybe not. The thing is, I know that I am beautiful no matter what.

2. There will be a guy who will love you for who you no matter what size you are.

My boyfriend has been so good to me. He has stood by my side for four years now going through every single up and down that I have encountered. At my smallest and at my biggest, his love for me has never changed, if anything, it has actually grown. He has been so kind and so caring. I am so genuinely thankful to be able to have a best friend and a soul mate who treats me like a queen.

3. We were created by a wonderful, powerful God who loves us and shapes us.

This is the most important thing of all. Guys, we were handcrafted and designed by our Creator. He carefully, wonderfully, and fearfully shaped us into the beautiful human beings that we are today. He made us in His image and in His likeliness. Nothing about us are regrets or mistakes.

So as you wake up and look in the mirror tomorrow, remember something. You are not defined by the number on the scale. You are not defined by the stretchmarks you have. You are not defined by the size of clothes you wear. Rather you are loved and cherished and beautiful because the God who created Heaven and Earth and the Mountains also created you.