love your body

Today’s post is going to be a little raw. The topic has been on my mind for a few days as I wrestled with it in my own life and have finally come to terms.

When do you plan on being happy with your body?

I’m serious.

When is your body going to be where you want it to be?

Do you need to lose weight? Get some muscle tone? Maybe you need to gain a few pounds? Or perhaps there is some kind of feature you have thought about surgically removing or enhancing?

When are you going to love your body for what it is?

I know that for years I have dwelled on the various imperfections and at times been hung up by them. There have always been things I wanted to change. And I know I am not the only one.

Thankfully, there is a new trend happening. This new fad of “real women” gracing magazine covers, and celebrities revealing untouched photos. It’s a wonderful change, and it got me thinking…

You see, in our apartment the bathroom mirrors are HUGE and when you are getting into the shower, you can see it all. Every imperfection, jiggle, and dimple. It had become my least favorite part of the day because I didn’t like many aspects of my body.

Each day I would tell myself, “Maybe if you work out harder, you will notice a change at the end of the month and be happier with what you see.” And that is all fine and good, I should increase my workouts and strive to see changes in my body, but what about this moment?

This picture was taken at
our family lake day, you can't
see my thighs super well, but
I still was hung up about this
picture of me, but NOT
anymore!

Why do I have to be insecure about different parts of my body now? Everyone on this planet has a body issue, something they would change or alter if given the chance. But that takes away from this moment. It steals a little bit of your joy by not enjoying where you are at.

So I changed up how I see my body. Instead of focusing on the imperfections, (for me it’s cellulite and stretch marks on my thighs), I have decided to praise my body for where it’s at.

 My body is strong. There is nothing I need to accomplish, or want to, that my body cannot handle. And that for me is enough. I won’t stop working out or pushing to see changes, but I refuse to hate on my body anymore.

I’m not going to beat myself up when I eat too much pizza and am a little bloated. I’m not going to feel like a failure if I take a day off from working out. I am not going to avoid wearing a bathing suit because I’m insecure about my thighs.

I am going to love my body exactly the way it is. Because for each imperfection I see, there are millions of other reasons to love it. And it was designed specifically for me by God. So I refuse to waste another day not loving my body, and I invite you to do the same.