Stretch marks and weight gain are often seen as undesirable features on a woman's body, but it's important to remember that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. These physical changes are a natural part of a woman's body, and they can be a sign of growth and transformation.
Instead of feeling ashamed or embarrassed about these changes, we should embrace them as a testament to our strength and resilience. These marks and curves tell a story of overcoming challenges, whether it be pregnancy, illness, or simply the passage of time.
Remember that true beauty comes from within. A woman's worth is not determined by her physical appearance, but by her character, her kindness, and her values. Although it's important to take care of our bodies and health, we should never let how we look on the outside discourage us from recognizing the beauty that we hold within.
Feeling beautiful is a wonderful feeling, but it can also be overwhelming. Especially after experiencing pregnancy or weight changes that affiliate with depression or anxiety. Yes some of us eat when we are anxious and some of us work out intensely while we are depressed. Either way it’s okay to not feel so confident but want to start the journey of finding yourself beautiful:
Here are some tips when starting that journey that I have practiced and think it may help you too:
- Practice Self-Care: Take care of yourself by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. Exercising doesn’t always have to be lifting weights but a good lap around the block just to get the body moving. Actually let's not call it a diet but a clean healthy eating habit. Consume foods that will help your energy and body hormones. This will help you feel good on the inside and reflect on the outside.
- Surround Yourself with Positive People: Surround yourself with people who uplift you and encourage you to be your best self. Avoid people who bring you down or make you feel insecure. Who you keep close to you really does affect your moods and the way you live life. If you surround yourself with people who solely focus on the negativity or commit actions that do not benefit their well being, trust and believe that it will transpire to you.
- Focus on Your Inner Qualities: Don't just focus on your physical appearance, but also on your inner qualities. Think about your strengths and what makes you unique. This one can be hard as you learn more about yourself. But focus on what makes you, you. You’d be surprised how your characteristics shine bright and make you beautiful.
- Practice Gratitude: Be grateful for your body and the things it allows you to do. Gratitude has been shown to have numerous benefits for mental and emotional well-being, including reducing stress and improving overall life satisfaction. By cultivating a mindset of gratitude, we can learn to appreciate what we have rather than always striving for more, and find joy in the present moment.
Remember, feeling beautiful is not just about how you look, but also about how you feel on the inside. Practice self-care, surround yourself with positive people, focus on your inner qualities, and practicing gratitude can help you cope with finding yourself beautiful.
I remember being body shamed through every weight my body went through. In high school I didn't weigh anything passed 99 lbs and that brought so much bullying. After birthing a child and experiencing depression I gained so much weight, my highest being 175 lbs. Although I didn't embrace it and think I was beautiful, I settled for a mentality that this is just how I am. But one thing someone kept reminding me was "if you don't like it, only you can change it". Whether that was changing my weight or my health lifestyle or how I viewed myself. It was up to me to change it. And as I began to see the positive changes in my body, I realized that I wasn't doing it for anyone else but myself. I was doing it to feel better, both physically and mentally.
Like many of us, I used to be self-conscious about my stretch marks. I felt like they made me look unattractive and I was always trying to cover them up. But as I got older and wiser, I realized that my stretch marks are a part of me, and they tell a story. They are a reminder of the growth and changes that my body has gone through over the years. And instead of being ashamed of them, I learned to embrace them as a beautiful part of who I am.
So, I encourage you to embrace your imperfections and to make changes for yourself, not for anyone else. Remember that you are unique and beautiful just the way you are. We all have a story, some of us tell it through our body marks!