Loving yourself as a girl with a changing body

At 19 years old, I’m 5’6 and weigh around 160 pounds. For the longest time, I hated my body.

This one is a bit cliche and some would say cringey but it needs to be said and I hope it can help just one person because I know I definitely could have used a blog post like this 1 year ago or even maybe just a month ago.

In a world saturated with filtered images and societal pressures to fit into a narrowly defined standard of beauty, loving yourself with a changing body can be a revolutionary act. This is something I’ve come to understand intimately through my own journey of self-acceptance and recovery from disordered eating.

Let’s talk about my body. I’m naturally skinny, but underneath that seemingly delicate frame, I have muscles, curves, and areas that bunch up when I sit down. For the longest time, I despised these aspects of myself. I struggled with disordered eating and orthorexia, conditions where my perception of my body was tightly intertwined with how I treated myself. If I gained weight, I punished myself by restricting food; if I lost weight, I experienced a fleeting sense of triumph. But that feeling never lasted.

I used to believe that if I reached a certain weight, I’d finally be happy and love myself. However, achieving that goal didn’t bring the fulfillment I expected. In reality, it left me feeling inadequate in every aspect of my life. The constant focus on my appearance overshadowed my true self. I was stuck in a cycle of seeking external validation through dieting, always chasing an elusive ideal.

Letting go of the obsession with weight allowed me to reclaim my life and discover genuine self-love.

Embracing my body’s natural changes became an empowering journey. I learned to accept myself unconditionally, even as my weight fluctuated. It wasn’t about conforming to societal norms but about honoring my body’s inherent wisdom. This shift in mindset transformed exercise from punishment to pleasure—I exercised because it made me feel strong, not to “work off” calories.

I’m going to link some of my favorite items that remind me to celebrate the world, myself, everyone around me:).

Links:)

• Sweatshirt: https://amzn.to/3U8fJOE
• BP Affirmations: https://amzn.to/3Qf5eaX
• Positive Message Bottle: https://amzn.to/3UamIqi
• BP Wall Decor: https://amzn.to/3y0SOxa
• Daily Aff. Cards: https://amzn.to/3Uzq1c0
• Daily Aff. Wall Print: https://amzn.to/4aR9mWW

Through my work and interactions with other women, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles many face in pursuit of an idealized body. We spend precious time and energy trying to control our size, often at the expense of our mental and physical health. It’s that internal struggle of feeling either too small or too big compared to the seemingly flawless people we encounter daily, both in person and on our screens. I’ve been there, caught in the comparison trap. Sitting in class, seeing someone with a similar lifestyle and wondering, “Why don’t I look like her?” It’s frustrating, isn’t it? But here’s the truth we often overlook: maybe we’re not meant to look the same, and that’s okay.

We’re bombarded with images of “perfection,” but what we don’t see behind those photos are the insecurities and struggles everyone faces. Trust me, living a life fixated on hating the rolls on our backs or the fat on our thighs is a recipe for misery. We deserve better than that.

Acceptance isn’t easy, especially in a world that constantly tells us we’re not good enough unless we fit a certain mold. But here’s the thing—I’m learning that true happiness and confidence come from accepting ourselves exactly as we are. It’s about acknowledging that our bodies are unique and beautiful in their own ways.

Because you know what? Those so-called imperfections are what make us beautifully human.

“My weight? It is what it is. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow. It’s about being content. And sometimes other priorities win.”

Melissa McCarthy

“Since I don’t look like every other girl, it takes a while to be okay with that. To be different. But different is good.”

 Serena Williams

Life’s too short to waste it on self-criticism. Let’s celebrate our bodies for all they do for us—carrying us through late-night study sessions, lifting us up during tough times, and allowing us to experience the joys of life. I used to hate this body especially because I weigh around 30 pounds more than most of my friends but you know what, this body can bench a plate, can run six miles, can dance and frolic in the rain if it wanted, can throw people in the air, and I am damn proud of it.

Letting go of the obsession with body size opens doors to a life rich in self-love, self-care, and self-respect. It’s about nurturing a positive relationship with ourselves, free from the constraints of diet culture. I can’t predict where this journey will lead you, but I believe it’s far more fulfilling than the restrictive confines of dieting.

You deserve to feel confident, comfortable, and at peace in your own skin. Let’s reject society’s narrow beauty standards and redefine what it means to be beautiful—by being unapologetically ourselves. It won’t be easy, but trust me, it’s worth it. Let’s rise above the noise and embrace our authentic selves. Because you deserve nothing less than love and acceptance—from yourself, first and foremost.

“I’ve never had a flat stomach. It just doesn’t happen, it’s just not going to happen, and it’s my little warm roll, and I like it, and I’m not a failure for not having a flat stomach,”

Jameela Jamil

“I’m so grateful that my body has taken care of me this long. It’s given me children, it’s healed from various accidents and surgeries, and I just feel, I think that we talk about that. I feel better in my 50s than I ever did prior.”

Brooke Shields

Self-love after weight gain isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about embracing imperfection with grace. So, let’s celebrate the miracle of our changing bodies and reclaim our power to define beauty on our own terms.

Signing off, xoxo, Amie <3