I do not have a six pack,
but I can still feel my ab muscles when I’m laughing with my friends.
My legs will never look perfect (or long!),
but they have carried me on 12 mile runs.
My boobs disappeared after losing 55 pounds,
but my smile has gotten so much bigger.
My arms jiggle a bit when I wave,
but they can keep me in plank for almost 3 minutes.
Thank you for forgiving me for all the years I hated you.
The parts that we often obsess about are the ones most often hidden by clothing.
Pursue a healthy lifestyle to help your true beauty shine through.
Smile.
Love.
Happy girls are the most beautiful.
Want to see what real girls look like? Check out this amazing website.
Brilliant!
Thank you :)
You are beautiful!
Ty! I am happy!
umm. Love this perspective. My perspective out my body started to change with the Nike thunder thighs ad!
I didn’t catch the game – am going to look for that ad now! Nike has been coming up with some great ones lately.
Good for you Erica! This post took a lot of courage and many women are thanking you for it right now! (Including me!) What a great reminder that we should love our bodies. P.S. I LOVE that Salem is posing in the background of a few of these LOL
Lol, Salem is *always* creeping on me. He may not always be in frame, but he’s there. I actually tried to take a few with him in my ‘big’ pants with me. He didn’t care for that to much.
you are awesome.
xoxoxo
I’m trying :) I got sick of the unrealistic fitspiration I was seeing everywhere and wanted to make my own!
I wish all women could think like you :) Beautiful.
Thank you! My positive body image has been a 10 year work-in-progress but I’m grateful to finally be at a place where I’m happy with myself!
You look fabulous, but more importantly – glad you feel fabulous. Thanks again for hosting the DietBet, and a three-minute plank? Girl, you set the bar high!
I’m so glad you had fun with the DietBet! I still can’t believe you actually made money loosing weight. It sounds like such a cheesy tv infomercial lol.
My goal is a 4 min plank by the end of Feb ;)
Awesome post girl! Amen to this!
My positive body image has always been a struggle. I’m hoping my daughter doesn’t have the same issues I had (still have at times). I hope that if we’re kind to our fellow woman, and love all shapes and sizes, then all shapes and sizes will eventually be accepted by the masses.
I always look forward to your blog. :-)
I’m so glad it has resonated with you :) I’ve always said if I have children I’m going to be extra cautious on how I speak about food/body image around them. I didn’t want any of my negative self-talk rubbing off on little ones! I’m sure I’ll always struggle, on some level. with body image. New issues will come up as I age I’m sure! Research has found though that people who value themselves more for personality/emotional traits are effected significantly less with the aging process – so I’m trying to get a jump start on that!
You are so gorgeous, girl! Inside and out :)
Thank you! I’d rather people take one look at me and say “Man, that girl is happy!” than “Man, that girl is hot!”
What an awesome start to this Wednesday! You are absolutely beautiful :)
Thanks! I’m happy it’s helping put a smile on people’s faces today :)
Love this so much! You’re beautiful :)
Thank you :)
Beautiful, Erica!
Thank you!
Erica, what a great post! You look so happy and healthy, physically and mentally- and I know thats not an easy feat! Congrats! And if figuring out that you’re also a vegeterian (I am too) this week didnt make me like you more, this is just icing on top of a very healthy cake!
Lol – well I’m quite flattered! How long have you been a vegetarian for? It will be 6 years for me in May!
4 years in September!! Happy early veggie anniversary!
Heck yes! There should be vegetarian anniversary parties! omg I’m so throwing myself one now.
First off, you look fantastic! But more importantly I think this is one of my favorite posts I have ever seen in the blog world. Every individual who suffers with self-conscious issues and can’t grasp the perfectness in the imperfect would benefit from reading this. It really resonates with me-I often find the bad in my body when I need to think about the heavy weights it allows me to lift, the miles it carries me and all the lessons I’ve learned. You’re such an inspiration :)
Well that officially brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for such a kind comment. I hate when I hear women (or men!) struggling negative body image issues. I’ve been there … for years. I just became exhausted from all the energy it took to hate on myself. I started working out to look better but now I do it because I’m constantly amazed at what my body can do for me. I appreciate it SO much more now, flaws and all!
you are sooo cute!!! I absolutely love this! Thanks for the daily dose of inspiration and giggles!
You are absolutely welcome!
Absolutely LOVE this!!! Very creative!
http://www.lisalanedeno.com
My poetry skills leave something to be desired but I think people get the gist ;) Thank you!
Aww! I love this post, Erica. I went through years of hating my body (no matter what size) and I have been focusing so much more lately on what my body can DO and has DONE over what it looks like. Rock on, girlie :)
In a weird way I’m really grateful that I spent a few years of my life overweight. It’s definitely made me more appreciative of my body now, what it can do, and what I need to do to take the best care of it. I’m thankful I realized pretty early on that life is WAY to short to worry about the negatives constantly.
what a wonderful post, thank you for the reminder!! There are so many days where it is easier to focus on how much more we have to lose or how much farther it will be to the “goal weight” but to focus on how far we have come is so important, I will carry this with me today, thank you Erica!!
You are so so so welcome! I gave up associating happiness with a number on the scale and haven’t felt better in my life. The only goal weight I have is whatever one makes me happy and keeps me healthy!
Such a lovely post. You are gorgeous inside & out! So glad I recently came across your blog!
Thank you! I’m glad you stumbled onto my little place in the internets :)
Love this post! You won’t be seeing my midriff anytime soon, but I can always use the reminder that there’s a lot more to live for than battling the last bit of love handle. You’re a shining example of happy and healthy. :)
Thank you! I look at my stomach sometimes and know if I really wanted to lean out and have a six pack I probably could. But I don’t want to! I’ve got a killer core that’s hidden by a small layer of peanut butter, drinks with friends, and ice cream. *Thats* what life is about!
Sounds pretty excellent to me! Don’t change a thing. :)
I wont! It’s pretty nice to be content with my current state :)
This post has just made my day :) Very beautifully written and it is true the parts of ourself that we often times hate are hidden by clothing and other people don’t even know or care!
It really hit home for me once when my parents commented on how much healthier I looked after I put on a few pounds. I realized then that my stomach may be flat, but no one was seeing it! I’d much rather have a happy healthy looking face to show :)
What an inspiring, real post. You’re beautiful because of the things that make you, you. Love your perspective!
Thank you! I’m grateful I’ve reached such a positive place with myself.
You have certainly come a long way! I loved this :)
Holding up my ‘fat’ pants was very surreal!
SO MUCH THIS! What an amazing message you’re sharing with women everywhere. Your happiness just radiates from you! Love it <3
So glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful post! Thank you for writing it. It’s so simple and yet I can totally relate to it…and I’m so glad I’m not the only one who lost her boobs (and butt) when she lost weight. =)
Lol … I definitely kept my butt (which I’m happy about) but my boobs went down two sizes. C’est la vie!
I loved this post! Thank you for sharing. I think you look great, and congrats on your incredibly journey!
I love sharing if it helps other people :) Thank you for the comment!
<3 that is all.
<3 back.
3 minute planks!? I’m only up to a minute and a half! Back to the gym on Monday. You’re happiness is really inspiring (coming from an equally happy person :)
Well, 2:45 is my best time … 4 minutes is my goal by the end of Feb!
The part about the things we obsessover often being covered up…SUCH a great reminder!!! And it’s so much more enjoyable to live and not obsess. Beautiful post. You’re beautiful as well. :)
Thank you, Tina! I love your blog and am happy you were able to check mine out :)
Love love. I feel the same way about my bod – sometimes I think to myself, maybe I *should* work harder for things like visible abs… but then I remind myself I love food too much to care. :D
I always tell people I only work out so much because I love food too much!
Aww I love this post! What a great message!
Thank you! I was nervous to put myself out there like this, but the feedback I have received has made it so worth it!
Everybody has a different definition of perfection, but I would say you fit mine….perfectly. Congratulations on a healthier you!
You are so sweet, thank you!
How often I forget to be grateful for what my body does for me and focus on how imperfect it is! Thank you for the reminder!
When I started running last year it really gave me a new found appreciation for what amazing things my body can do!
I love this! =) You look great and healthy! =)
Thank you!
You darling look amazing! And I love your smile on the last picture! :)
That picture is from early last year but it’s definitely one of my favorites. I can’t think of many others where I look as happy!
Thank you so much for sharing this post. What a great message you’re telling everyone. I’ve always had a bad self-image of myself but I know I need to learn to accept how I am.
By the way, you look great. =)
I can’t imagine a woman existing that hasn’t had issues with negative body image at some point. My hope is to help those struggling find acceptance for what beauties they are!
Thanks so much for posting this… it’s so easy to complain about our bodies and not admire the things that they can do!
As with everything in life – I think it’s much better to focus on the positives!
This is beautiful and so are you!! :)
Awww thank you :)
Loved this! Put a smile on my face :)
What more could I ask for? Ty!
This is such an awesome post Erica. You look amazing and beautiful! Love this.
Thank you, Christine!
LOVE this! I’m currently in recovery from anorexia and this was so great to read! My dietitian loved it also!
That is incredible, Kelly. Thank you!
This is beautiful! You’re beautiful! A few months ago, I wrote a similar letter to my body, so cathartic, yes?
Thank you! It was a wonderful exercise in focusing on the positive. Anytime I start to engage in negative self-talk I try to catch it early and stop and come up with positive things to tell myself instead!
I love this post. So simply but so powerful!
Thank you :)
This is a beautifully written post! You are right to focus on the positives!
I’m big on the belief that we have a choice in everything in life, and I’m choosing to focus only on the positives!
What a beautiful post! You are such an inspiration. Thanks for this!
I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Can I tell you how much I love this post? It takes people a lifetime to develop a sense of self-love (and not in the “mind-in-the-gutter” way) that you have expressed so well.
As a dietitian, it is at my core philosophy to learn to accept yourself for your whole being. Food is a part of our lives (and should be enjoyed!) but it should not rule your life or make you feel “good” or “bad” for eating.
I have just discovered your blog (although I follow you on Twitter) and I’m so happy to have found it! Gorgeous, gorgeous post Erica!
I’m so glad you were able to travel over to my blog via Twitter! Thank you for such a kind comment. I’m sure as a dietitian you’ve seen the destructive relationship people can develop with food (myself included years ago.) I can’t say I’m always this accepting of my body, but I love it more days than not now (and that’s enough for me!)
Amazing post! You are such an inspiration. If you don’t mind me asking, what size were you before losing 55 pounds? If you do mind me asking, just tell me to mind my own business! lol
Lol – I’m the most open person in the world so people can always ask me anything! I was a size 16/18 (weighed 167 pounds).
Rock star post! Perfect is over-rated. It’s the unique things that give us CHARACTER. Perfection is usually something we don’t want.
Thank you! I totally agree with you as well. I’d much rather have character and personality than a ‘perfect’ body!
Such a beautiful post and such a beautiful lady. :) And so glad you’re happy with who you are and comfortable in you body. It’s perfectly you. <3
Thank you :) It’s a wonderful thing to be okay with being yourself!
I loved your post. You are beautiful. You are encouraging. Your words are freeing. :)
Thank you! It felt freeing to put myself out there :)
Brilliant :)
You are so physically beautiful and your beauty shines when you smile!
You are so sweet, thank you! I actually had to search through my old posts today to find one and came across this one and smiled :)