Healthy Chicks

I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of sick of people posting their diet tummies, full body selfies and before-and-afters on insta, and feel it’s sending a bit of a construed message.

Yesterday morning, I poured myself a mug of pumpkin coffee and browsed through instagram while I finished waking up. Immediately, I was bombarded by several body shots boasting extreme weight loss, 6-packs and ridiculous before-and-afters. (Trust me, your “before” picture looks just fine!)

I felt angry. For myself (I’ve been there) For other women struggling with body image. For those who are vulnerable + often compare themselves to other people’s bodies. For those who still believe that being thin is everything.

Sure, you can do the insane juice cleanse or 21 day “fix” and then maybe just maybe you’ll get a flat tummy, 6-pack & all you ever wanted. But is that really all you ever wanted? Are you happier? Do you feel good? What did it do for your soul?

And why the need to post your body shot publicly — is it for you?

Do you truly think it’s inspiring other women? (Ahem, it’s not.)

Don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with posting your accomplishments. Relish the feeling of finishing your first 5K. Embrace how confident & sexy you feel in your new red dress or lulu tank that shows off your strong arms. Be proud of how strong you feel in your body after you reach a personal milestone. Share your brand-new recipe for chocolate chip pumpkin bread because it does good for the soul.

If you want to inspire others, post those moments. Tell these stories. After all, I’m much more interested in getting to know the woman behind the 6-pack.

A picture of your stomach doesn’t say anything. It’s just a picture. Of your body. Online. Think about the kind of message that is sending.

So many women are constantly striving to make their bodies look better, shed more weight & lose the extra fat by dieting, slaving away at the gym and doing more, more, more. (Trust me, I used to be one of them, I get it.)

But when we’re constantly busy trying to improve our bodies, are we really living?

Are you having fun?

Do you feel good inside — mind, body & soul?

These are the questions we need to start asking ourselves.

Restricting yourself to the max is not joyous nor feel-good. Telling yourself these are the foods I “can” and “can’t” eat is not instilling a healthy relationship with food or your body. Extreme dieting is not sustainable in the long run. And by all means having a 6-pack is not everything.

To me you already are beautiful darling; it’s how you feel on the inside that counts most.

xoxo,

Rachel