On body image

Quite a few times in my life I've been asked casually if I was anorexic. I've been told to "eat more", "get some meat on those bones" and "gain some weight", all of which have been intended to be flattering. Why, I often wonder to myself, is it a positive thing to imply I have an eating disorder? If you were asked if you were obese, told to "eat less", "shed some meat off those bones" and "lose some weight" it would be taken in an entirely different way. Anorexia is not a joke and not something to belittle in the same way obesity isn't. Would it not be better to promote a healthy body image and accept the fact that some people are naturally smaller and some are naturally bigger, and that is perfectly okay? Eating disorders and weight issues are serious problems and therefore shouldn't be trivialised by making out that being anything other than a healthy weight is a good way to be. 

Instantly assuming that skinny people don't eat properly, fat people are obsessed with food and all women are naturally body concious is just rubbish. You can be perfectly happy with your body whatever shape or size you are, and live a perfectly healthy lifestyle and still be skinny or fat. You can be a size 4 or you can be a size 18. You're happy and healthy? Great. Put on some stiletto heels and stomp all over the people that tell you you can't be.

source for both images

Unconditionally loving your body is the most refreshing way to look at yourself. Looking in the mirror and thinking "Hell yeah! I look great! I'm going to wear these horizontal stripes because I want to, it doesn't matter what vogue tells me to wear!" makes that smallest bit of difference in making yourself happier. It's not vain, shallow or big headed to love yourself. There is no such thing as people that "aren't real". The size of your jeans does not determine your worth. Take note, Meghan Trainor.