Your Body is Never the Problem.
Written By Maddy Chelmis
With the promise of the pandemic coming to a definitive end, the influx of diet culture is running rampant. Disclaimer: you don’t have to listen, ever!
Lockdown brought about a lot of lifestyle changes that our bodies impressively adapted to. Less intentional movement, more food, working from home, little to no social interaction. Sudden changes that shocked our systems, and amazingly our bodies quickly adjusted to these new circumstances. So why is it that we’re still being cruel to them? Ridiculing them for getting softer, restricting ourselves to fit into pre-pandemic jeans. It is awfully telling of our society that the first thing we promote after a GLOBAL PANDEMIC is how to fit back into the prescribed societal norm.
I will say it again, we have experienced a debilitating pandemic, where our mental health has been severely compromised. The last thing we need to do is perpetuate our suffering by punishing our bodies for keeping us alive. It’s okay if you’ve gained weight over lockdown, bodies change and ebb and flow and it’s a beautiful thing! It’s okay if your clothes fit differently, what a lovely excuse to buy yourself a new cute spring wardrobe! You are allowed to eat all the foods you crave! You don’t have to buy the diet shakes, teas and ‘healthy’ alternatives. (p.s. diet teas are laxatives in disguise, your body deserves so much better than that.) You don’t have to change yourself to be palatable to others. Someone can’t handle the fact that you have some new stretch marks? Boot! You don’t need those people in your life.
Coming out of lockdown should be a time for celebration and joy, a celebration that our bodies survived and were healthy enough to fight for us. We should be rejoicing in being able to see and hug our friends again, they do not care if you’re softer than last time, they care about being able to feel your embrace and bask in your smile again after far too long.
Pub gardens will get whatever body you give it! Imagine feeling the warm rays of the sun on your face while sipping your beverage of choice, not worrying about how your legs look in that dress. Just being. Content in the skin you’re in. I’m not saying it’s easy by any means, and it is totally valid if you re still own your self-love journey, I know I am. But let’s try acceptance first. Try saying “I have a body” or “This is my body”. The simple acknowledgement that you occupy a living breathing machine that is working to keep you alive is enough sometimes, and just accepting your body as a fact is the foundation for love.
The diet industry is run by multi-millionaires profiting off of your self doubt. The UK diet industry is estimated to be worth £2 BILLION a year. Don’t waste your money, your effort, and your sanity. You’re worth so much more.
So, with the world opening up once again, present yourself as you are and be proud! Soft tummies, jiggly thighs, cellulite and stretch marks, all beautiful and perfectly normal! Eat your favourite food without guilt, move your body because you love it and don’t let the diet vultures eat away at your confidence.
See you in the beer gardens everyone!