Tag: body image

  • Social Media’s Negative Effects on Body Image – And What We Can Do About It

    Social Media’s Negative Effects on Body Image – And What We Can Do About It

    Have you ever felt bad about your body after scrolling your social media feeds before? Unfortunately, my hunch is that a lot of us would answer ‘yes’ to this question.

    And a new study from WebMD draws the same conclusion, as the findings show women are less likely to be happy with their bodies if they spend more than an hour a day on social media (um, pretty sure that’s all of us). Another recent survey says 80% of women compare themselves to images in the media – most of these comparisons being negative.

    SIGH. I think we can all agree that we’ve scrolled Instagram or seen some type of social media post that made us compare ourselves or not feel good (cue the picture of some cute girl on a beach in her bikini). And it’s important to be conscious of how social media is affecting your thoughts about yourself, and do as much as possible to avoid or help yourself through those negative feelings.

    In hopes of curbing this social media problem (and these findings that make me really sad), here are a few things I want to make a better effort of doing:

    • Sharing more realness. No makeup, no poses, yeah, the real stuff. I’ve always said I wanted to do more of this, and after getting fired up over these findings – it’s happening. The more we’re all showing our real sides and not just the perfect way we want to be depicted on social media, the more normalized that will become. And even if we’re not posting no makeup pictures, being less focused on being so ‘perfect’ in our photos will help too.
    • Scrolling less. Another thing I’ve wanted to curb is my addiction to scrolling. Though it’s part of my job to stay up to date on the latest trends, and I truly do enjoy seeing content out there from friends, etc., there’s got to be a certain limit – which I have to believe will also limit my exposure to these negative effects of social media, right? Trying to set limits (i.e., no phone before bed, take a break from social media for the day, etc.) could really help.
    • Checking ourselves when we start to compare or envy someone. The more we make ourselves aware of this issue, the better. If I’m scrolling aimlessly and not even realizing that I’m starting to think negatively about myself, how am I going to change that negativity? Scrolling less will certainly help, but being aware and really thinking about it next time could help too. You might have a moment where you’re like, ‘Wow this is dumb, why am I comparing myself to this person?’ and it can help you move on.

    Do you have any others? Is this something you’re going to put into practice in your own life? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or email me at thecurveconfessions@gmail.com!

  • The Curve Confessionals: Jenna

    The Curve Confessionals: Jenna

    About the interview: Jenna and I first met as youngsters in middle school, and have grown closer and closer over the years. She’s about as cute as a button, and in our interview honestly shares her own triumphs with being petite and finding confidence. She’s a superb role model to her younger siblings, and shares some incredible thoughts on my questions during our interview. Read on for some major feels and inspo!

    CC: What’s YOUR body image story?

    J: Hmmm… Well I fall into the “petite” category, I was always the smallest in the class, the tiniest baby, still don’t understand what a “percentile” is… you get the point. Growing up I was super sensitive of how short and small I was. I will never forget the day I came home crying in first grade: we learned a fact that the size of your heartis the size of your fist typically. Some kid in class turned to me and said, “Wow yours is pretty small then!” He likely didn’t mean it as an insult. My short-already sensitive about my size- seven-year-old self- took that as he told me “I was a mean person with a small heart.” I was often the butt of a lot of jokes, although most were playful, but I always wanted to be taller. Especially when the sport I chose to stick with was…basketball. Needless to say my basketball career never made it past 7th grade. I am not sure when I finally began to accept my height… Maybe it was the fact that I have been 5’1 since the 7th grade? But I know now it’s nothing I can change. I spend money getting things hemmed and scan shops for petite sections, but being little is what makes me, me.

    CC: Why is body image/self love/self acceptance important to you?

    J: It is important to me for many reasons, one big one is I have a sister who is about to enter high school. When we were growing up, we obviously had the media and some Internet, but with Instagram it creates a whole new realm of fake. Photoshop is real, normal people use it for their pictures to alter their body, not even just celebrities. It creates this completely altered reality that people (like my sister) likely believe to be true.

    CC: What has been your biggest body image struggle (or one you’ve witnessed)?

    J: Finding health and wellness in college- I gained a lot of weight when I went to college, and for me having such a small frame, the weight really showed. I didn’t know at the time that I had gotten bigger and my clothes weren’t fitting–I was pretty much enjoying college and super happy at the time. I don’t regret it for a second because I was having fun, and it taught me the importance of truly taking care of myself on so many levels. I learned I could no longer rely on my metabolism—especially when on an all bagel/pizza/ramen diet.

    CC: What has been your biggest body image victory (or one you’ve witnessed)?

    J: Cleaning my act up in college, being active and finding work outs I enjoy doing—not to lose weight, but because I genuinely enjoy doing them.

    CC: Have you always loved your body? How do you keep that confidence?

    J: To be honest I don’t think I have ever “loved” my body. I have never disliked it, but I want to be at a point where I love my body because I worked for it.

    CC: If you haven’t, how have you worked to get there?

    J: I am my happiest self when I am working out and eating healthy. I am not someone that works out 7, or even 5 days a week—I don’t think I’ll ever be, at least not in the near future. I love cooking in general, especially healthy meals, and how I feel afterwards makes me genuinely so happy. I strive to do both more and more—in my photo here I had worked out and cooked healthy meals for a while leading up to that family vacation. I felt so ready for my bikini pictures, and loved how confident my sister was, too.

    CC: Do you compare yourself to other girls a lot/feel pressure to look a certain way at times? Why do you think you do?

    J: I don’t think I feel pressure to look a certain way now, but I’ll certainly look at things girls wear on instagram like friends or bloggers I follow, and find myself wishing I could wear something like they’re wearing. I simply wouldn’t wear what they were because I know I would not look “as good as” them.

    CC: What’s one thing you’d say to your younger, middle school aged self if you could go back? Or to younger girls today?

    J: Be confident- I am working on my confidence every day. If it would have started a younger age… I can’t help but to think how much more confident I would be now. Don’t be afraid to wear clothes different than your friends, play sports different than your friends, etc. Do YOU. Also, not everyone has a thigh gap, it’s simply just how people were made. Oh, and one more thing. Weight is a number-it’s about how your clothes fit, and most importantly how you feel. Don’t ever compare your weight to somebody else’s. It’s a waste of time–you and someone else’s body frame are incomparable!

  • How Loving My Body Allowed Me to Make a Big Lifestyle Change in 2017

    How Loving My Body Allowed Me to Make a Big Lifestyle Change in 2017

    Before you read my story, here’s a quick disclaimer: My body image is something that will live with me forever. It’s not something that goes away with the loss of a few pounds, a guy being attracted to me, or finally feeling like I’m at a healthier weight. That’s part of why I wanted to share my story – because while people have not been shy to tell me I look great – there’s a whole lot more to it than my outward appearance. Every single day I work to have a stronger self-image, stay positive about myself, and keep my head up through everything – it’s an ongoing process that I plan to work on forever. We all have our off days, we all have our moments, but my goal is to keep everyone honest who’s reading my blog – in hopes that one day we can all say we’re no longer critiquing or comparing ourselves, wishing we had bodies we don’t, or talking about getting work done (don’t even get me started on that). Another reason I’m sharing my story is because I want to convey the message that everyone is on their own journey. While I’m all for/constantly preaching about accepting our bodies, I’m also all for doing things for the good of our health. And the reason I did this actually came from the new found love I have for my body, and wanting to treat it better and become a healthier version of myself. By no means did that ever mean talking down to myself, wishing I was skinnier, or hating my body – which is what past weight losses have looked like for me. It was all about realizing that my body wasn’t the happiest, healthiest, and most energized it could have been – and loving it enough to make some serious changes (again, this is ultimately up to YOU if it’s about your body).

    Well, here goes… my honest story that I hope resonates with you, or helps someone in the process.

    It all started with a check-up at the doctor in May of 2017. Well, it didn’t necessarily “start” then, but rather it started with the first doctor who ever told me I needed to lose weight. So, scratch that and backtrack about 15 years when the first doctor told me I needed to lose weight. Since then, there have been very seldom times that I was told I was at a healthy weight (even if I felt it), and this year’s check-up was no different – post college life had me bigger than ever and not even realizing I‎t.

    I’ve been through the trials and tribulations of being told to lose weight – by either a doctor, friend, or family member in some way or another – which typically followed by me getting pissed about it, maybe dieting and losing some weight, and then finding myself back at square one by either gaining the weight back or just having zero success. In all honesty, it has felt like a never-ending, daunting, and terrible process. That is, until now, when I finally realized I love myself and wanted to do this for the good of MY health – not for anything or anyone else.

    My appointment in May 2017 was with a new doctor that I found through a friend. We did a routine check-up, but of course, the elephant in the room was brought to the forefront – my weight. My doctor very kindly expressed her want for me to try to lose weight – giving me a realistic goal of 7-10 pounds in the next 3 months. I left her office that day sad as usual, but ready to make some changes. Unfortunately those changes, and that willpower I thought I had, weren’t there right away. I returned to the office at the beginning of August thinking I was AT LEAST 5 pounds lighter, but nope, I had lost a pound. One freaking pound.

    This was two weeks before my weight check-in with my primary doctor, and also when I decided to confide in my best friend Lauren – I was fed up and ready to really make changes. Tears were shed on my bus ride home, and opening up to her to ask for help wasn’t easy for me – but I knew it was what I had to (and wanted to) do for the good of my health. For the next week or so, Lauren helped me with my grocery shopping, giving me tips for meals and what to buy versus what to skip out on. I learned a TON, and sent her pictures of my grocery carts, or screenshots of menus at restaurants for the next few weeks. She also recommended that I switch from iced lattes to black coffee – man it was hard, but my taste buds adjusted – and I really think it has made a huge difference.

    The next step was committing to a workout that was going to “kick my ass” (as Lauren described it) at least 2-3 times per week. I was working out, but admittedly not hard enough, and not regularly enough. She suggested Shred415, a treadmill and weights interval training class that I was absolutely terrified of. Lauren took me to my first class (I barely made it through) – and shortly after taking it, the studio manager reached out to me offering a new client deal for an unlimited membership. So I did it – I bought the membership. I committed to going to Shred 3 times a week at the studio near my apartment, and then also going to my office gym and taking ClassPass classes the other days (also giving myself rest days). From August 2017 to now, I’ve fallen in love with Shred and continue to go to 3 times a week, and am feeling stronger and better than I have in a longggg time. To think that I’m running/sprinting every single week on a treadmill is crazy if you would have asked me 6 months ago, but here I am! (If you’re interested in trying it – seriously reach out to me!)

    Full force on my new lifestyle (because no, this is not a diet), I went back in two weeks later to have my official appointment with my doctor – and in two weeks I had lost 12 pounds. I think she thought the scale was broken, ha. But I was proud to say that it was all a result of hard work and dedication, and assured her of all the healthy changes I had made that were adding up quickly. My doctor was extremely proud – and we set another goal together and made a follow-up appointment for three months from that date. Continuing my healthy eating and exercise, I was up to about 34 pounds lost by our November check-in about 3 months later, and my blood work showed major signs of improvement in my “bad” cholesterol levels. My doctor was again extremely proud, as was I. I left that appointment absolutely beaming – I felt electric. Fast forward to now, I’ve lost 45 pounds and am slowly working towards another goal for my next appointment (but feeling damn good).

    I’m not going to act like this whole thing has been easy – it hasn’t. It’s taken a lot of determination, willpower, and work in the gym that I truly never thought I could accomplish. It also took a lot to finally admit to myself that I needed to lose a significant amount of weight. But instead of looking at it that way, I decided to look at it in small chunks – like 5-10 pounds at a time over a period of time – so that I don’t get overwhelmed. It makes it a whole lot easier on my mental state – and it makes it that much more exciting when I’m exceeding goals week in and week out. Another thing I’ve practiced consistently is positive self-talk – from the day I decided this whole thing was going down, I told myself “I can – and I will – do this.”

    But I’m not going to lie when I say there are days when I look in the mirror and have moments of hesitations, bloated days, or days when I’m scared I’m going to gain again. It’s normal, and that’s because this is an ongoing process, mentally and physically. It’s an ongoing process to keep a positive mindset about our bodies, and something we all need to continue to practice day in and day out.

    When these negative thoughts do come, I’ve trained myself to shift them to the side and override them with positive, forward-looking thoughts. Sometimes I almost feel like, “is it enough?” or “I want more” – and my greedy side takes over. When that happens, the most important thing I’ve learned to do is live in the moment. I do that by reminding myself how far I’ve come, reminding myself how amazing I feel, and being present in the moment – not thinking about what I could be doing or wishing I was at any other stage than I am in this moment (check out my recent blog about positive self-talk for other tips of this nature).

    While the exterior changes have been amazing, the reality is – it’s not about what’s on the outside. It’s really all about my health and readjusting my lifestyle to focus on the inside – my mind, what I’m putting into my body, pushing my physical and mental limits in the gym – which have all helped to shape a much happier, healthier, and more energized me. And while yes, I may look “better” on the right side of this photo, I am by no means tearing down my same beautiful self on the left, but am grateful I took the plunge.

    Again, thank you to those who have supported me, given me positive words of encouragement, and ultimately helped me along this whole process. I seriously couldn’t have done it (or be doing it) without you all, and am excited to continue to share my journey. Cheers to continued self-love in 2018!

    If you have questions, comments, or just want to have a chat for that matter – I would love to talk to you! Email me at thecurveconfessions@gmail.com or message me on Instagram (@thecurveconfessions).

    To see the best treadmills for you and your workout, check out this article on Reviews.com!

  • Pink’s Powerful Message at the VMAs

    Pink’s Powerful Message at the VMAs

    This weekend, the MTV Video Music Awards hit the stage – artists performed, took home awards, and gave speeches thanking their fans and families for the support. While I watched it mainly as entertainment for my Sunday, one moment in the show stuck out to me (okay, in addition to Demi Lovato’s killer performance), and that was Pink’s acceptance speech after winning the Video Vanguard Award. Not going to lie, her speech got me a little teary eyed and really resonated with me. Here it is if you’ll take a minute to read:

    “I know I don’t have a lot of time, but if I may tell you a quick story. Recently, I was driving my daughter to school and she said to me, out of the blue, ‘Mama?’ I said, ‘Yes, baby?’ She said, ‘I’m the ugliest girl I know.’ And I said, ‘Huh?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair.’ And my brain went to, ‘Oh my god, you’re six. Why? Where is this coming from? Who said this? Can I kick a 6-year-old’s ass, like what?’ But I didn’t say anything. Instead I went home and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her. And in that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists — her eyes glazed over. But then I said, ‘You know, I really want to know why you feel this way about yourself.’ And she said, ‘Well I look like a boy,’ and I said, ‘Well what do you think I look like?’ And she said, ‘Well you’re beautiful.’ And I was like, ‘Well, thanks. But when people make fun of me, that’s what they use. They say I look like a boy or I’m too masculine or I have too many opinions, my body is too strong.’ And I said to her, ‘Do you see me growing my hair?’ She said, ‘No, mama.’ I said, ‘Do you see me changing my body?’ ‘No, mama.’ ‘Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?’ ‘No, mama.’ ‘Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?’ ‘Yes, Mama.’ ‘OK! So, baby girl. We don’t change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.’ And to all the artists here, I’m so inspired by all of you. Thank you for being your true selves and for lighting the way for us. I’m so inspired by you guys. There’s so much rad shit happening in music. And keep doing it. Keep shining for the rest of us to see. And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, and I love you. Thank you, MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you, Ellen. I couldn’t love you more. Thank you guys. Goodnight.”

    The speech had a few thoughts running through my head. First, it was a major reminder of how much of an impact your childhood has on you, and saddened me to hear her daughter thinking these thoughts so early. I’m not sure what happened to Pink’s daughter for her to say those words, but I’m going to assume it was another kid making fun of her and putting those thoughts in her head (ugh). It’s unfortunate, but it’s been happening for as long as I can remember. And unfortunately, things you start to think about yourself (no matter where they come from) don’t always just go away.

    From the people I’ve had conversations with, the stories I’ve read, there typically seems to be a common theme: these negative thoughts don’t come out of the blue, but they begin early. And that’s why parents (and people in general) need to follow Pink’s lead – by encouraging and fostering people to be nothing but themselves. Kids are super impressionable at young ages – they’re soaking it ALL in. A mean thought a kid in your class had and said about you could be something that carries with you throughout life, what your mom says about her body in front of you could change your views on body image, and that’s just the truth. But it’s important to recognize this not only at a young age, but wherever you are in life. Your words mean something.

    There’s a lot of shit going on in the world (to put it simply) – but Pink’s message of acceptance is one that will always ring true for all of us. What I was reminded of on Sunday was: be kind to others, accept others for who they are, and do the same exact thing for yourself. Thanks for that reminder Pink – you and your daughter keep rockin’ it.

    Photo credit: Pink

  • The Curve Confessionals: Paige

    The Curve Confessionals: Paige

    About the interview: Paige and I have been friends for a long time, and she’s always had a killer gymnast body. But she’s had her insecurities along the way like us all, and in our conversation we talked a lot about the pressures from guys and other girls, having an athletic build and rocking it, and how she makes herself feel good and confident. I love seeing her growth in self love and can’t wait to watch it continue!

    CC: What’s your body image story?

    P: When I was 12 or 13 – I can remember it even now – I was trying on swimsuits with other petite girls and was self-conscious about my stomach. I’ve got a lot of muscle and have a gymnast body – and being surrounded by those girls of course made me think about it and question myself. Guys also used to ask why I was sticking out my boobs – but it was really just my posture from being a gymnast. I think every girl looks at themselves in the mirror and picks themselves apart at times, but I feel like I’ve grown a lot from my young self. I’m still very athletically built and I really embrace that. I’d rather wear athletic clothes – like yoga pants and a top than jeans and a cute top – I’m just an active person and I’m proud of that.

    CC: If you haven’t always loved your body, how have you worked to get there?

    P: It’s something that’s never completed, especially in your 20’s – which is when you’re discovering yourself and identifying who you are. It’s a work in progress.

    CC: What has been your biggest body image victory?

    P: It was March of my senior year of college, and graduation was coming up. I was looking at graduation dresses. I wanted to look good in my dress and worked hard to get there; and got down to my goal weight. I got the dress and had never felt better about myself. I felt energized, working towards everything felt good, and I miss that.

    CC: Does the media/models/celebrities have an impact on how you see yourself? 

    P: Absolutely. Who doesn’t want to look like Kate Hudson? Now that I’m 25 though, I have a better understanding that it’s not all real (I.e., photoshopped, etc.). It really doesn’t affect me as much as when I was younger.

    CC: What’s one thing you’d say to your younger, middle school aged self?

    P: Trust your instinct, and love yourself.

    CC: What do you do to love your body?

    P: I get ready in my bra and underwear – it makes me feel sexy! I also look in the mirror and say positive things to myself, workout, and take care of myself by washing my face, taking my vitamins, and trying to go to bed early.

    This interview is a part of The Curve Confessionals, a new content series on the Curve Confessions featuring other’s body image stories. Want to be interviewed, or know someone who might? Email thecurveconfessions@gmail.com for more details.