Fat. Pudgy. Overweight. Chunky. Thick. The world is full of too many individuals who struggle with loving their bodies. Those words can get stuck in our heads even if they are aren’t true. Some people can barely pinch the skin off their bones and feel as though it is the end of the world. Meanwhile, there are others who genuinely have that excess weight. So many of us are battling insecurities daily, but it’s time to give ourselves a break.
Gina of the Instagram account @NourishAndEat is one of many girls pushing to end body shaming and empower women to love their bodies. Her account is filled with pictures of herself showing off her “squish”. Gina showcases that extra weight that can make us feel uncomfortable in our own skin, except she doesn’t. Her Instagram account is geared towards helping anyone who struggles with his or her body image by displaying her own “imperfections” and sharing her journey of recovery from anorexia.
There are a number of her posts showing her in a flattering pose with just the right amount of toned muscles, only to be followed up by Gina letting loose and revealing her actual belly. She shows that stance, angle, and flexing can make anyone look better and put fake bodies online for the rest of us to aim for. She sits normally and lets the belly roll happen, because for most people at a healthy weight, it does happen. Her pictures show her not sucking in and posting similar pictures of others who support the idea as well!
Along with the visual reassurance that average bodies are healthy, beautiful, and deserve our love too, Gina posts motivational text as well. The posts say things like, “Imagine if we obsessed about the things we loved about ourselves”, “Beauty is not defined by the size of your jeans”, “I am whole as I am.” Overall, her page is a refreshing find that serves as a reminder to us all that loving ourselves needs to be number one on our list of To-Do. She shows us that being normal is okay, eating an extra donut is okay, but most of all treating ourselves the way we need to be treated. The mental acceptance of our bodies and treating our bodies well is a great start for a healthier lifestyle.
HCXO!