I Heart My Body.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 8:49PM 
We Heart Life has put the call out again. It's time us women stop hating the way we look, criticising the size we are and comparing ourselves with others. The 'I Heart My Body' challenge is happening again this month. It's inspiring and empowering and a frame of mind I wanted to embrace.
I've learnt a few things during my adult years..... We're all different. And that's ok! We all have different goals and dreams, and ideals. And that's ok! We all have different pedestals and visions and views on beauty. And that's ok!
But there is something that we ALL pretty much have in common. We all want to feel good. Feel good with the way we look and the way we feel. We all want to be loved and be in love in return. We all want to be accepted. And WE ALL want to be happy!
So much emphasis is put on the way we look. The media is a driving force in this.
It's so easy to criticise and put-down the way we look, especially after flicking through the latest fashion magazines or watching sitcom television. There's so much 'perfection' out there, and it's quite depressing to be surrounded by it...especially if you're not feeling 100% confident with yourself and the way you look. THIS HAS TO STOP! Don't compare. You're wasting your time and energy and passion!
Embrace the way you look, and change your perspective. Move the goal posts and adjust the ideal vision. Focus on the good, and find ways to fix or work-on the negatives.
And that's why I love I Heart My Body campaign.
Like most women, I've had a love/hate relationship with my body.
As a child I was small, petite and almost athletic. I was active.
Then puberty hit and BAM, I didn't have much control over the way I looked or the way my body changed. I was still active. I danced almost everyday, I ran, I delved into most sports, I performed, I swam, I had a go! Yet, my skin still broke out daily and I was *blessed* with lovely acne - right in my critical teenage years. And my weight fluctuated, completely out of my control.
Once I hit adulthood, the weight started to fall off and my skin slowly {not completely....but slowly} started to clear. With this my confidence slowly grew too.
I bleached my hair and wore more flattering clothes. By the time I met Chris, I felt good in my own skin.
Over those next 10 years, the love/hate continued. Peaking and calming. Peaking and calming!
Now, at age 30 and the mother of two; I can confidently say that I'm fairly comfortable in my body and the way I look. Yeah, there's things I want to change - baby weight still to loose, wobbly bits that I'd like to see tightened, muscles I'd like to work on toning, hair I'd like to keep maintained and skin I'd like to keep clear and supple.
But I'm also a realist. I'm a sleep deprived Mum, who runs a business from home around my two busy kids. I'm a chocoholic and coffee-addict....and sadly a lover of sugar. I'm inconsistent and unpredictable. And I usually put myself last. And all of this means that my body is effected and the way I look is directed from a different path.
Some days, I'm hard on myself. I feel annoyed that I still am not back to pre-baby weight. I get frustrated that I don't have the time or priority structure to exercise more. I feel great when I eat well and then criticise myself when I don't.
But, at the same time - I'm so proud of my body and what it has done for me, over the past 30 years!
It's grown and developed and changed so much. It's kept me going day after day. It's overcome illnesses and bugs and many viruses. It's put up with bad treatment and then forgiven me when I nurtured it. It's conceived, grown and housed two healthy children. It's been through the shock of pregnancy loss and major surgery. It's recovered and healed. It's naturally birthed two large babies and then organically bounced back. It's been tattooed and pierced, and hurt many times. It's been deprived of sleep and rest, but always medically looked after. It's got scars, stretch marks and war wounds that prove it's ongoing journey.
My stomach has changed shape over the past 5 years from pregnancy and birth...and aging. My breasts have changed drastically too. My hair now borns greys and my skin now features creases and wrinkles. Would I change a thing though? No probably not!
I'm me, and I'm ok with that! I'm learning as I get older to embrace me for me, and to love & be grateful for EVERYTHING I am blessed with.
And to answer Carly's question...
Three things I love about MY BODY....
- My legs. They're muscular and strong. They've done many miles and got me to MANY places.
- My tattoos. I sometimes get asked if I regret getting a permanent mark on my skin. I always answer NO. These markings have become a part of me. They are special symbols that mean everything to me. I wear them with pride.
- My body's frame and it's ability to bounce back. I've put on 30+kg during each pregnancy and although I am not back to my pre-weight, I am still amazed at how well my body regains shape and strength. My waist is slowly appearing after going vanishing for many months :)
I encourage you to stop looking at only the negatives when you look in the mirror and embrace the good. Rock out whatever you have that makes YOU, YOU!
You're beauitful. Go on....admit it.
The world would be a much happier place if we all loved ourselves that little bit more. Don't you think?!
Come link up over at We Heart Life and tell us what you love most about your body!
Photos by the amazing Carly Webber - during my pregnancy with Ryder.
Reader Comments (17)
Amazing post Claire. Thank you for linking up and being a part of our team. I love that you love our campaign. Love. Amazing images too! xx
What a BEAUTIFUL, beautiful post! (I expected no less really)
We had a very similar teenage-hood (the acne, oh lordy, the ACNE!)
But skin clears up, & it leaves us with these positive attitudes :)
And yours is stunning, as are those pregnancy photos!
Thank you for sharing beautiful you,
xo
Those photo's are stunning. Our bodies are amazing aren't they? It's hard to look past the flaws, but learning to accept them is so important. xx
Wonderful, wonderful post. Such wise words. I think your photos are about the most beautiful pregnancy pics I've seen - simple and stunning.
Those photos are incredible... As are your words, definitely given me food for thought x
What gorgeous photos! It really is amazing how well our bodies recover after pregnancy isn't it? It is hard to believe it will ever come close to resembling a normally proportioned body again but that's all part of the beauty.
Great post :)
I do love the transformation motherhood can bring. You look amazing in those photos, truly stunning.
Gorgeous photos. And yes, we do need to pay more attention to the positives. In ourselves and in others. Great post.
It's so true that there will always be something we want to change about ourselves, but we can't let it stop us loving ourselves the way we are.
Loving those bump pics! x
Gorgeous Post Claire! You are an amazing woman and extremely talented to be able to articulate the journey. :-) xx
Gorgeous bump pics! I never had formal ones done, perhaps I should this time.
Your pics are so beautiful, you've made me want to fell pregnant again! And your words are equally beautiful, I wish that I had read your post before I wrote my own, there's so much more I could have added. Thank you for a lovely read x
You are one of the most gorgeous pregnant women I have ever seen hun. This is such a beautiful post and inspiring and you are so right, the world would be much better if we all loved ourselves a little more. xx
Beautiful words and stunning photos x
I, too, still have clearing teenage skin! It is such a pain.
Those photos are just to die for! You are beautiful
I remember those stunning pregnancy shots of yours - you are gorgeous!! Such elegant photos. A great post Claire with such wise words, words and advice that we all know we should take on board but we sometimes ignore :) My body has changed since having my two girls but at 30, I too feel fairly comofortable now with my appearance.
I'm waiting for you to get a 'Ryder' tattoo :)