Do you love your body?

I was talking to my friend recently about how happy we felt with ourselves. Mainly how we felt with our own body. The question “if we could change on thing, what would it be?” was asked.

Now I’m not an arrogant person. I’m also not a massively confident person either. However, I genuinely didn’t want to change anything. I know for a fact had that question been asked to me ten years ago I’d have said “urghh I just hate my legs”. Now this is ridiculous. My legs, certainly 10 years ago, were tiny. I mean, if anything looking back at photos of me back then I’d say I needed them to be bigger – more muscles required.They look like sticks to me. Now I look at my legs, knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to get them into jeans I wore back then, and I’m super happy. Those legs have done me well. Fast running, strong running, marathon after marathon. I’m no Victoria’s Secret model but they’re alright. I like the way they look, I like they way they run.

Crucially I look at my body as a sum of its parts, not individual parts in isolation. My legs make sense for my body, my boobs make sense for my size (as much as I’d love to have a bit more going on…), my bum is shapely with just enough squish to it, my hair helps make my so-so face a bit more interesting… I’m being a bit tongue and cheek here, but I see myself as a package. I’m happy.

Of course I’m not 100% happy with my body on a daily basis. No one honestly is. I might wake up a bit bloated from a terribly delicious but terribly large dinner. I might have a few spots breaking out on my chin. Shit happens. I put it into perspective though. No I haven’t gained 5 pounds over night. Those spots will go away eventually. Your body is not a static thing. It changes. You have days you look tip top, and days you think you need to crawl back to bed and not “bless” the world with your appearance. I have days when I feel at the upper end of my normal weight and I might not eat as much cake during that week, but then some days I don’t give it a second thought.

I like my lifestyle right now and I like the way my body performs (100% healthy, doing everything it should be as a female and a human). I’m running faster than I ever have. I’m running more miles per week than I ever have before. I’m consistent. I’m less injury-prone. And I enjoy eating a balanced diet of 70-80% healthy and 20-30% like a child at a birthday party buffet. My 70-80% healthy is all good food I enjoy, and lots of it. I don’t track, I don’t measure, I don’t stop myself eating anything. But I do try and eat lots of vegetables, not too many refined sugars and good protein, fats and carbs. I might hit 30 and suddenly my balance might be off, but right now it works for me.I’m not bragging. I don’t think I’m perfect – I’m obviously not. But I am happy. I feel very much at peace with myself and my lifestyle. Long gone are the days I’d hone in on my flaws and worry about them. Life is too short. There are far more important things in life. I don’t want to change any individual feature because I wouldn’t be me otherwise. Flaws and imperfections, they are just life. I won’t compromise my happiness worrying about them.

What do you think about your body?

Do you have anything you’d like to change?

Do you have a good balance with food and exercise?

9 Replies to “Do you love your body?”

  1. Love this – I honestly don’t think I would change anything either. I spent so much of my 20s worrying about my body and how it looked and while I’m not 100% in love with it, these days I feel a lot more at peace with it. My body is healthy and lets me do the things I want – so many people cannot say that and in that context it seems weird to be upset about a spot or about eating a slice of cake.
    LilyLipstick recently posted…Breakfast In Bali: Canggu Cafe CultureMy Profile

  2. Thank you so much for this,

    I’ve been following your blog for ages (fan runner girl from New Zealand lol) & you are stunning right now Anna. I’ve noticed the softening & less stressed attitude towards food you’ve developed in the past couple of years and all I can say is keep on keeping on- we only live once, & you are doing a fine job of just that- living 🙂

    Xo

    Ellie

  3. I know I said this to you on Twitter but I can not believe that those two pictures of you are the same person! I love your attitude to life, it’s sensible yet fun. You’re inspiring for sure. I want to improve my body no doubt, but all in good time and whilst having fun.
    Rebecca recently posted…Can We Talk About Poo?My Profile

  4. Great post and a good reminder to us all that our bodies serve a purpose- they aren’t just about making us look good. It sounds like you are really confident and secure in your body and that’s wonderful.

  5. I think it’s great you have such a healthy relationship with your body. Since having a baby all those hang-ups I had don’t seem a big deal any more. I just focus on all the amazing things my body can do (like survive on 2 hours sleep a night), rather that what it looks like.

  6. Loved this post so much. Beyond words. Thank you.

    And by the way you look amazing these days Anna, Victoria Secret has nothing on you. Gorgeous inside and out. I totally get the some days where for whatever reason you feel a little more blah than usual, but mostly I’m in a pretty good place 🙂 It’s so freeing being sane around food, & I’m lucky as most of the people I work & socialise with are very balanced & relaxed about it too which is great. Most celebrations centre around food in all cultures, & it’s such an important part of life. You’re doing things right, just keep keeping on 🙂

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