If you’ve ever felt you’re not attractive enough to deserve your partner, you should read this article
If the first thing that caught your eye is how different these two bodies are, then read this twice, once to free yourself of complexes, and twice to free yourself from…
Over the years, many of us have gone from searching through Instagram for venomous hashtags like ‘thinspiration’ to looking for others that, rather than advocate starving ourselves to death, teach us to love ourselves, boost our self-esteem and allow us the odd furtive glance in the mirror and to think ‘Hey girl, looking pretty good!’
Browsing through the #bodypositive posts is a good way to remind yourself that hating your body has never been a strategy for making yourself more attractive, sexier or happier. But being positive about your looks is not always easy, and when temperatures rise and we start shedding garments, things often get complicated.
If you’re putting off that first day on the beach because you’re still a little terrified at the thought of even standing in front of the mirror wearing last year’s bikini, or if you’ve already been pouring over webpages like ‘10 tips to lose 5 kilos in half an hour’, hold off launching into Operation Kamikaze Bikini and read this.
Last Friday, Jasmine "Jazzy" Owens (@a_body_positive_jazzy), posted this image with her husband on the beach. If the first thing that catches your eye is how different their bodies are, then read this twice, because you’ll need a double helping: once to free yourself of complexes, and twice to free yourself of prejudices.
Jasmine told the Huffpost that she’s tried every diet, all possible supplements and has even considered going under the knife to get a better body. But nothing she’s tried has worked.
‘Over the years my negative body image has held me back from enjoying life with my husband and kids and I was finally fed up with hiding from the world. As one of my Instagram posts said, I stood in the mirror and truly looked at myself. Before I couldn’t even stand to see myself, so to be able to get naked and stand in front of the mirror and just look at my body was a huge first step for me. Since then, I have made steps such as buying my first two-piece bathing suit, wearing it to the pool and to the beach and learning to stop judging myself.’
As usual, the odd vile comment has squirmed its way into the thousands of messages of gratitude and support.
But the vast majority offer their heartening support to the body positive message that Jasmine is sending out.
'When I started receiving negative comments and opinions, at first I was really hurt,' she told HuffPost. 'But my husband was the one who first told me that they are just opinion and that I was too beautiful to let the insecure, negative people impact my life. If it was not for my husband being my number 1 supporter and encouraging me to get out there and show the world who I am, I would be still inside my little torment box I called my comfort zone.'