Guess what, I don’t want a bikini body

The last few weeks I’ve had a weight loss battle going through my mind. Not the usual one of “I really need to lose more weight and get active” but the one of “I’m happier the way I am”. While there is nothing wrong with the later, I know that it’s not really the way I should be thinking – or is it?

 

Over a year ago I began to lose weight and in all I’d lost over twenty pounds. I was delighted with the results as I felt more confident in myself and I began looking at myself and not disliking what I saw. I’ve begun to brighten up my wardrobe and feel I’m smiling all the more. While I’m not at what would be regarded my ideal weight, I’m fairly happy with the weight I’m at right now.

 

If I were to follow what the guidelines say I would have at lose at least another twenty pounds to fall into the bracket of “Healthy Weight”. The idea of this scares me as I feel there would be very little left of me and already being short I don’t want to fade away too much. I remember saying to a doctor before that I’ve hips and a chest and these aren’t taken into consideration when these guidelines are drawn up, which he agreed with.

 

My sensible head says: “You really need to get active again and make some changes in your diet.” My happy head is telling me “You’re looking good and pretty much maintaining what you lost”.  So which voice do I listen to? Which voice is right?

 

Every time we look at social media, turn on the TV and look at a newspaper there are images telling us what we should look like. There are diets and detoxes thrown at us left, right and centre claiming to give us that bikini body we always ‘wanted’. Guess what, I don’t want a bikini body; I just want to be happier with the one I have. When I started my journey, I never wanted to be a size 8 – all I wanted was to be happier in myself. Surely this is something that is important?

 

While I’ve had this debate in my head I’ve also been thinking maybe I’m trying to justify my current weight as I’ve so much happening with our family. And who knows maybe I am? I’d love for this pressure” that we feel from society and media to just slip away and maybe, just maybe we would be able to follow a better road to our own happiness and be content in ourselves.

 

Maybe one day I will look in the mirror again and feel unhappy with what I see but for now I’m feeling great, happy with my size-14 curves and I like the face smiling back at me when I check myself out!

 

Eimear Kelly has worked in hospitality and recruitment but considers becoming a stay-at-home mum to her two children, Logan and Elise, her best career move. Becoming a mum has inspired her to believe in herself and follow her dreams. You can read more from Eimear on her blog Chirps from a Little Red Hen.

 

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