A Note On Body Image: It’s Okay

It’s okay to gain weight or be naturally curvy. It’s also okay to be naturally thin, or to have difficulty gaining weight or muscle mass. There are so many factors that constantly influence body composition: genetics and pre-disposition to looking a certain way, hydration status, hormones, stress levels, use of medications, time of the year (we have probably all experienced gaining a few pounds in the colder months), age, dietary habits, physical activity level, food sensitivities and intolerances, illness, toxins in our food, water and environment, and likely many more.

As a woman I am more susceptible, I believe, to obsessing over my body image — and I have, and I do. Almost every day I may have a negative thought about my body, big or small. It’s hard not to, with all of the media at our fingertips that can so easily trigger such negativity.

The last eight or so months have been filled with significant change. It started off amazingly, with a two-week trip to Italy in October, and once we returned the focus was on packing for our move at the end of November. Our new living arrangements didn’t go as planned — specifically, they were delayed for about four months, meaning our things and routines were shaken up for quite a while. We got through it, but in the process my body and mind underwent a lot of stress. My eating habits were often outside of my norm too.