Body confidence is a sensitive issue that is constantly written about over and over again. In magazines celebrities are often used to help the case, “Get that Kelly Brook look with this…” However it is also talked about in newspapers, often in a case study story like this “Laura Jones got over her body confidence issue by doing this.” Summer is looming and the need to look okay and body confident in your new swimwear is upon us.
It is an issue that lies hidden in all sorts of people from young to old, males and females. I wouldn’t like to say I am 100% body confident, but it seems the older I get the more confident I feel. Of course, I have a few issues, we all do! But what is it that makes us feel so negative about ourselves, media isn’t helping for sure.
Magazines are always full of stories of celebrities having a bad day, either feeling fat or skinny. It is no wonder that as a nation we are so critical of our bodies when we are constantly faced with new ways to look “better” or more like a celebrity, or a new fad diet to try. From the age of about 19 I’ve always tried to grow with the motto “as long as I am happy and healthy I don’t need to worry”. For nearly three years now that motto has helped me grow into a strong woman. Surely you must agree that being happy and healthy is a lot more refreshing than stressing about how many calories are in your meal or killing yourself on that morning run or session in the gym. Have a moment to think, are you happy? A laughter yoga leader once said “try smiling warmly at yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning for about 15 seconds. Scientific research shows this boosts the immune system and you will feel better.” Although you will feel slightly silly smiling to yourself I assure you it does work.
Now don’t get me wrong, we all have those bad days. Where you feel everything in your wardrobe makes you look 5 times bigger than you actually are and where the wobblier bits are wobblier than usual. And you can always guarantee a spot the size of a small mountain will appear on your face right before an important date. This happens to everyone, you’ve just got to learn to live with it. It’s taken me a while, I’m now 21 years old and although I still won’t leave the house without makeup, I do feel at least 90% body confident. And that is through learning to accept what I’ve got and embrace it.
What we all need to learn is that acceptance is the key to a happier life. We are completely stuck with the bodies we are given, so trying to change them is a losing battle. Although with the right diets and a few workout moves you can tone and shape the bits you don’t like. But instead of using all this hard work I believe we should learn to accept what we were given. I’ve been lucky and have been blessed with a size 8-10, without any exercise or strict eating regimes. And of course there are parts of my body I don’t love but whilst learning there isn’t a quick fix to change it. I’ve learnt to love my body and I really believe everyone should, instead of poking at your wobbly bits, accept them and become body confident. If you feel confident in yourself, then others will admire you for it.
Having said this there are a lot of people who take a more drastic action to change their looks, i.e. plastic surgery. These stories often hit the trashy magazines faster than the broad sheets. Personally I have very little desire to change my body and I often pity those that feel the need to use surgery to make themselves happier.
Josie Cunningham is the latest person to grab the attention of the public. Now if you haven’t heard of her story, she has ripped the NHS off £4800 in order for her to have breast enlargement to 36DD. Now forgive me if you will, but I believe making a giant leap from a flat chested AA to double D’s give her more problems. Not only will she get unwanted attention – “Hey Sexy!” from a pervy man. This is definitely not what any self respecting woman wants when she steps outside her house. But besides the attention, she will have health problems from the surgery resulting in her going back to the NHS using more taxpayer’s money to sort out the consequences of the NHS’ stupid decision in the first place.
Her reasoning behind having the breast enlargement was that she was feeling depressed about her body, but now with her new set of breasts she wants to be the new Katie Price. Well, Katie has heard of this and has slapped back that “she should be banned from the NHS”. I can’t help but agree with her. More often than not Cancer patients are being refused the drugs that could easily help their pain, but because of the lack of money they are refused help. The NHS was set up in 1948 to provide social security to all citizens “from the cradle to the grave” – now tell me were beauty treatments really meant to be on the menu of healthcare? I think not.
Body confidence isn’t easy to achieve. If we aren’t comparing ourselves to a celebrity in a magazine then we are comparing ourselves to a stranger in the street. Try telling me you haven’t said you liked a top someone else was wearing on a night out, or that you haven’t pointed to an outfit you wanted in a magazine that a celebrity was wearing. We are all guilty of it, we are a judgemental generation. Constantly looking at what others are wearing and secretly judging. If we all took a minute to appreciate what we’ve got, I’m sure the world would be a little less judging and a lot happier.
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