The Day I Decided to Love My Body

(Spoiler: She did not magically get abs that day, but she did get peace.)

When It All Started

Growing up, I was not the confident “it-girl”, I was the quiet one. The one with no cool clothes, strict parents, and no sleepovers. While other girls had coordinated outfits and Instagram-ready smiles, I stood in the corner, awkward, invisible, and unsure of myself.

My self-esteem did not just struggle. It barely existed, and for years, I believed I had to change everything about myself. From my body, my clothes, and my voice, to finally be enough. One day, I got tired of fighting with my body. She has been through enough, and so have I.

Realizing My Body Is Not a Trend

Eventually, I noticed how body trends change like TikTok filters. One year: thick thighs save lives. Next year: flat stomachs only. Then suddenly: strong is the new skinny, but only if it still looks slim on camera. I was exhausted trying to keep up, and that’s when it clicked: my body is not a trend.

She is the same body that carried me through stress, heartbreak, and nights of overthinking. She did not leave when I hated her, so why should I keep leaving her out of love?

I Do Not Need Abs to Be Healthy

I used to think a flat stomach was the price of being fit, but no matter how I tried to control or fix my body, that feeling of not being enough never left.

What changed was redefining health:

• Nourishing myself, even on a student budget.
• Moving when I can, even if it’s just stretching in my room.
• Speaking to myself with kindness, even when I want to hide.

I may not have abs, but I have a body that shows up for me every day. That is more than enough.

Unfollowing the Pressure

One day, I went on an unfollow spree. Every influencer who made me feel like my body was not good enough? Gone. Instead, I followed people who looked like me and loved themselves loudly. My feed turned from toxic comparison to joyful inspiration. When I stopped looking at everyone else, I finally saw myself.

Becoming My Own Hype Woman

I used to think confidence was something other girls were born with. Then I asked: If I can hype up my friends, “Body is tea! Face card never declines!” Why not do it for myself?

So I started:

• “Okay, skin! I see you showing up during stress.”
• “Legs? MVPs of exam season.”
• “No abs, but abs-olutely carrying this mental load.”

At first, it felt silly. Then, it started to feel real.

The Real Glow-Up

The day I decided to love my body did not come with a perfect selfie or some big transformation. It came after years of shrinking, comparing, hiding, and finally saying, “Enough.” Enough bullying, from others and myself. Enough believing I had to change before I could be worthy. This body? She has been through it all. And she still shows up for me. Now, I show up for her.