Body Positivity: Love the Body You're In ♥

Sooooooo... This has been on my "draft" list since 2017. I have not been able to publish it because... I don't know. Haha.

Today, after reading some of my previous posts in this tiny but amazing blog, I'm encouraged and inspired to keep on writing and sharing. :)

Kaya naman, kahit "panis" na ang kwentong ito, I'll still share. The main message is timeless, anyway. ♥

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*written sometime in 2017*

True Story (back in April of this year):

While Ate Imee was taking my measurements for the dress I'm going to wear on Rona's wedding...

Me (upon seeing what she wrote on her notebook): Hay. 26 na lang waistline ko. :(

Ate Imee: Okay lang yan, Ma'am. Nung bata-bata ako, 24 lang ang waistline ko. Mas maliit pa ako sayo. Kaya nga ako pinakasalan ng asawa ko kasi ang payat ko e. Pero nung nagkaanak na, ayun tumaba na ako. Alaga kasi ako sa pagkain ng biyenan ko. Kaya pag nag-aaway kami ngayon ng mister ko, lagi niyang sinasabi, "kung alam ko lang na tataba ka ng ganyan, hindi sana kita pinakasalan."

"Love the skin you're in." We all heard that before, right? It's about being proud of your color and appreciating the unique gift that is your skin. But have you ever been told to also love the body that you're in?

This post is inspired by the recent events in my life as well as my takeaways from the BDJ Women's Summit back in March.

I'm used to people telling me "ang payat mo" but lately, it's getting more annoying. Akala ko sanay na ako pero nakakairita pala pag paulit-ulit na lang at napapadalas na. Sometimes, I'm tempted to answer, "inggit ka lang, kasi ikaw mataba." But of course, saying that won't make me any better than them. Para na rin akong sila.

The world has taught us that there is a "perfect" body, or at least an "ideal" one. And that we must strive to achieve it. Otherwise, we will be subject to scrutiny. Maybe that's the reason why a lot of people would spend so much money on supplements, gym memberships, and medical procedures to reduce weight or to augment whatever is lacking just to get "that" body. Some are successful, but there are also those who die because of it. Sad, but that's the reality.

When twins Danah and Stacy Gutierrez introduced themselves at the BDJ Women's Summit, they boldly proclaimed that they're fat, because according to them, it's just another descriptive word. And I agree. Fat is an adjective, and so is thin. So what exactly is wrong with those words?

Again, we go back to what this world full of judgments has to say, and according to it, fat and thin are unhealthy. Undesirable.

But Danah and Stacy are correct, health and fitness are not solely determined by your body size. You can be skinny and fit at the same time. Of course there's an "ideal" for everything, ideal weight, ideal height, ideal whatever. But what if you haven't reached that ideal yet? Does that make you less of a person? NO.

You are equally beautiful, equally amazing, equally capable JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

Photo Credit: Double Chin Diary

You don't need to explain to every seemingly-concerned individual why "ang payat payat" or "ang taba taba" mo. You don't need to answer every "bakit hindi ka pa rin tumataba" or "bakat hindi ka pa rin pumapayat"? I tell you, you don't need to. Kasi nakakapagod. At nakakainis. At kahit ano namang explain mo, hindi rin naman sila maniniwala because they would insist that there's something wrong with you and that you need to fix yourself immediately.

Guess what, THEY KNOW NOTHING. They don't know what you've gone through, or are still going through, and no, you're not obliged to tell them if you're not comfortable. You don't need to tell every person who asks you about your body every single effort you make in order to be victorious in this battle for health and fitness.

Instead, choose to do this: embrace your reality, love the body you're in, but continue to strive to be better (read: healthy and fit). And while doing so, work at your own pace. Set your own targets. It's best to be guided by experts but choose the ones who would really help and support you, not judge and discourage you. Take your time. Transformation doesn't happen overnight. It takes discipline and commitment. But don't be too harsh on yourself. And don't do it just to prove something to anybody. The keyword really is LOVE - for yourself, and for the ones who matter to you the most.

Ang point lang talaga is, love your body and take very good care of it, AT huwag magpa-stress at magpa-pressure sa sinasabi/sasabihin ng iba. :)

Enjoy the journey to wellness. The road is not easy, but it's definitely going to be worth taking. ♥