I have been there! Even sometimes still have my days, But now, those moments or thoughts are fleeting & don’t dominate the conversation in my mind or ruin my experiences or even prevent me from saying YES to fun things

I used to feel the need to cover up & hide my body unless I was in close to show ready shape

And before that, as a teen & tween, I was always self conscious about judgment or being seen as fat

I think back on how much I missed because I was preoccupied with unnecessary worry!

Then bikini competitions entered the chat & woooooey I started associating wearing a bikini with looking lean, tight, muscular, & close to stage

I mean, it makes sense if you’re only putting a bikini on to have your physique critiqued whether by yourself, a coach, or a judge that then you’d start looking at your body in a bikini through a lens of judgment & comparison to the bikini standards/ criteria

It took conscious effort to see my body differently. I no longer think I need to be super lean to wear a bikini & I happily enjoy it because I accept & appreciate my body as the gift it is to my life!

I also recognize & celebrate the work I put in every single day & I don’t believe that a stomach roll or cellulite spot should keep me from feeling great about all that my body is doing for me as I pursue goals in life, relationships, & the sport

It’s one thing to want to look & feel good….its another thing to be so obsessed with your image and how others might perceive you

I do think it’s a worthy endeavor to want to look & feel great

But “great” should be according to you, your life, & your needs, NOT a list of criteria to hit ON STAGE or what instagram says or what your past taught you made you worthy of love or acceptance

I’ve come to realize that there really are different strokes for different folks & the most important thing is that what I do glorifies God, how I treat my body honors the gift I’ve been given to live life in it, & that I’m comfortable & confident to say YES to living no matter how my body looks

Your perspective will influence your behaviors. To #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY you must believe you’re more than it….