The “Girl on the Right” Exposes Chilling Secret Behind the Pic Instagram Fell in Love With

I would give anything to be the girl on the left again.

I would give anything to rewind to before my eating disorder, before I was a size zero, to that carefree girl who loved her life. Who exercised only when she felt like it. Who had an amazing boyfriend, great friends and a bright future. Who could eat an entire pizza followed by ice cream without a second thought. Who felt hot af 99 percent of the time.

So the next time you see a before and after picture, take a minute before you comment. Remember you don’t know what it took to get there. You don’t know what demons that woman is facing, what her life looks like, what her story really is. You don’t know anything other than her size.

I’m not diminishing the people who truly lose weight for health and do it in a way that improves their lives for the better. I think that’s wonderful.

But what I’m trying to say is our society focuses way too much on “skinny at any cost.” We heap praise on those who lose weight like they just cured cancer. And when young girls see how much weight loss is valued, they sometimes fall down the slippery slope of an eating disorder. Because what girl doesn’t want to be valued and appreciated and “popular”?

Let’s look beyond the outside and praise the inside. Maybe the transformations we aim for should be the growth of our soul, our creativity, our dreams. THAT’S what should get likes on social media or guys at the bar. THAT’S what we should be teaching our daughters is what makes them worthy.

And that’s why one day I’ll be the girl on the left again. Not necessarily in size, but in spirit. In joy, in happiness, in heart.

About the Author: Amanda Tarlton is a 24-year-old anorexia survivor and body positive activist who loves bagels, cuddling on rainy days and the Gilmore Girls. See more from Amanda on her blog.

**This post appeared originally on the Real Life Recovery Diary.