“’Wow, you look like you’ve gained some weight!’ is a comment I hear often. The only thing I have ‘gained’ is a new version of me.
I was always the super skinny girl, ever since I was a little girl. I was 23, and still able to fit into most of the little girls section of clothing. I never thought much about my weight, until I started noticing as I got older, my clothes were getting tighter.
I searched on the internet for quick ways to lose weight, and how to get back to being the size I was my whole life. I even stopped eating as much as I should, in fear that I would gain more weight.
I always thought thin = happy. But I wasn’t happy in the photo on the left.
I barely ate, I was always tired, and I was slowly shrinking away.
Now, when I look at the girl in the right, she is happy. She may have some rolls, and some extra tummy, but she’s happy.
Those rolls represent me, not restricting myself from eating when I want.
The extra tummy represents me, not counting calories, or worried about how much I have already eaten that day.
If I could go back and tell that girl on the left, that it’s okay to gain weight, that it’s okay to have rolls, and loose skin, I would.
My body has been through so much with me.
She is remarkable.
She is forever changing.
She deserves to be loved, in all forms.”
**This post was written by Caitlin Fladager and originally appeared on her Instagram page. See more from Caitlin here.
