Learning To Love Yourself

in health •  7 years ago 

IMG_1002.JPG

You see that girl? That is the same girl three years apart.

The girl on the left was eating the bare minimum to keep going, boxing two hours a day, and hated herself for sneaking a bite of anything not approved on her diet. She was losing 5 pounds a week, and was determined to reach her goal.

"I just have to lose two more inches off my hips. Two more. Only a couple more weeks, I'll get there."

But she never got there.

She knew better then to ignore what her body was telling her. That's why she would eat an extra protein bar, or sneak a bowl of cereal. Because her body couldn't survive on the egg whites, and 8 oz of protein a day. It couldn't thrive on 10 oz of green veggies. It needed fruit, it needed variety, it needed more than what was being given to it.

She knew that those two inches were skin and bone, and that she didn't have anymore fat to lose there.

The girl on the left was developing horrible thoughts about her body, because she was told she was too big. Her hips were too fat, and if she couldn't lose the weight she couldn't be a model. She wanted to model so bad, she wanted to follow that dream.

The girl on the right continues to follow that dream. She's not told she is too big or too fat, rather than she is almost too small. She's labeled as "curve" or "plus size." When people ask her how that's true, she just laughs and rolls her eyes while she says, "societies standards, I guess."

The girl on the right doesn't watch what she eats, but she still eats healthy (except the occasionally bowl or two of ice cream- whoops). She doesn't think badly of herself. She doesn't wish she could've been born with smaller hips so her measurements could be smaller.

The girl on the right is atleast 60 pounds heavier. She has a million more stretch marks, and her hips are atleast 4 inches wider.

She is happier.

IMG_0954.JPG

She is healthier.

IMG_1146.PNG

She is me.

IMG_1181.PNG

The road to loving yourself isn't easy. Especially when you're in the habit of thinking poorly of yourself. When you have the pressures of society telling you that you are not beautiful, or that you're not skinny enough, or you're no curvy enough.

But I promise you, you can learn to love yourself.

It starts with accepting yourself. Tell yourself everyday that you are beautiful. It's going to feel cheesy as hell at first, but it's start to change your habits of thinking.

You have to realize that your opinion of yourself, is the ONLY one that matters. Period.

If you want to see more posts about my journey, let me know!

You can see more of my modeling images on my Instagram: @_nikkij

Thank you for all the support!

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

this is an absolutely lovely story thank you for sharing it.

I prefer the new you way, way more

Thank you so much! I'm a lot happier this way, and I think that it shows more in my pictures.

Thank you again for the support :)

You are welcome and I agree from the pictures you look sooo much happier today.
You are an inspiration!

be what you love to be.

Yes, precisely!! Be whatever makes you happy.

The beauty's inside of us💗👏🏻 amazing post

Exactly!! I agree!

Thank you so much!!

No Joke You look Waaayyyyy better now! As I personally like my ladies Thick in all the right places ;)

I wish the industry felt the same way! But it's slowly getting there!

Thank you for the support.

You can see the hunger in your eyes. Glad to see you healthier!

Thanks for sharing

Thank you for the support!

You look so much better now and healthier, society is all wrong, I choose not to believe it :)

Congratulations @nikkij!
Your post was mentioned in my hit parade in the following category:

  • Comments - Ranked 5 with 88 comments

wow thank you for your story :)
I am glad that you changed your opinion about yourself ;)

Thank you for the support!! It was a hard journey.. But I have a little sister and I want to be an example, you know?

you are welcome :)
nice, you are definitely a good example ;)

For all the times that you rain on my parade...

;)

Beautiful Post

Thank you so much!

Good to read that you are happier in your skin this way, that is way more important. I think the skinny picture is too skinny, now you have curves and it's really nice!

I feel the same way! :) Thank you for the support!

What a great story ♡

Thank you so much!

So pleased you turned it all around @nikkij - be proud! Thanks for sharing and for your frankness and honesty - will hold you in good stead on steemit! Upvoted and following you.

Thank you!! I try to be as transparent as possible, I don't think there's enough of that in the world today.

Thank you for the support!

You've earned it!

👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

:)

If your health indicators are all ok, that's fine. Good for you, your physical and mental health.

Exactly! As long as you take care of yourself :)

beautiful post i truly loved it :) keep posting

Thank you so much!! I definitely will!! I didn't expect this much support! :)

Wow the change is really crazy ! 🙂

Isn't it?! I look at the old pictures and I'm like. "Whoa.. is that even me?"

Ahah that must be a very disturbing feeling !

It's definitely strange!

🙂

Ya the majority of society is stupid don't listen to them. At the end of the day you got to do what makes you happy it's your life and only yours to live. I got two sisters so I hear what you went through from them. They want to be super skinny but at what toll is enough, I always tell them don't listen to the noise. You got to be yourself and love yourself nothing else really matters. Not what guys, the media, or even friends and family have to say about you. fyi you look good the way you are. 🙏

Exactly!! I completely agree!!

I have a younger sister, so it's important for me to be a good example too. You know? Teach her what confidence is!

Your the oldest you have to set the example for sure, your sister is definitely watching you.🙏

Excellent!

Thank you!!!

Loving yourself is a long road indeed but is the only way you can have the glimpse of what happiness look like. I do love a quote saying "you cannot pour from an empty glass" and I believe that in order to be able to love others we need to start first with ourselves. I am thrilled that you love the second person, looks fulfilled and she has her story to share :)

That quote is perfect. I'm going to start saying that... it's perfect!! Thank you for the support and for sharing that with me :)

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Girl on the left is much better looking. Dumb story and excuse about getting fat

takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like this, thanks for sharing keep it up!

I was definitely nervous!! However, the possibility of it touching someone and inspiring them to love themselves, is completely worth it.

I agree totally worth it

omg..your beautiful, talking about right side pic :) Also everything in moderation is good

Thank you so much! And yes moderation is key! I do struggle with moderation when it comes to ice cream.... It's truly my weakness!

So important to know what it is to love ourselves even for the very opposite where eating too much is destroying our health. Sure there are times when we get unhappy that's why its important to remember how amazing we are while living in this miracle called life.

I completely agree!! Wise words.

Great changing I think time and struggle can change anything you may want.

I absolutely agree!

hmmm that's cool keep in touch.

Nice story!

Thank you!

really appreciated . very well, keep it up.
upvote,comment and follow me @abdullahmushtaq

Very interesting, Thanks for sharing

Thank you!

U are welcome

This comment has received a 0.06 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @hamzaoui.

Wow, very inspiring post! Thanks for sharing this with the community, respect!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the support!!

Photoshop is in trouble!

Blank.

That is incredibly true!! It's so important to give yourself a small break, or reward!

I like the girl on the right better :)

Thank you! I do too ;)

Your perfect to me as your are now^^ stay real, but watch the sugar, ive recently just stopped as best i can to take out sugar in my diet completely except natural sugars, from fruit, nowdays its really hard to get food without sugar, processed sugar is bad, and you look great bytheway!
fav. pic you posted, is very bottom right, later
Have my sugar is bad post here:
https://steemit.com/health/@larutanton/purge-yourself-from-sugar-now-why-how-click-here

Thank you so much! And yes I know... sugar is really terrible for you. I do try to watch it, but occasionally I do give in.

This is inspiring. You're really beautiful. You have no reason not to love yourself. 😌

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you found it inspiring!! Thank you for the support!

I find you lovely then and now. Balance in our diets is the most supportive to health and happiness...some days indulgences and some days withholdings. Be well. 🙏🏽

Thank you so much! I think the most important thing in life is balance!! It can be hard to figure out at first.

You as well.

Loading...

it sounds cheezy, but true beauty comes from within and shines through anything on the outside!

go girl, you're hot!

Thank you so much!! It's true, and happiness adds a glow that you can't fake.

Takes a real strong personality to change your mindset like that, well done! I hope you inspire many more people.

The girl on the right is lovely and can eat all the ice cream she wants! - I'm sorry the girl on the left never knew that!

It is good to be skinny but there is nothing wrong to look healthy and actually is healthy.

Skinny can definitely be healthy! As long as you treat your body well!

I like thick girls, I don't get why people are even starving​ themselves. This is crazy-to me.

Maybe i'm strange but i find the picture on the left awesome too :)
Glad you take care of yourself by listening your body which, in fact, knows more what's happening than an external person.

It definitely is! It was taken in a beautiful apartment, with an amazing view!!

It's so important to listen to your body.

Beautiful

I think you look even more attractive now! Congratulations for being able to change your life so drastically, and for being an inspiration to others!

Thank you so much!! I really really appreciate your kind words!!

I love this post!!! ♥♥♥

I really like the transformation you went through... You achieved so much :) I think you look happier, healthier, and even sexier! I can tell you look better and the love you give to your body is coming back to you!

Keep going and don't forget you are amazing :)

Love this post. Amazing how much happier, and more beautiful, you look in the later photos. Takes guts to share something like this. Respect. (and upvoted).