Marianne about Bikini Body Stress: “I Hated Myself”

My hands are shaking as I’m trying on the bikini. I stare at my own reflection with tears in my eyes and feel myself getting nautious; physically nautious just from looking at myself. As I hear the sales clerk pace outside the fitting room, I cry in silence.  All I see is fat and flab and cellulite. I am hideous.

I could no longer look at myself without crying. I was a size 14 and I hated myself.

That was me 5 years ago. I stayed indoors that summer, so heavily trapped in my own mind that I couldn’t enjoy the lovely weather outside and all the great things summer has to offer. I could no longer look at myself without crying. I was a size 14 and I hated myself.

Would you like to read more by Marianne? Head over to her article “Health At Every Size“

So much has changed since then. Not the size though; after a lot of jojo-ing my weight is stable at a lovely size 46. Crying in front of the mirror is a thing of the past. Even better: I think I’m effing gorgeous. The answer wasn’t changing my body or losing weight; the answer was changing my attitude.

 Crying in front of the mirror is a thing of the past. Even better: I think I’m effing gorgeous.

With summer upon us, I see women’s stresslevels rising. Because oh boy, we have to start showing ourselves in short shorts, tops and bikini’s! Magazines are telling us “how to get bikiniready” and “detox to a slimmer you in 10 days”.

But girls, the only thing you really need this summer isn’t a bikini body, but a bikini mind! You don’t have to lose 10 lbs first or rub a self tanner from head to toe just to enjoy your life. The only thing you need to enjoy this summer is a smile and some confidence.

So ladies, have fun this summer!  Life is too short to let insecurities hold you back. Remember: do you want a bikini body? Just put a bikini on your body!

(c) images: Marianne by Arno Nieuwhof. These images are 100% photoshop-free!