_cleanup.png)
Your Body isn't a Trend
- Mahalaxmi Chada
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Have you ever noticed how different your grandma's standard of beauty is compared to your mom, or your mom's standards to you. Thats because beauty standards are forever changing and not once will it be the same. People feel the need to constantly be up to these standards, but thats near impossible if it's always changing. 2016 it was popular for women to have a more curvy,"hourglass figure", but in 2008 the slim, no hips, no waist look was the ideal body. In just a matter of 8 years the body standard went from slim to curvy. For men the beach abs were the style, but now its more about the "sleeper build" or some are even opting for the dad bod. So in this ever changing world, how do we manage to stay confident in our bodies?
Ask yourself some questions
To feel confident in your body you need to start asking yourself some important and hard questions. Here are the top three:
Are you healthy as a person?
Can you change anything you don't like in three days or less?
Do all your limbs and organs work?
They may seem simple or even silly, but they remind us of a powerful truth:
Your body is your tool for living—not a decoration.
If you can walk, run, move, play, laugh, and live, your body is already doing an incredible job. It’s not about having skinnier arms or visible abs—it’s about appreciating your ability to live a full and active life.
Forget About the Aesthetics
We as a society get so caught up on the aesthetics of life, trying new drinks, changing our rooms, and building new personas just to fit the aesthetic. The truth is, though, that you will feel fully at ease with yourself the moment you quit attempting to conform to a certain aesthetic.
That's not to say you shouldn't have a particular color palette or appreciate fashion. Feel free to express yourself! However, you should never be forced to conform to a particular style because of your body shape.
Consider the "Pilates Aesthetic," which is frequently linked to long legs, thin waists, calorie-conscious diets, and a consistently polished appearance. Regardless of size, every body can benefit from the strength, balance, and flexibility that Pilates is known for.
Avoid the misconception that in order to engage in particular lifestyles, you must have a specific appearance. Rather, consider this:
Does this activity bring me joy? Does it help me grow?
That’s what matters.
Figure out your Relationship with Food
Food has been identified as the primary cause of body insecurity. But instead of swinging between gorged and starvation, learn to recognize your own needs. For example, if you're not content with your muscle mass, don't just follow the latest diet craze or overtrain at the gym. Learn about what your body truly need.
Although it can't accomplish it by itself, protein aids in muscle growth. Sugars and carbohydrates are not harmful; in fact, they are necessary for brain and energy function. Eliminating entire food groups frequently has more negative effects than positive ones.
Finding a nutritional balance that:
A. Supports your health goals
B. Preserves healthy lipids and vital nutrients
C. Assists in preserving your emotional and mental health
is what matters most.
Food is fuel—but it’s also culture, comfort, and joy. Don’t let insecurity rob you of that. So enjoy that ice cream cone because one won't kill you, but also if your full it's okay not to eat the cone, maybe have it later. Be intuitive about what your body wants and needs thats way you can enjoy every piece of food out there.
Overall
Real confidence stems from self-awareness rather than appearance in a world where beauty standards change constantly.
You learn to respect your body for what it really is—a vehicle for living, creating, moving, and thriving—when you stop following trends and start paying attention to what it needs physically, emotionally, and nutritionally. Thus, inhale. Give up on perfection. To be good, your body doesn't have to look a certain way.
You don't fit into a trend. You are a complete person. Be kind to yourself.
References
https://www.tanner.org/the-scope/body-positivity-and-mental-wellness-embracing-self-love https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524000718
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
