Hi Jess,

First of all, your friends need to take their opinions elsewhere. You know that, right? I mean it’s none of their business. They’re just projecting their own obvious insecurities on to you.

Here’s the only thing that matters: Are you comfortable where you are? Don’t take into account what the scale says or what you’re “supposed” to weigh. How do you FEEL? If you feel tired, sluggish, uncomfortable, by all means take measures to make yourself feel better. Eat foods which will energize you, work out in whatever way is fun for you – I love dancing around the house while cleaning, doing zumba classes via videos I find on youtube, stretching, walking, whatever. You don’t need to work out in a gym – just move your body.

Understand that if you have the feeling that you need to accept your body as it is, you have to honor that feeling. The fact is, it’s the only choice any of us have: Making the most of what we have in the moment. Far too often we put off feeling good about ourselves to some other time in the future – once we’ve lost weight, or once we find a relationship, or once we have a bunch of money in the bank. It’s such a waste of time and energy. I applaud you for wanting to accept yourself the way you are in the moment – it’s the only way to be happy.

And again, if you want to make changes, do them out of love, because they make you feel good/positive/energetic/healthy. Not because there are other people in your life who feel the need to impress their own twisted ideas on to you. You’re better than that.

((HUGS)) to you! Hang in there, okay?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by tinybuddha.