What's your proud area?
I have always had ribs that protrude more than the average person, and this trait was actually something I thought was “pretty cool” before I hit my teenage years. However, that changed when someone commented on how I was “growing a gut” when I was about 13. That comment, coupled with the derogatory terms used to describe fat around the midsection, like “muffin top” and “love handles” triggered an insecurity with my stomach area that continued to affect me throughout my disorder and even long into my recovery process.
During my disorder, my protruding “gut” was a body part that I tried the hardest to change. But no matter how much weight I lost, it never shrunk. Even when I became a skeleton, I was a skeleton with a “belly.” The fact that I couldn’t get rid of the body part that I hated the most despite following every diet and exercise regime under the sun blinded me to the way that other parts of my body were changing - it did not occur to me that I was trying to change a part of my body that I could never change (you could probably go the plastic surgery route to change the shape of your bones, but otherwise, probably not) and that in my attempt to change it, I was damaging both my physical and mental health. The surest sign of “success” to me at the time was being able to make observable, physical changes, so I thought that not being able to do so in the case of my ribs meant that I wasn’t trying hard enough. In my desperation, I pushed on - and hit a dead end (literally)!
I’ve since decided to stick to a solution that is much more sustainable and realistic - healing my relationship with my “problem area.” A particularly useful reminder for me during this time was remembering that ”problem area” is just a label that people assigned to random body parts. You could just as easily have labelled these same parts “proud areas”!! Here’s another way to look at it - why is it okay for our earlobes to be “jiggly” but not for our arms to be? Why is it okay for our butts to protrude but not our ribs or tummies? All it really comes down to is a change in perspective and in terminology.
The next time someone comments on my ribs/tummy/gut, I’ll be saying, “Yep, that’s my proud area right there!” No more sucking in and “getting rid” - only acknowledging and appreciating!
Things to try this week...
If you normally hide a certain body part when taking photos (or often hide it with clothing) try not to do so this week. Show off those proud areas!
Share the new terminology with a friend! If someone comments on their “problem area”, respond back by introducing your “proud area” (and teaching them to do the same)!
Don’t forget to report back to Body Banter headquarters about about how you carried out this week’s mission! :)
#proudareas #notmyproblem #loudandproud