The problem with “bikini bodies”

It’s the time of year again. Your Facebook friends are posting about what they’re doing in order to achieve the perfect “bikini body.” Now, it’s great to have fitness goals, whether it be going to the gym or eating healthier. But a lot of the time, people get way too obsessed with how they want to look instead of how they want their body to feel.

I’ve struggled with my weight all my life. I never remember having a flat stomach or small thighs like a lot of the other girls in high school did… On top of being an emotional eater, I have something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS for short.) In short, it means I have more testosterone in my body than the average female, and my insulin levels are whacky, making it harder to lose weight. Even if I eat healthier and constantly go to the gym, I will probably always have a chubby belly. In other words, I constantly look at people with skinny waists and flat stomachs and feel like absolute shit about myself.

As a woman, all I see are magazines and advertisements aimed towards making us lose weight or tighten our wrinkly skin as we age. To be honest, I’m sick of it. I know, it’s advertising. They make money off of our flaws and lack of self confidence. But someday, I would love it if people didn’t obsess about getting a flat stomach just to fit into a bathing suit that already isn’t flattering for most people. Bikini bottoms? Squeeze every ounce of fat on you until it pours over the top of your bikini bottoms. Unless you’re a size 0–2, a bikini is going to highlight your doughy physique. If dudes can rock the “dad bod” with a Pillsbury dough boy belly and miles of scruffy hair trailing down their chests, the least women should be able to do is wear a cute two-piece swim suit without feeling totally inadequate.

I wish more women were comfortable wearing whatever bathing suit they please. I know so many women that refuse to wear anything but one pieces, or even go swimming without wearing a t-shirt over their swim suit. I miss being so young that I didn’t care what I looked like in a bathing suit, because I wasn’t aware of body struggles just yet. I just wanted to feel cute and have fun.

As how most of my posts are going to go, this is just a rant. I know it’s nothing new or groundbreaking, but I hope it reaches the people who need to hear this. Even if you can’t love your body, I hope you learn to accept it. I’m on a long journey to accepting mine, but in a world where most people think their bodies have flaws, why not be different and choose to cherish it? We’re only here once, and we might as well love the body we have, and show others they can love it too.