self-accetance

Start Loving Yourself | Start Living

Body Image & Confidence…

It is mental health awareness month; I thought I would share my battle I have every day with body confidence. I am currently struggling with my feelings about the way I look; I have always struggled with my weight and my attitude towards myself. Every year around this time of year I feel the same, I love the warmer weather and sunshine, but with that comes less clothing and a little more flesh on display. I am the type of person in 29-degree heat who is kitted out head to toe in black or always wearing a cardigan. I hate having my bare arms on display and my legs! I avoid looking at myself in the mirror; I hate having my photograph taken and seeing pictures of myself.

I often choose not to shower in our family bathroom because when I am standing in the shower, I can see myself in the mirror across from the bath, I have worked out if I hang my towel over the shower screen I can’t see my reflection. I am tired of hating myself; I am tired of being unkind to myself, I wouldn’t dream of treating anyone how I treat myself. I have lost count of how many times a day I have called myself an ugly fat cow.

I have recently started a new job and thought this was an opportunity for change, new clothes and shoes for my fresh new start. The last few weeks I have ordered so much stuff, and yet I have only kept one thing! A striped blouse and returned everything else, Such a complete waste of time, I got nowhere! I do hate clothes shopping for myself, and I have this terrible habit of buying clothes that are too big and shapeless which in the end is just making me look a lot bigger than I am. But this is the comfort zone for me – I try hiding under these loose bits of cloth to make myself feel better about myself! It makes me feel worse!

I am tired of hating the way I look; I would like to be comfortable and happy with who I am, not being that woman who is always on a diet but can never stick to it from one day to the next. I want to be happy and comfortable with me- all of ME!

I follow some fantastic bloggers; they have also been talking about this over the last few weeks. It has got me thinking making me realise that feeling good about yourself should be more than just the clothes you are wearing. I shouldn’t give a hoot what other people think, (which it is likely to be in my head) people don’t care if I get my bigger upper bingo wings out or my chubby legs. It’s just me! I need to accept the way I look! People do come in different shapes and sizes! That is the message I want to give my girls; I don’t want them ever to be worried about how they look or feel they have to look a certain way to fit into society

My Pledge to Myself!

  • I will start making those changes I know that I need to make. I need to start taking the levothyroxine medication for my underactive thyroid. Attending Drs appointments 1st being the most important and very overdue cervical smear.
  • I will accept myself as I am and most importantly be gentle and kind to myself
  • I shall focus less on what I think I should look like and learn to love every bit of me.
  • I will smile from the inside out every day.

 

LOVE YOURSELF DO IT NOW – LET YOUR INNER BEAUTY SHINE 🙂
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Annick
5 years ago

there are some great body-positive accounts on Instagram that has been terribly useful to me in terms of normalising well… human bodies. It’s so great to see real bodies of women on social media – representation matters so much! Good luck to you x

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Annick

Thank you! I have found so many inspirational woman on Instagram x

Ally
Ally
5 years ago

This is such an inspiring post! Everybody should absolutely love themselves and be happy. Our mental attitude has so much affect on our daily life.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Ally

It sure does Ally – Thank you 🙂 X

Elly's Diary
5 years ago

Such an important and relevant blog post! <3 I love your "Pledge to Myself"…I am actually tempted to write it down and stick it to my mirror! <3 xxx

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Elly's Diary

Thank you Elly! I think I might do the same 🙂 x

Subomi Salami
5 years ago

It’s amazing that you’re making a pledge to accept yourself as that is one of the key things that will make us happy in life. Great post and thank you for sharing your story.

Subomi|My Fashion Musings

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Subomi Salami

Thank you 🙂 X

Laurie
5 years ago

I’m sending you all of the loving thoughts and encouragement I can. It’s so easy to be hard on ourselves. I hope you embrace the amazing person you are and be your own cheerleader. You. Are. Awesome.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Laurie

I’m still struggling so much with this! thank you for your kind words 🙂 x x

Joy Melody Woods
Joy Melody Woods
5 years ago

Thank you. it is really inspiring to read your honest and vulnerable post. I too struggle with self-acceptance in how I look. So much so I just had to sotp weighing myself all together. Thank you for feeling u could let us in.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago

Thank you Joy! I’m still having issues with this subject, thank you for your kind words <3 x

Kaitlyn Neath
5 years ago

Body acceptance can be so challenging! I am currently struggling with this. Thank you fur sharing your pledge! It is very encouraging!

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Kaitlyn Neath

Thank you ! It’s nice to know I’m not alone – sending you my love 🙂 x

Julie Plagens
5 years ago

I am glad you are committed to taking care of your self. Good for you!

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Julie Plagens

Thanks 🙂

Brittany
5 years ago

This is amazing and encouraging. I really need to make a pledge to myself! I like that idea

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Brittany

You should – Thanks 🙂 x

Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
5 years ago

You’ve written this post with such honesty, it really touched my heart. I also suffer from hypothyroidism (a common problem these days) and have been taking medication since last so many years. Love the idea of a pledge to oneself. All the best Katie.

Joan Cajic
5 years ago

This is such a great post, self care always start with loving oneself and at the end of it all, it’s necessary to do that to be able to start living.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Joan Cajic

Thank you, Joan 🙂

Minakshi Bajpai
Minakshi Bajpai
5 years ago

Our mental attitude has so much affect on our daily life. Inspiring post I must say

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago

Thank you! 🙂

Joanna
Joanna
5 years ago

The first step is always the hardest, but once you take it, the next will follow much easier. You are right in the end of your post, people don’t look at you and don’t care about how you look like. They do care about who you are and your personality.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Joanna

Thank you Joanna 😀 X

Rosey
Rosey
5 years ago

I love that you’re touting this concept online. I couldn’t agree more fully. We only have one us, best to take good care of that precious gift.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Rosey

we sure do Rosey! x

Yonca
Yonca
5 years ago

What an honest post! I enjoyed to read every sentence and your last sentence ‘smiling from inside out every day’, is a key of happiness for sure. You are awesome ?

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Yonca

Thank you 🙂 Your also awesome <3 x

David Elliott
5 years ago

Sounds like you have made a good start with it all. All I think we should ever do is make sure we are the best us we can be. If we know we aren’t really trying, then it’s on us to put out the effort. But as for looks and things of that nature, as long as we are being healthy, no one should have anything to say. And we should love ourselves as we are.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  David Elliott

Thanks David 🙂

Ruth I.
Ruth I.
5 years ago

Accepting is not always easy. I am one with that problem and it’s frustrating. I really need to be positive and start loving myself more.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Ruth I.

100% self-love 🙂

Anita Mckaney
5 years ago

I love your pledge to yourself. It is a difficult practice, but I have learned to love myself because I was crafted and fashioned just as God wanted. My design is not flawed, just judged by other people with bad taste. lol Love yourself. Love others. Love God.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Anita Mckaney

Thank you Lovely 🙂

Lynnette Marte
5 years ago

There are times I may compare myself to others and notice that changes my self confidence when I should be focusing on self love.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Lynnette Marte

Self love is the way forward the rest will follow 🙂

Easter Babe
5 years ago

You have some great pledges. It can definitely be hard to ove the way you look, especially when summer comes around. I’ve learned to accept who I am and just love myself. If you don’t love yourself, no one will love you back.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Easter Babe

I’m trying, thanks for your kind comment 🙂

Leo T. Ly
5 years ago

I definitely agree that we should be more positive and accept ourselves as who we are. Once we realize that everything in our lives will look just a little brighter.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo T. Ly

Getting brighter, thanks 🙂

Lavanda "Michelle" Williams

What a wonderful post! Loving and being okay with yourself is very important. It really suck to feel “lesser.” Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago

Thank you beautiful 🙂 X

Nicki T
5 years ago

This has struck such a chord with me, not just because, I dislike my body but because I am starting to dislike myself again. I started blogging at such a confident outlook and over the year I have been fighting my own head. As one of my dear friends said I should realise and know my worth. Great post

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicki T

Sending you a massive Virtual hug Nicki! <3 I'm having a struggle with the way I look along with how I think people look at me 🙁 Take care x

Dani
5 years ago

I love your honesty and I totally feel what you’re saying because I look at the mirror and see my pudgy face, thunder thighs and horrible cellulites. I don’t like myself most days and I eat emotionally. Just last night I realized, why am I doing this to myself? These jiggly arms allow me to play volleyball and these big thighs makes me enjoy my dance class. This face actually help cover my brain which allows me to think and write. The battle isn’t easy. You have a beautiful mind. You are beautiful. Cheers! 🙂

Elly's Diary
4 years ago

Such an important and relevant blog post! <3 I love your "Pledge to Myself"…I am actually tempted to write it down and stick it to my mirror! <3 xxx

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Elly's Diary

Thank you Elly! I think I might do the same 🙂 x

Kaitlyn Neath
4 years ago

Body acceptance can be so challenging! I am currently struggling with this. Thank you fur sharing your pledge! It is very encouraging!

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Kaitlyn Neath

Thank you ! It’s nice to know I’m not alone – sending you my love 🙂 x

Brittany
4 years ago

This is amazing and encouraging. I really need to make a pledge to myself! I like that idea

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Brittany

You should – Thanks 🙂 x

Julie Plagens
4 years ago

I am glad you are committed to taking care of your self. Good for you!

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Julie Plagens

Thanks 🙂

Joy Melody Woods
Joy Melody Woods
4 years ago

Thank you. it is really inspiring to read your honest and vulnerable post. I too struggle with self-acceptance in how I look. So much so I just had to sotp weighing myself all together. Thank you for feeling u could let us in.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago

Thank you Joy! I’m still having issues with this subject, thank you for your kind words <3 x

Ally
Ally
4 years ago

This is such an inspiring post! Everybody should absolutely love themselves and be happy. Our mental attitude has so much affect on our daily life.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Ally

It sure does Ally – Thank you 🙂 X

Annick
4 years ago

there are some great body-positive accounts on Instagram that has been terribly useful to me in terms of normalising well… human bodies. It’s so great to see real bodies of women on social media – representation matters so much! Good luck to you x

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Annick

Thank you! I have found so many inspirational woman on Instagram x

Rosey
Rosey
4 years ago

I love that you’re touting this concept online. I couldn’t agree more fully. We only have one us, best to take good care of that precious gift.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Rosey

we sure do Rosey! x

Joanna
Joanna
4 years ago

The first step is always the hardest, but once you take it, the next will follow much easier. You are right in the end of your post, people don’t look at you and don’t care about how you look like. They do care about who you are and your personality.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Joanna

Thank you Joanna 😀 X

Minakshi Bajpai
Minakshi Bajpai
4 years ago

Our mental attitude has so much affect on our daily life. Inspiring post I must say

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago

Thank you! 🙂

Ruth I.
Ruth I.
4 years ago

Accepting is not always easy. I am one with that problem and it’s frustrating. I really need to be positive and start loving myself more.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Ruth I.

100% self-love 🙂

Lynnette Marte
4 years ago

There are times I may compare myself to others and notice that changes my self confidence when I should be focusing on self love.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Lynnette Marte

Self love is the way forward the rest will follow 🙂

Leo T. Ly
5 years ago

I definitely agree that we should be more positive and accept ourselves as who we are. Once we realize that everything in our lives will look just a little brighter.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Leo T. Ly

Getting brighter, thanks 🙂

Subomi Salami
5 years ago

It’s amazing that you’re making a pledge to accept yourself as that is one of the key things that will make us happy in life. Great post and thank you for sharing your story.

Subomi|My Fashion Musings

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Subomi Salami

Thank you 🙂 X

Laurie
4 years ago

I’m sending you all of the loving thoughts and encouragement I can. It’s so easy to be hard on ourselves. I hope you embrace the amazing person you are and be your own cheerleader. You. Are. Awesome.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Laurie

I’m still struggling so much with this! thank you for your kind words 🙂 x x

Nicki T
4 years ago

This has struck such a chord with me, not just because, I dislike my body but because I am starting to dislike myself again. I started blogging at such a confident outlook and over the year I have been fighting my own head. As one of my dear friends said I should realise and know my worth. Great post

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicki T

Sending you a massive Virtual hug Nicki! <3 I'm having a struggle with the way I look along with how I think people look at me 🙁 Take care x

Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
4 years ago

You’ve written this post with such honesty, it really touched my heart. I also suffer from hypothyroidism (a common problem these days) and have been taking medication since last so many years. Love the idea of a pledge to oneself. All the best Katie.

Joan Cajic
4 years ago

This is such a great post, self care always start with loving oneself and at the end of it all, it’s necessary to do that to be able to start living.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Joan Cajic

Thank you, Joan 🙂

David Elliott
4 years ago

Sounds like you have made a good start with it all. All I think we should ever do is make sure we are the best us we can be. If we know we aren’t really trying, then it’s on us to put out the effort. But as for looks and things of that nature, as long as we are being healthy, no one should have anything to say. And we should love ourselves as we are.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  David Elliott

Thanks David 🙂

Anita Mckaney
4 years ago

I love your pledge to yourself. It is a difficult practice, but I have learned to love myself because I was crafted and fashioned just as God wanted. My design is not flawed, just judged by other people with bad taste. lol Love yourself. Love others. Love God.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Anita Mckaney

Thank you Lovely 🙂

Yonca
Yonca
4 years ago

What an honest post! I enjoyed to read every sentence and your last sentence ‘smiling from inside out every day’, is a key of happiness for sure. You are awesome ?

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Yonca

Thank you 🙂 Your also awesome <3 x

Easter Babe
4 years ago

You have some great pledges. It can definitely be hard to ove the way you look, especially when summer comes around. I’ve learned to accept who I am and just love myself. If you don’t love yourself, no one will love you back.

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
4 years ago
Reply to  Easter Babe

I’m trying, thanks for your kind comment 🙂

Lavanda "Michelle" Williams

What a wonderful post! Loving and being okay with yourself is very important. It really suck to feel “lesser.” Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Katie-Lou
Katie-Lou
5 years ago

Thank you beautiful 🙂 X

Dani
4 years ago

I love your honesty and I totally feel what you’re saying because I look at the mirror and see my pudgy face, thunder thighs and horrible cellulites. I don’t like myself most days and I eat emotionally. Just last night I realized, why am I doing this to myself? These jiggly arms allow me to play volleyball and these big thighs makes me enjoy my dance class. This face actually help cover my brain which allows me to think and write. The battle isn’t easy. You have a beautiful mind. You are beautiful. Cheers! 🙂

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