“I'm committed enough to the 'no diets' principle of my own eating disorder recovery to resist the temptation to chew ice and exercise obsessively again, but that doesn't mean I'm deliriously happy with the way I look 24/7, no matter how many defiant crop-top pics I post to Instagram.”— Emma Specter, vogue.com
“Being fat is fine. You don't have to lose weight if you don't want to. There is nothing 'good' about being thin, and not everyone can be thin. All our bodies are different and all our bodies are valid.”— Avery Edison, twitter.com
“I feel a duty to talk about this because our entire culture says that you should always be doing everything you can to be thin, and that being fat is a personal failing, and that if you’re fat you should be ashamed and try to lose weight, which is a fucked-up trap!!!!”— Avery Edison, twitter.com
“My body is simply a result of the work, not the goal. Look nothing's over til I die, so I'll keep trying new things!! Please remember that...EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT! There is no one right way to lose fat or gain muscle. We're all formulated differently. It's in our genes!”— Cassey Ho, instagram.com
“The only person who can let you feel bad about what you eat is yourself. So use your power to not let the food control you! Your body knows how to bounce back - you're resilient!”— Cassey Ho, instagram.com
“I used to tell myself that I wouldn't wear a bikini or show my stomach unless I had a super flat stomach with major ab definition. Well you know what? I'm not gonna wait around to enjoy fashion. I'll wear what I please! If I feel like I look good, then that is all that matters. Confidence is the bes…”— Cassey Ho, instagram.com
“Just walking around today at the beach helped me realize that it’s not a bikini contest. Every body tells a different story. And it’s awesome that we’re all shaped so differently!”— Cassey Ho, instagram.com
“I used to be terrified to go to pool parties or beach gatherings. I NEVER wanted to show off my body because I never thought it was good enough. I did not like my reflection in the mirror. I’d come up with excuses like 'I’m on my period' so I could avoid having to show myself in a swimsuit. But how…”— Cassey Ho, instagram.com
“How beautiful would it be if we could just see souls instead of bodies? To see love and compassion instead of curves.”— Karen Quan, amazon.com
“If your mom or that friend always mention your weight when they see you, it's OK to shut that down. It doesn't have to be some big, life changing conversation. It can be as simple as 'please stop mentioning my weight every time you see me.' These kinds of people think they mean well, but any positiv…”— Teresa Newsome, bustle.com
“Media literacy will open your eyes to the fact that what you're taking in is a lot of stereotypes, sexist imagery, and fantasy. You'll train your brain to stop thinking things like 'I wish I looked like that,' and to start thinking things like, 'This isn't a genuine representation of women. This isn…”— Teresa Newsome, bustle.com
“Everyone should exercise, and not necessarily just for weight loss. Regular aerobic exercise improves heart and lung health, and therefore benefits the rest of the body, increasing muscle endurance, circulation and overall body health.”— Jennifer Gruenemay, lifescript.com
“Ask yourself who your role models are in life. Do you look up to them because they have a pretty face, slender body and nice clothes, or rather because you respect their intelligence and who they are on the inside? Admiring successful people and surrounding yourself with these kinds of people can he…”— Jennifer Gruenemay, lifescript.com
“Go outside and find something in nature – a flower, leaf, twig, grass blade, or anything that catches your eye. Is it perfect? Or does it have irregular edges, rough sides and blemishes here and there? Chances are that it is imperfect, yet it is still so amazing and complex. Nature is beautiful desp…”— Jennifer Gruenemay, lifescript.com
“Nourish your body with a body love treatment. Think about taking a scented bath, a gently massage or dancing around naked. Anything you like which benefits your body and will make you feel connected with it.”— Miriam Roelink, recoverywarriors.com
“Develop positive self-talk. Challenge your negative thoughts and use positive daily affirmations like, ‘I will be kind for my body today’ or ‘I will like my body today just the way it is.’”— Miriam Roelink, recoverywarriors.com
“No one will notice if you gain or lose a few vanity pounds. YOU might not even notice!”— Amy Odell, cosmopolitan.com
“Your life won't be different if your body is a little bit different. Everyone who loves you will love you just as much no matter how much you weigh.”— Amy Odell, cosmopolitan.com