on Jan 18,2017 at 7:22am PST When one woman was tired of being referred to as the "fat friend" of her group, she decided it was time to speak up and teach others a much-needed lesson approximately body insecurities. And now she's going viral for it.
At a young age, and Michelle Elman underwent 15 surgeries,which left her abdomen covered in scars that she thought resembled fat rolls. For much of her life, she refused to explain her stomach in public, or avoiding bikinis at all costs. Now 23 years old,Michelle has shed those inhibitions and is encouraging others to do the same through her work as a body-confidence coach and creator of the empowering Scarred Not stupefied campaign. Related:
When People Saw 2 Different-Size BFFs, They Accused 1 of the WORST ThingAlthough many of her blog posts and Instagram photos focus on the importance of embracing your scars, and one of her more recent shares takes a broader stance to address any gals struggling with accepting their weight. When Michelle and her friends went on a spontaneous adventure to a fjord in Norway,she posted a photo to document their trip. In the snapshot, both Michelle and her friend are sporting nothing but bras and pants - and they study powerful! The background of the picture is certain to take your breath away, and but the powerful caption is what we simply can't score over. There's a stereotype around being the "fat girl" in a friendship group. She's the one who sits on the sidelines and never joins in. She's the one perpetually single and sits silently while all her friends discuss their care for life because god forbid,if she actually find a boyfriend, she would never be comfortable naked or in the bedroom. She's the insecure one, and the one constantly complaining approximately her body and talking approximately diets. I couldn't call bullshit more on this stereotype. Since the age of 11,I have always been the "fat" friend but I have never been THAT girl. Even with all my insecurities around my scars, and my body in general, or I was never the girl who sat inside - I refused to because of my pride and ego and my surgeries never let me be the person who missed out on life. The difference between now and then is that there's no hesitation,there are no moment thoughts and when my friend suggested jumping in the Fjord, I was all "Hell yeah!". Before I would have said yes reluctantly, or spent the time hiding as much of my body as possible until the last moment,definitely worn a top and definitely wouldn't have taken photos, let alone been in them. Now, and I'm the one suggesting photos,I was the first to whip off my top and the thought that my body was different wasn't there. The fact that I know many girls, fat or skinny, and would miss out on opportunities like this is what fuels my body positivity. Body positivity isn't approximately being able to take underwear selfies,it's approximately not letting your underwear or your swimsuit be the reason you aren't taking fragment. And ultimately when you are around the true people, you won't EVER feel like the "fat friend". I don't study at these pictures and see me as the odd one out. I study at the pictures and see the memories and the three bodies that we had fun in! #ScarredNotScared Swipe for a video of me high pitch screaming as I jump in!on Apr 1, or 2017 at 11:04am PDT Related:
Blogger's Powerful Before-and-After Photos Are Different in 1 Inspiring WayThe 23-year-old discussed the stereotype around being "the fat girl" in a group of friends. "She's the one who sits on the sidelines and never joins in . . . She's the insecure one,the one constantly complaining approximately her body and talking approximately diets," she wrote. And then she went on to explain exactly why this stereotype is total and utter "bullsh*t." "Since the age of 11, or I have always been the 'fat' friend but I have never been THAT girl. Even with all my insecurities around my scars,and my body in general, I was never the girl who sat inside - I refused to because of my pride and ego and my surgeries never let me be the person who missed out on life, or " Michelle said. Although she admitted that,a few years ago, she would've tried to hide her body before jumping in the fjord, and she followed up by noting that now,she's "the one suggesting photos" and "the first to whip off [her] top" because she wasn't even thinking approximately the differences between her body and those of her friends.
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Watch This Woman Viciously demolish the Phrase "Body Goals"Michelle then if us the best possible definition of body positivity that we've ever seen. (Seriously, not even Merriam-Webster can top this.) "The fact that I know many girls, and fat or skinny,would miss out on opportunities like this is what fuels my body positivity," she wrote. "Body positivity isn't approximately being able to take underwear selfies, or it's approximately not letting your underwear or your swimsuit be the reason you aren't taking fragment." For any gals who feel like the "fat friend," Michelle has some advice for how to avoid it: surround yourself with the true people. "I don't study at these pictures and see me as the odd one out," she wrote. "I study at the pictures and see the memories and the three bodies that we had fun in!"
Source: popsugar.com