Why It’s Okay to Want to Change Your Body
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In this episode, I’m going to bring you so REAL TALK.
I’m SO happy that more and more people are speaking up about embracing our bodies for exactly what they are. More and more people are becoming advocates for beauty at any size, and I’m so appreciative of that.
But, I think many of these people make us feel shameful for wanting to change our bodies. I feel like more and more I am seeing people sharing that if you “change” your body or have “goals” then you aren’t “loving” your body.
I’m here to say I completely disagree with this. It honestly couldn’t be more from the truth in my opinion. I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with wanting to change your body and that’s exactly what I want to chat about in this episode of Embrace Your Real.
If you loved this episode, you’ll also love…
Episode 45: Body Neutrality Vs Body Positivity: Why You Need to Know the Difference
TRANSCRIPT:
Hey, hey, beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you, but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Ledbetter. I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned if you're ready to embrace your real. Let's get it. Let's go.
Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode of the Embrace Your Real podcast. In this episode, I'm going to bring you some spitfire real talk. I am so happy that more and more of you are speaking up about embracing our bodies for exactly what they are. More and more are becoming advocates for beauty at any size, and I'm so, so appreciative of that. But I think that many people make us feel shameful for wanting to change our body, and I feel like more and more, people that I'm seeing are sharing that if you want to change your body, or if you have goals, then you aren't loving your body. And so in today's episode, that's exactly what I want to chat about.
But first I have to share the super-sweet review. It comes from Carly Renee. She says, "This isn't my favorite podcast for no reason. Julie's podcast is such a blessing. She motivates her listeners to move their body, nourish their body and not obsess over the way that their body looks. Julie's podcasts, along with her platform, are truly one of the main reasons I have finally been consistent in my health and fitness journey. I'm so grateful that there are influencers out there like Julie who truly just want to see people show up for themselves. God is using Julie and her husband to help others, and it's awesome to be a part of this community that they've built. Keep spreading truth, girl."
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much. I read every single one of these reviews and they absolutely light me up. So please, if you have a few extra seconds in your day, it would mean the absolute world to me if you wrote a quick review. Plus, the more reviews the podcast has, the more people I'm able to reach and the more lives I'm able to impact, which is truly what this podcast is all about.
Okay, so let's get back to what I was talking about earlier: if you want to "change your body", or if you have goals, then you aren't loving your body. I'm going to say something that might be a little bit controversial, but hear me out. I'm here to say that I completely 100% disagree with this. It honestly couldn't be more from the truth. In my opinion, I don't believe there is anything inherently wrong with wanting to change your body. Wanting to change your body does not mean that you don't love your body. Wanting to change your body could actually mean that you do love your body, because ultimately changing your body or having goals could be the very result of loving your body.
Let me expand and explain on what I'm talking about. If you love your body, you will nourish it with what it needs. And if you love your body, you will honor your body with movement. And it just so happens that nourishing and moving your body are the two key components in building the body that you want, hence why loving your body will likely lead to changing your body. I think this very aspect has been too silenced in the body-positivity movement, and I believe that loving and respecting your body isn't just about loving and accepting it no matter what. It's about treating it the way that it's meant to be treated, which includes healthy habits like nourishing and moving it. And if you love your body, you will make choices that align with loving your body.
To be clear, I'm not saying that everyone has to have a goal or wanting to change their body, nor am I saying that if they don't, they're not loving their bodies. That is not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that I'd like to see less shaming to women who have goals and want to change their bodies out of love for everything that their body is and does for them.
The moral of the story here is if you're working on changing your body, and if it's coming from a place of love, be proud of yourself. Don't let people shame you for working on becoming the best version of yourself. Don't let people shame you for making choices that make you feel better in your body. Don't let people shame you for doing what's best for you. But remember, I only believe this if and only if you are changing your body out of love and not out of hate.
What are your thoughts on this topic? I would love to know. Take a screenshot of this episode, post it up on your stories, give me a tag and share your thoughts. I believe that it's an important topic and conversation that needs to be discussed and talked about more.
If you love this episode, you will also love Episode 45, body neutrality versus body positivity and why you need to know the difference. Do you know the difference between body neutrality and body positivity? There are two different approaches for learning to embrace the body that we're in. Well, one focuses on loving our body. The other focuses on loving what our body does for us, not necessarily our body itself. One is not better than the other, but one may resonate more than the other with you in this season of life. So if you haven't already tuned in there, or if you need a refresher on that topic, Episode 45. I will link it in the show notes below.
If you have somebody in your life that you feel like would really benefit from this bonus episode, I just ask that you share it out with them. You can copy the link. You can send it to them in a text message. Send it to three or four girlfriends or coworkers or family members that you know. I would love to hear again your thoughts, so be sure to tag me on Instagram and tag Embrace Your Real account. We love connecting with you guys. Thank you so much for tuning in, and I will talk to you guys in the next episode.
All right, sister, that's all I got for you today, but I have two things that I need you to do. First thing, if you're not already following me on the Gram, be sure to do so, JulieALedbetter, Yes, it's with an A in the middle, for that daily post-workout real talk, healthy tips and tricks and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing, be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world, and I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace your real, because you're worth it.