TW (weight, etc) ⚠️ I’m 23, 5’1, and fluctuate from 155-157 pounds. I don’t hate my body. But I don’t love it. I used to be happier with my body like 1-2 years ago. I did some research and online said I was close to being obese, but that I was overweight. I think I still look good. But the way I feel about myself is bad. I just want to know what you ladies out there might have some encouraging words to say or advice about healthy weight loss without saying I have to give up this and that and workout like 4x a week. There’s got to be a place I can start small to feel good about achieving and then working my way back to those healthy habits.

Add things, don’t take away. More water, more veg, more home cooking, more time off your phone and more time living irl with friends and family, more time appreciating your body for what it does for you and not just what it looks like, add more movement by taking the stairs instead of a lift or parking further away than usual or walking to a shop instead of driving. Changes take time. As in months and years. You’re in no rush, enjoy your life and focus on how you feel and not what the scales say.

If the number on a scale determines how you feel about yourself then you will never truly be happy. I think you should work on self love first, and work on that mental aspect first. After that is in a better place it’ll be easier for you to swap to healthier alternatives and stick to it, but it can take months or years for it to become a real routine so don’t pressure yourself into changing from one moment to another. You shouldn’t have to give up anything, rather trade it for alternatives.

I HIGHLY recommend looking into body positivity and intuitive eating. These are not weight loss methods. Instead, it focuses on building a healthy relationship with your body and food that's free of guilt and shame. From there, you can move onto gentle nutrition. Here are some instagram accounts that share lots of info about body positivity and intuitive eating: Health At Every Size And Intuitive Eating (TW// mentions of diet culture/ food/ eating disorder recovery) @whollyhealed @theintuitive_rd @nourishedandeat @intuitiveeatingldn @laurathomasphd @madeonagenerousplan @drjoshuawolrich Body Positivity: @i_weigh @jameelajamilofficial @meganjaynecrabbe @iskra

Small changes are progress! You don’t have to cut anything out. You can eat anything you want in moderation. Like others have said, just add more of the good stuff. Add more veggies and fruits, add more walking, add more protein. Consistency is key and that includes consistently being nice to yourself! Being mean to yourself won’t change how you look.