Confessions on Body Image

By Elma B.

Dear fashionistas,

Rarely do I open-up on the subject of body image but recently I received a few fan mails from young girls telling me that they hated their face and bodies and wanted to look like me. Here's the real story, my story:

Me

Me

Life has not been all peaches and cream for me, well, for most of my life. My life turned upside down when I just turned seven years old and the war in Bosnia started (my birth country). Seven countries later (Bosnia, Finland, the U.S., France, etc.), fast forward to 2014: I work extremely hard to look the way I do. I do not just wake-up and look fabulous, it takes a lot of time, money and work.

Body Image: 

I exercise everyday for about 1.5 to 2 hours. I do a vareity of cardio. exercises and lift weights. I try to do a range of exercises so my body does not get used to a routine and stop responding (our body is very clever and has muscle memory). I know my body type and hence arrange my exercises according to the areas I believe need exercising the most. Also, I have consulted a personal trainer. Yes, there are mornings when I would rather sleep-in than be pedaling on the bike or running on a treadmill but I have made the decision to be the best possible version of myself and that entails exercising everyday. 

What I realized about body image was that I held the power to lean out my body and gain muscle mass. I had complete control to be proud and happy with myself. I do not have a personal trainer I work with everyday but a gym membership, YouTube videos, and the outdoors to exercise. You too have as many resources as I do to have your dream body; it does not come naturally to me or countless of top models/celebrities who you see on billboards and magazines. 

Diet:

Before I conclude, I have to mention the importance of a diet. Do not expect to have the necessary energy to exercise without a nutritious diet. No, starving yourself will not do it. I eat enough complex carbohydrates, e.g., whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta, and fresh fruits and vegetables to give enough energy to exercise. Without fuel, i.e. food, I cannot push the gas pedal to accelerate when jogging up hill or increasing the resistance on a bike. Hence, for me, exercise with a great diet has been crucial to see results. 

Finally, as for beauty, read my article "Confessions of a Fashionista-the Price of Beauty" to understand that people do not wake-up looking fabulous and glamorous. It requires a lot of work and dedication.

I hope my article will inspire you and help you understand that you hold the power to shed the pounds and be the best possible version of yourself on the inside and out. Until next time fashionistas, signing-off from New York City, xoxo!   

p.s. Outfit dissected: white dress from Zara, shoes by Marc Jacobs, bag by Chanel, and penchant from Forever 21.