I admit, I have not always had the ideal body type.  Growing up, I was surrounded by women that felt confident with wearing crop tops in public and flaunting their ‘perfect’ bodies.  To say that the fashion industry caters to size 0 women is simply an understatement, as I would go into stores that wouldn’t carry above a size 6.  But, demanding that the entire fashion industry change their marketing tools and clothing styles overnight would be almost impossible.  What if women instead decided to change the way that we eat in order to fit in those clothes and feel more comfortable in our own skin?

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When I was younger, I ate foods that appealed to me.  If there were chips around and I wanted chips, that’s what I ate.  The same went for Hershey’s Chocolate Bars and pizza.  I was raised in a household that didn’t eat chicken nuggets every night or go to fast food restaurants very often.  I ate what my parents ate; we didn’t cook special meals for anyone.  Nonetheless, I was still surrounded by processed foods.  We always had bread in the house and dessert was sacred.  Despite this, I was physically healthy growing up and didn’t develop any chronic illnesses because of my dietary choices.  While some of my childhood friends developed Type II Diabetes and high cholesterol, I was one of the lucky ones.

I wasn’t worried when my doctor suggested that I was out of my age percentile for weight.  I was always told that I was ‘bigger-boned’ than most women, and that as long as I was eating in moderation, I was going to be fine.  But ‘moderation’ is open to interpretation.  When I was 15, my mom and I went on the Paleo Diet, meaning that we skipped ‘white’ carbs like bread, white rice, and almost all sugars.  The fad diet only lasted a week.  At that point, the word ‘diet’ had become synonymous with the word ‘limiting’ and not ‘changing.’  I spent so much of my time restricting myself from high-calorie food instead of finding healthier alternatives to those choices.  When I was on the Paleo Diet, I actually gained weight because I struggled to quantify how much I was eating and what the impact on my body was.

When people ask what my deciding factor was for changing my food choices, I answer with: ‘college.’  For many, college is a tricky time to start self-regulating as it’s their first time out of the control of their parents.  Knowing this going into college, I decided to regulate my food choices even more.  I went vegetarian not only for the environmental benefits, but more so because I couldn’t see what was going into my burger when it was made at the dining hall.  This switch led me to supplement my diet with plant-based proteins and more nutrient-rich carbs.  Vegetarianism often leads people into a world of saturated fats and carbohydrates.  Not only did I finally realize that frequently going for unhealthy options would make me feel physically and mentally slower, but that it would have severe health implications on my later years.

Instead of eating huge meals, I would graze on healthy snacks throughout the day.  I would keep a couple bananas in my dorm room to chop up and eat with peanut butter, chia seeds, and honey on rice cakes.  Not only did this max out my protein, but it gave me an opportunity to eat something filling towards the middle of the day so I was less hungry later on.  I found myself constantly drinking water – at least a full water bottle before every time I ate.  The water suppressed my cravings and improved my skin significantly.

I lost 15 pounds in my first year at school.  Now, I feel healthy, rejuvenated, and less dependent on food as a coping method.  Do I restrict myself from eating ice cream?  Of course not!  But I do opt for a small cone instead of a large.  I don’t need M&M’s for subsistence, so I choose to eat foods that keep me full longer.

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The word ‘diet’ had become synonymous with the word ‘limiting’ and not ‘changing.’

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Another benefit of choosing rather than limiting my food intake was saving a ton of money.  My mom and I frequented breakfast chains prior to leaving school, but when I came back, I found myself more interested in eating oatmeal than breakfast sandwiches.  And if I wanted a breakfast sandwich, I got one.  But, I chose to bring a water bottle with me instead of buying a sugary coffee, learning to control my unnecessary spending when  eating meals .

I also found a new interest in yoga after attending a ‘new-age hippie school’ like UVM.  While the mindfulness part of yoga is a key part of its practice, I opted to use yoga as a way to open up my body and honor what it is.  Meditation was never my thing, but I learned more about the space that I occupy.  Between downward dog and warrior three, I found an appreciation for taking care of the one body that I have, whether it is a size zero or a size six.

 

Sara Klimek is a managing editor at bSmart Guide and student at the University of Vermont. She plans on attending environmental law school following graduation. 

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