Content warning: mentions of self-harm, body issues, and loss of a child.
If you don’t love your body, then who will defend it, look after it, and maintain it? You wouldn’t buy your favourite car, then keep it in the garage and let it rust, now would you?
Hi, I am Delyth; a 41 year old mature student studying Business and Finance at Bangor University.
I became aware of my body shape at the age of 9, when I was the only girl in the class that wore a bra. I was tall, I had a shape, and nobody else was like me. I hated it, and was bullied because of it. For years I didn’t fit in with what other children thought I should look like.
When I got to high school everyone else started to develop and become young ladies too. I was a size 16 as soon as I transitioned from childrens clothes to adults. I had a lot of attention for my pear-shaped body, or big bum and boobs, however you want to refer to it. But not from boys my age. I got attention from older boys, which was quite uncomfortable.
As I became a young adult, I liked my shape, and I quite liked the attention I got with it. My dad would say ‘you’re just like your gran, she had a big bum too. You’re a strong woman.’ My real issue was always my legs, though, as not only did I have a big bum, but I had big muscular legs, which wasn’t helped by the fact that dad got me to help him dig and plant all our own home grown vegetables.
When I had my first son my body faced changes like never before and I carried him neatly in a nice rounded tummy. He was perfect, although he had left his mark on my body through stretch marks. My tummy had changed. My son sadly passed away a few short weeks after he was born and I faced a troubled time, a time in which I turned to self-harm. I now not only had stretch marks but scars too. I didnt like my body at this stage in my, life, but to be honest I didn’t like anything.
Then a few years later I had two more children. I had gained considerable weight but I remained a pear shape; only larger. I still got attention for it, but not always positive attention. With two more kids, I had more stretch marks, and though they faded the loose skin didnt.
At the age of approximately 30 I became aware about how my self image could affect my children, so began on a journey of self love. No longer did I hide my scars, or be afraid to show off my tiger stripes as I call them. I earned them, and they are mine. My body is my life story, and you can see it hasn’t been a boring one!
If you don’t love your body, then who will defend it, look after it, and maintain it? You wouldn’t buy your favourite car, then keep it in the garage and let it rust, now would you?
If you have been affected by the content of this article, please see our resources page for support. We have also published an article about some of the different factors affecting body positivity.
Mind Over Body 