I’ve been thinking a lot about body shapes and “figure flaws” this week.  Not only did it seem like a running theme with my clients, but I wrote separately about how my particular body structure made yoga difficult sometimes, and then Definatalie posted this piece about how wearing only “flattering” things is another form of body shame.

Whew!

In a lot of ways, I have the body shape that “obesity experts” wring their hands over.  I have a thick waist and narrow hips, such that my waist to hip ratio is nearly at 1.  I tend to gain weight around my midsection.  I know, the horror!  Apparently, per the “obesity experts” I should not only lose weight, I should make the fat move to my hips and thighs because it’s “healthier” there!

By the way, this unhealthy belly fat thing is a pretty big load of b.s.. And I’ve never heard a viable, scientific way to make your body move fat from one part of itself to another, so why the hell should anyone worry about this?

Did you know that worrying about your belly fat could increase your cortisol levels, which could make you store more belly fat?  So, if you’re truly worried about your belly fat, admonitions by others about your belly fat which stress you out could have the “nocebo” effect of causing more belly fat and more alleged belly fat-related problems. The horrors continue!

Yeesh.

I used to worry about this crap a lot. 

I used to think if I could just have a more hourglass shape, even a fat hourglass shape, things would be better.  It’s sort of like a variant of the fantasy of being thin paradigm.  I thought if I were a sexy hourglass instead of an upside-down triangle/apple, then clothes would fit better/guys would like me more/I’d win the lottery/etc. etc.

It wasn’t until I started doing an exercise program called T-Tapp back in 2006 that I learned about different body structures.  I realized then that people built like me, with torsos that are so short that their rib cages nearly touch their hip bones, always have big waists compared to the rest of their bodies. And by the way, I’m not saying that you need an excuse to be whatever size you are.  I’m just saying that realizing that my body shape and structure weren’t weird or bad or whatever helped me get out of the idea that I should be trying to change it.  It made me realize that there is no one right body shape, no body shape that is “better” or “worse.” There are no such thing as “figure flaws.” Rather than strive for a different body, I finally realized that my body was what I’ve got, so I might as well enjoy it.

What kind of body shape do you have? Describe it with joy in the comments below!

Want some extra support in feeling good in the body that you have?  Then join me for my latest FREE Teleclass—How To Feel Good In Your Skin!  For details and to register, click here.  Can’t wait to “see” you there!

Golda is a certified holistic health counselor and founder of Body Love Wellness. She counsels women and men throughout the country on how to get off the dieting roller coaster, give their bodies what they really crave, and love their bodies and themselves. Golda's counseling and activism work have been featured on CBS's The Early Show, ABC's Nightline and Time Out New York. For more support with healing your relationship with food and your body, get your free copy of Golda's Top Ten Tips For Divine Dining by clicking here.