Saturday's With Stef: My Stripes

 

I am very aware of what I am posting...in fact, I sat on this for two whole weeks before I FINALLY said, "Do it Stef!"

These are my stripes

My stretch marks.

I never had them this bad until I lost weight. I never even knew they existed until I lost weight, but now, they are apart of who I am. This is what parts of my stomach looks like. Proud?  50/50...These stretch marks tell my story. A story of sadness. A story of finding happiness. A story of finding SELF-LOVE. 

So many women look at me and think I  have this GREAT body under my clothes. I don't. In fact, far from it. Heres me with clothes on...

No stripes! 

But this isnt about revealing myself.

Its letting women know that no body is a perfect body.

When I look at the first photo, I am reminded that I have come a LONG way and I will never, nor even strive to be, an Adriana Lima.  I am Stefanie. These are my stripes. These stripes symbolize my struggle. One I am working on STILL. Yes, I am VERY aware that the first picture isnt appealing to the opposite sex.

I am fully aware of that. I mean, let me be honest, being intimate with a man is on my "FREAK OUT" list. Let a man SEE my stripes? NERVE-WRECKING. But I read a Kat William quote and it made me giggle,

"We don't have no time to worry bout no sh** like stretch marks... They came from either 1 of 2 things... Either you was big & got small, or you were small & got big ! Either way we f***ing... Either Waaay!" 

I asked a few male friends about this and they agreed. I think as confident as I am, the stretch marks will always be a reminder to me that I am not perfect and no matter how much weight I lose, I still have my stripes. If a man digs my stripes, more power to him for actually looking past my beautiful flaw ( & we all know men get stretch marks too!)

This is me. Stretch marks and all. I love myself enough to say, "Take it or leave it" These stripes, these badges of being a woman, has molded me into who I am. I cannot change this. My stripes are HERE to stay no matter what I do to "lessen them"

So I say this to you....LOVE EVERY INCH OF YOURSELF.

There's no greater joy and feeling from LOVING YOURSELF.

You may have bad days, heaven knows I do, but love yourself and accept your flaws. Embrace em!

HERE'S TO STRIPES!

HERE'S TO FLAWS!

HERES TO SELF-LOVE

HERE'S TO BEAUTY IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!

Stretch marks and all....