I used to be so confused about how it really was for skinny girls.

You see, logically, I knew that women of all shapes and sizes could and did hate their bodies, but emotionally it just didn’t make sense to me. When my skinny friends complained about feeling ugly, I often assumed they were just fishing for compliments. How could they possibly hate their bodies, when they were perfect?

It took me years to wake up and realize that the harsh inner voice of self-criticism doesn’t discriminate; it can invade the internal dialogue of any woman, regardless of her shape or size. The twinges of self-doubt, the self-consciousness, the spasms of shame—everyone is vulnerable to this. It’s universal. It connects all of us to each other.

But we're largely (ha) unaware of this in our world today. And to make matters worse, most average-sized or larger women will usually alienate any smaller woman who dares to speak her truth about her own experience of it. When a thinner woman complains about gaining weight, or worrying about her body, or feeling like she's not enough, other women dismiss her feelings. They roll their eyes and laugh and beg her to shut up and eat something, already.

Perhaps they think it's reassuring to brush off these concerns so casually, but when women do this to a friend, they unwittingly shut down any real conversation that might have led their friend toward a breakthrough.

The truth is that for women who struggle with body image but look like they “shouldn’t”, it can be even more painful. Because being invalidated, shunned, or unseen by others is hurtful; and being left outside of the mutual understanding that other women share is lonely and frustrating.

So, my skinny sisters, if you've heard any of these before:

You couldn’t possibly understand what it’s like to feel shame or self-consciousness about your body...
You’re not entitled to voice your feelings...
You have it easier than everyone else...
You’re just fishing for compliments when you confess to struggling with your body image...
You’re too skinny to have a valid experience of body image issues...
You don’t belong in the body positivity movement because it’s not for women like you...

…I SEE YOU. Your struggle is real. And you deserve just as much mutual understanding, compassion, and solidarity as anyone does. And with my heart in my hands, I offer you mine.

If you’ve been yearning for a space to explore and heal your body image with women of ALL shapes and sizes…

If you want to be seen and validated like everyone else…

If you want to start seeing your own beauty the way everyone else apparently can (or better)…

Then I personally invite you to join us for the Body Love Bootcamp workshop. I promise that THIS tribe is different from all the rest. Your story is just as important as everyone else's.

Monday is the last day to register for this workshop, so please be sure to sign up by tomorrow if the course description speaks to you.

With love and solidarity,

Jen

P.S. Today I decided to give a special gift to everyone who registers for this course, and I'm excited to reveal it sometime during this month-long program! Woohoo!