Love who you are!

Like any normal woman, my weight has majorly fluctuated over the years. I have been a size 10, a size 16 and right now I am sitting quite comfortably at a size 12-14. I hate to use the term "curvy" but I certainly have my wobbly bits which over the years I have learnt to accept and embrace. Coming from an Italian family, I have big hips and I will never have a perfectly flat stomach. I have spent so many wasted years feeling frumpy and fat and unattractive and I refuse to deny myself nice food-which is why I don't. I think it can be equally hard for those who are skinny and just want to put on weight and can't. I hate the fact that there is so much focus on "curves are the best"-I think someone looks fabulous when they ooze confidence and dress well for their size-whatever that is. I also hate to think of young girls thinking that what they see in magazines-perfectly tanned manicured airbrushed women-is something to aim for. I have learnt ways over the years to dress for my size and shape without covering myself with a bin bag or dressing in black from head to toe.


I always buy one size bigger if I need to...

Don't read labels. Sizes vary SO much between brands there is no point torturing yourself with the thought, "Oh no I've bought a size 18 but I'm not that size, really!". No one sees the labels but it can make you feel self consicous if something is tight and make you look bigger than you are, so don't fall into that trap.


I focus on what I like about how I look...

I am not a fan of my legs so therefore I never wear anything short and wear leggings unless it's very hot. However I like my face and my smile so when I go out I focus on that area-I often wear my hair up with some nice earrings and I always smile! Don't focus on what you don't like about yourself, focus on what you do like and enhance it as much as you can!


Creams that claim to get rid of stretch marks don't work

Trust me-I have tried them all! I have stretch marks on the tops of my legs and some on my stomach and I have tried cream after cream claming to get rid of them and they never do. So I gave up wasting my time and money and just accepted the fact that they will fade after time but will never go. I don't notice them as much now as I did a few years ago, probably because I stopped caring and realised that almost every woman has them! (If you don't, I hate you.)

Work those wobbles

I don't have a flat stomach and therefore I tend to follow a few simple rules when it comes to fashion...

1) I test out what the clothes look like when I am sitting down before I buy anything-then I can see whether it folds or stretches in an unflattering way!

2) I always avoid skinny jeans

3) I don't wear giant support pants-I don't care if they hold my stomach in, they make me feel highly unattractive and no man wants to see that...;)

3) I never wear anything I am not comfortable in

4) Belts are great and create a lovely figure shape-as long as they are not too tight, you need to be able to breathe...

Don't keep weighing yourself

Don't torture yourself by weighing yourself three times a day-I only weigh myself maybe once a month and I feel like that is enough. Weight really flactuates with women depending on various times of the month so you can never truely judge how much you weigh. If I want a really accurate reading, I will use one in a Chemists!


So what I am trying to say is, as long as I am healthy, I don't worry too much about imperfections. I love eating and I always have fresh home cooked meals with quite big man sized portions, I keep active at work and walk as much as I can. Diets can work and I admire those who can stick to them but they are not for me. I am never going to be a model or stick thin, I am still on the path to feeling completely happy with how I look but I'm getting there and in the meantime I will enjoy a cupcake (or 3) :) xx