Bathing Suit: Shein
When the fiancé and I took these pictures, I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed in myself. If you know me (or have been following my blog), you know that I’m really self conscious about my weight and body image. I didn’t like what I saw when these pictures were taken. I think it might’ve had to do with the fact that I had eaten like garbage for a few weeks leading up to this picture. The day after this picture was taken I had already planned a week prior to go back on my diet again. I am going to Poland at the end of August and to be honest, I want to lose some weight so that I can eat whatever I want there and not feel guilty about gaining weight until I get back. I’ve decided to do the keto diet, along with intermittent fasting. I’ll be fasting for 16 hours, and eating keto friendly within an 8 hour window.
I know that I’ve talked about so many different diets, workouts, and lifestyle changes here on the blog, so once I do this, I’ll definitely give an update. This set of photos will be my before photos. I wanted to share these with y’all though. Even though I feel like I look terrible in these pictures, I forced myself to post them. The reason why I named this post bikini body even though I don’t have a bikini body by society’s standards, I saw this meme one day. It said, “How to have a bikini body, put a bikini on your body.”
I know that I’ll never be fully happy with my body, no matter how much weight I lose, how toned I am, etc. I will always find something I don’t like. My problem is that I really enjoy food, more than the average person, and my metabolism just isn’t fast at all. I was also told last year, that my thyroid was abnormal when I got my bloodwork done. They said that it’s nothing serious yet, but that they will monitor it yet. I know that I will most likely have a thyroid issue because it runs in my family. Several months ago I took this Health DNA test and it actually said in my results that my body has to work harder to lose weight than the average person.
As a side note, I did receive this bathing suit as a review. I love the bathing suit, and it’s pretty decent quality. However, unfortunately the bottoms aren’t sewn right. it looks like it might have gotten twisted when it was being sewn. The good thing is, I know how to sew, so I can easily fix it!
xoxo Monica
**Please note I received this bathing as a review, however all opinions are my own.
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I think you look great Monica! But I can understand and relate. Body weight is something challenging for me too. Like you I love to eat. Since turning a year older last year I have noticed the weight is just harder to take off no matter what exercises I do. It seems like my belly fat is here to stay and taken up permanent residence! I have been careful to control what food I eat too but honestly I feel like that just take away the fun. Can I just say the struggle is real?!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Girl, the struggle is definitely real! I’m going to be 31 and I can’t believe how much my body and skin has changed over the past few years. I didn’t know it was possible for this to happen. I’ve been trying to be creative with my meals so that I can still enjoy what I’m eating, but it’s hard when someone brings something in to work or even when my fiance brings home some type of sweet food or carb filled food. I have to have self control, at least for the next month haha!
I would kill to have a body like this now but I understand your motivation. Being Polish myself, eating is just part of the culture. I applaud you for trying to stay ahead of the game. Good luck on your plan and love the suit!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you so much Katherine. I don’t think most of us will ever be completely happy with our bodies, no matter how many compliments we get, which is why I love following BOPO bloggers too. Polish food, especially homemade, is my weakness. My mom’s homemade pierogi are to die for, so I’m hoping she doesn’t make them within the next month and try to feed me. I’m sure you know this already but Polish moms/grandmas are always trying to feed people and it’s almost offensive to turn down their offers haha. Kind of like Italians.
I think you look great! You look healthy and more importantly you look comfortable in your own skin. That bathing suit fits you perfectly! Body image issues have always been a struggle for me and even though I have those nasty put down thoughts of how I look at times I keep reminding myself that my girls are watching and picking up on how I treat myself. I have really started to love my body and how it looks with the flaws over the last I’d say 2 years. I hope that you can really look at yourself one day and think Damn. I look pretty hot!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
Haha, I hope to one day be able to say that last sentence, but for now, I have a few things to work on. I love that you have come to be more comfortable with your body, especially with your daughters. I applaud you lady!
Of course, I think you look amazing! And good for you for sharing the photos even though you are feeling self-conscious about them. Kind of like the photos you took of me that I will be sharing next week. I am super self-conscious but I am going for it anyway. It is in the perceived confidence that really makes us look great! I stumbled upon this Taylor Swift quote today…”I definitely have body issues, but everybody does. When you come to the realization that everybody does that — even the people I consider flawless — you can start to live with the way you are.” Not saying that you shouldn’t go ahead with your diet plan..because that is what is going to make you feel better, just be sure you are doing it for the right reasons…for YOU and not for society and its effed up standards!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
That’s actually a really good quote from Tswift haha. She’s right though with everything she said. I hope to one day feel better about my appearance, but I think the years of being made fun of for my appearance is what is holding me back a little. It messes with your psyche a little. I think you look great in the photos, but again, that’s my opinion, and we can all look at ourselves and see flaws that others don’t.
I think you look great! I lost 50lbs and Im still trying to build the confidence to post a bikini picture. Good for you! Your beautiful.
I’m interested in seeing how the Keto diet works for you. I need to get rid of about 10 more lbs.
Lisa
I’ve actually done Keto before and I did post the results. Here is the link for that, if you’re interested http://jerseygirltexanheart.com/2018/03/1-month-keto-progress-and-a-linkup/ I also went into some more information about Keto in general and my experience. I dropped a significant amount of weight within a month. Thank you for your compliment and congrats on the 50lb weight loss!
Are we looking at the same pictures?! I think your body looks fabulous in that bikini! I can’t believe these are your “before” pictures! I wish you luck in your quest to improve how you see your body, but to me, it looks perfect already (I am sooooo not kidding)! I have been active and relatively fit my entire life and have only once watched the scale (in the 3 months leading up to my wedding). The rest of the time I just go by how I feel, how my clothes fit (obviously if they are getting snug I need to back off the junk food for a bit lol) and…well, that’s it really lol! I’m pretty happy with my body most of the time even though it is FAR from perfect 🙂
I wish I could have that mentality to be completely honest. I just nit pick every single little tiny thing. It’s my specialty haha. But thank you so much for the compliment!
I think you look healthy and great, but I also know that you can have 1,000 people tell you that and you’re still going to feel the way you feel—I’m the same way! I think the silver lining is that everyone has body issues, and thus we can all relate to each other and give each other support we need. Also, I can almost guarantee you that you’re going to look at these photos one day and think “I looked DAMN good!”
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
Haha, I’m afraid for when I get older and it gets even harder to maintain my weight. I’m already having issues with this, so i can’t imagine what just the next 10 years will do to me. Thank you for the support though 🙂
Girl, you look fantastic! We are always so hard on ourselves, with how we think we should look. But seriously, if I had your body I would be flaunting it! But I know how it is, we are our own worse enemy. But keep up the good work, and thanks for posting and being honest. Have fun at the end of August! I’ve heard of that intermittent fasting, and how good it is, but I just don’t know if I could do it!
so the intermittent fasting is actually easier than you think, because I stop eating at 8pm and then don’t eat until 12pm the next day, but if you’re someone who skips breakfast, you’re basically doing the intermittent fasting already. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
You look great girl! I need to work on my “bikini body” and I know eating is a big part. Ps. love the swimsuit, SheIn has cute affordable options for swim.
Xx, Nailil
http://thirtyminusone.com/
Thank you so much! Shein definitely has some affordable things. Sometimes it’s more of a miss than a hit, but I still swear by them!
I love that saying about the bikini body, Monica. And I love the cute lavender bikini on you and those super fun glasses, where did you get those?! You are being hard on yourself because you look marvelous still. I have been posting lots of bikini shots on my latest insta posts and stories since I was on vacation and I don’t have a “society-approved bikini body” either lol
I love that so many companies are introducing bodies that are not society approved as well. I think it’s important to show girls that you don’t have to look a certain way to be considered pretty. Whether you have a fast metabolism and are skinny, curvy, athletic, stretch marks, etc., we should ALL be considered beautiful.