Growing up my whole life, I was always a very tiny girl: I wore XXS until my freshmen year of high school. I had always been very active playing softball, basketball, and soccer. But no matter what I did I couldn’t seem to figure out how to put on some weight. My comment about not being able to put on weight will push at least 10 people reading this to think “She’s so lucky why is she complaining about being skinny?”. And as most of you would think that wouldn’t bother anyone, but it did and I became so insecure about my weight that I started to destroy my own mental health because of it. In my personal opinion, it is just as rude to make comments about how skinny someone is then making comments about how big a girl is. My whole life I’ve constantly been reminded how lucky I was and was never even thought to be given credit for working out, playing sports, and maintaining the fast metabolism I was born with. I felt like people rather than promoting me for staying healthy and maintaining a body I felt comfortable in , I was constantly made feel bad because other girls wished they looked like me. I realized how insecure I became once guys started making comments about it. My new nickname around school became skeletore. I was laughed at because all of my clothes were too big and didn’t flatter my boobs or butt which is what guys wanted because their hormones were raging. I went on eating binges where I would eat 2 meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner just praying I would somehow put on weight and feel happy with myself again. My parents quickly shut that down and constantly reminded me that everyone is their own type of beautiful and there is nothing wrong with being a skinnier girl.
Looking back, what I took away from this is that no one is ever enough. I’m tired of girls always having to double think an outfit because of their weight. Your weight doesn’t define you in any way, shape, or form. There is and will never be a “perfect girl” or “perfect body”. You are either considered too big or too small and the sad truth is people don’t acknowledge how hard it is to be the “too small” girl. I learned to love who I am and be proud of myself for taking care of my body and being the healthiest version of myself. Life is so much easier when you finally become happy with who you are and not worried about if other people “approve” of the body I have. It is completely and utterly EXHAUSTING to be a girl and that is the truth. We are all beautiful and I hope everyone reading this loves themself.
Unruly Bodies 
Hi!
I loved your perspective on this, especially because I have struggled with the opposite problem. I have also played sports my whole life, so as a result I have always had a very muscular physique. I remember in high school my brother and I weighed the exact same, except he was 4 years older than me and a division 1 athlete. I always wished to be skinnier and leaner, but if I were then I would not be able to maintain my muscle mass. I liked how you mentioned that literally no one is perfect or comfortable and I think it has to deal with the pressure we put on ourselves to look like the “perfect girl.” We all struggle with different problems and it is not fair to say that someones struggles are invalid compared to others.
Hi,
Thank you so much for being so vulnerable in your post and sharing your experience. I found your post to be so helpful for many people more than likely struggling with the same thing. I think high school itself was just a cruel four years. Everyone is always judging you and you are always judging yourself. It is exhausting constantly comparing yourself to what you think like you are suppose to look like, when in reality the only thing that matters is your happiness and how you feel.
Thanks for sharing!
I found myself agreeing with your post. I was also pretty tiny growing up and always wanted to be just a little taller or just a little bigger. I think the hard truth is that growing up with any body shape is hard. Especially, when it feels like your under a spotlight. There’s always that one thing we want to change just a little. But really any body is a good body, It’s really just learning about loving yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. The tricky part of that is we have to learn how because we’re conditioned to think about weight and appearances so often. Not only as women but really anyone who doesn’t fit in the typical box of acceptable appearances.