I read a post about instead of focusing on “every body is beautiful” we should focus on “every body is valid” because the other one still puts a emphasis on beauty.
“ *Loving your body* isn’t believing it *looks good* ; it’s knowing your body *is good* regardless of how it looks” wow a whole new prospective, that one really hit home ❤️
I’m sure this is a female centered space but I just wanted to say Amy as a straight black man these topics are taboo amongst my circles but I just want to thank you and say these videos have been a huge help.Since finding your channel last month I’ve restarted therapy, started journaling my thoughts and feelings and learning self-kindness. Good luck to you and all your viewers.
I love that she doesn't even need to cut the video frequently. Her thoughts just flow freely and authentically. Really important ideas here, thank you Amy!
I love the concept of equilibrium. I think confidence doesn’t really have to mean you feel happy and positive all the time, but that you’re at peace with yourself and feel a healthy balance of emotions and treat your body with respect. humans are meant to oscillate within a moderate range of physical and mental health because we respond to our environment which is always changing. I gained a lot of weight in quarantine and now I’m back at school taking dance classes and structuring my eating better. I feel better not because I’m losing the weight but because my body is returning to the state I’m happiest in!
our bodies are powerful and strong vessels that allow us to experience this world. We are worth so much more than our appearance. thanks for sharing amy!
I was way to obsessed with the way I looked, because I always thought being pretty is everything in life. Right now I try to see my body in a more neutral way, accepting it and knowing that they way it looks does not say anything about me or my personality. It has no power to make me a better person. I try to focus on my health now and I‘m just thankful that my body is carrying my soul through this beautiful world.
This is going to be long, but I think this is a great space to share: When I look back, every negative thought I've ever had about my body has been handed down to me by my mother. The first negative thought I ever had about my body was about my ears. When I was younger, I had big pointy ears, and always felt very insecure about it. My mom told me to wear a headband to sleep to make them move closer to my head. In middle school, I NEVER wore my hair up, and when I would have to put my hair up for science/chemistry labs, I would feel extremely self-conscious. When my boyfriend and I started dating a year and a half ago, on our first date, he told me he adored the way my ears stuck out from underneath my curly hair. I have big full eyebrows, and when I was younger I had a unibrow. My mom started waxing and tweezing my eyebrows when I was seven years old, because they were "too bushy." When I was stressed, I used to pick at my eyebrows and I always hated them, I thought they made me look like a boy. Now I constantly get complimented on my eyebrows. I remember an incident where I was in the emergency room in 10th grade, and was having one of the worst days of my life, and the beautiful nurse who was caring for me, told me she wished she had my eyebrows. These are just two examples. It has taken some major life events as well as time to grow out of these learned insecurities. It's so crazy what we can internalize from our parents and how critical we can be of ourselves. Much love to everyone who read this far
i think i relate. aside from a sprinkling of comments from older relatives, i really can't remember anything mean someone has said about my body except repeatedly from my mom. it's really clear now that she was projecting some sort of self-hatred, and of course it's always more complicated when our parents aren't "full-on evil" people...that they also have a lot of attributes we're thankful for. but in any case, the strongest wave of body worry i've ever had to be immersed in was from my mom. and of course whenever i have brought it up to her, she would deflect with a "i'm ur mom, that's exactly why i can tell you these things no one else will"
i remember being in 5th grade and trying to diet, so literally 9 years old.. i honestly find it heart wrenching!! i was a literal child and hated my stomach and thighs so much. i have one memory of laying on a trampoline with my friend, and asking if she could have any 5 things in the world, what would they be, and she said stuff like a dog, a phone etc. u know, KID STUFF. and then i went off and listed “flat stomach, thigh gap, nice nail beds, tanned skin” it breaks my heart to think of my younger self :(
Thank you! I always thought “body positivity” was the goal but to me, it wasn’t realistic. I didn’t feel the need to like love my body all the time, because the focus was still so much on appearance. I just wanted my body image to be neutral and just not so centered around physical goals. It feels like it has such a huge portion on my daily life. You’ve explained it so well in how I’ve been wanting to steer towards.
I love this so much. Being a part of the fitness community & a personal trainer, it’s important to me to help others find the balance between achieving their dream bodies at the same time as loving their body and their self for who they are and recognizing that our bodies don’t define us. You’re an amazing role model Amy💖
Sidney Heyuri wow what a beautiful comment thank you so much, swear I needed that so bad. Right back at you Sidney you have no clue how much yours words just positively impacted me. Have the best day ever✨
it’s really interesting to think about professions and hobbies that center our bodies and how we can find balance in them. I grew up doing gymnastics and now I dance, mostly ballet. in both, a level of strength, flexibility, endurance, etc is required just to get through training or rehearsal, but people do not need to be stick thin to move gracefully or powerfully! ballet has a very specific aesthetic and the industry is extremely slow to change in terms of inclusion, and in the mean time, I want to fundamentally challenge what it means to express through body movement.
Anybody that is struggling with eating disorder, I wish a day for you that you will be comfortable in your own body however size it is and when that day is, you'll feel you've won the hardest battle of your life. I promise 💕 may that day come sooner rather than later 🙏🏾💕
I'm a sophomore in high school and in 7th grade the first thought I ever had about my body was "do I have a potbelly" when I didn't even know what it was and still don't quite do. My whole life all I've heard and still do hear is "wow your so skinny" "I wish I was as skinny as you" "you should eat more you're like a stick" and being praised for my fast metabolism, and it did get very weird and brought me discomfort every time but I would always be told to take it as a compliment a that its a good thing so after a while I believed that being the way skinny and not being able to gain any physical weight, for the most part, was lucky. Then one day my aunt looked at me and said "I hope you're not getting a potbelly".The day I heard my aunt tell me that after we just had dinner at her house brought me the same discomfort as the "compliments" I had been getting but everyone started to laugh and make jokes like "I can never imagine you being fat" I didn't know what to do or say so I just awkwardly laughed it off and felt like everyone was now judging every single part of me. Before that day I had never really thought about how others see me or cared about what I looked like, I was always just told what to do and what to wear so I went along with it thinking it was normal for your parents to point out every flaw on your appearance and say "it's for your own good" when they realize that they're making you feel bad. I'm from an African family and they tend to point out everything about your appearance and basically judge you for it. I tried to act like I didn't care at all and shove it down like I usually did but this time it kept replaying in my head over and over again and it got to a point where I actually started to look at my body in the mirror and think "I shouldn't gain weight it wouldn't look good" I would get panic attacks in school because I let thoughts like "they can see everything" " they're all judging you" "you look awful" consume my mind and I couldn't tell anyone because my family would just reply with "pray about it ", and my friends that time would reply with "you should be glad you don't have to worry about gaining weight". Now that I'm older though I think I'm struggling a lot more with accepting my own self than accepting that others think differently of me. Deep down I know my worth and I know that I don't hate the way I look but I still have a hard time accepting it and I also don't know how to accept it. (I'm sorry this is super long)
Thank you for making this video. I've struggled with body issues ever since I was a little kid. I grew tired of not fitting in and dealing with a body that isn't considered to be "attractive" by society's standards. I never could get into the whole body positivity movement. I recently learnt about body neutrality, and it made a lot of sense. It seems a lot more reasonable and achievable than the idea that you're always supposed to love your body and everything about it. :)
THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED TODAY! You don't know how much I have been beating myself up about my body this past weekend just because of an off comment someone had made about it. I let things people say REALLY get to me and it's so easy to go down a spiral. I know there is so much for me to work on and videos like this help a lot!
I also thought about my body more that i should last days so this is amazing in the time now... Also i know i should love myself but i just don't do it really deaply
In this social media world, I think everyone has insecurities about their own bodies. When you said you hated your arms but loved your friend's arm even though they are THE SAME - I felt that. I guess the grass is greener on the other side
ive just been thinking the last few days about how growing up when my mom and i left my abusive dad, we constantly were getting candies and sweets whenever we went out as a way to reward ourselves for going through hard times and thats how ive treated food my entire life now. i constantly treat it as a security blanket or tell myself im just rewarding myself bc i went through x & y and it leads me to binge eat insanely. i ate well over $300 worth of snacks in less than a week recently due to a car crash and this behavior is getting worse and worse along with periods of restricting. its really insane how much stuff in our childhood forms us
we have a similar body shape so while i was binge watching ur videos i was like “wow her body is so beautiful” and then it hit me that that body that i think is beautiful is similar to this body that i absolutely hate and shame everyday and that made me realize how toxic my relationship with my body is. hearing u talk about the problems and everything im going through rn made me feel so less alone and u really put me on the start of my loving myself journey. tysm omg:,))
Needed this video so much! I am trying to recover from an eating disorder anorexia and bulimia, i am very skinny but because of my previous bad/harmful eating/not eating habits i have a very sensitive stomach. Whenever i eat or try to eat more, even just a tiny bit, my belly bloats like crazy. I know that healing is a process and that my body is repairing all the damage i've done but it is SO HARD! eating like a healthy individual and not looking like a pregnant lady. So i am working on self-acceptance and just loving my body and supporting it in every way i can. Thank you 🙏🏻 for this video, Amy 🤍 i am going through a hard time and i appreciate all the love you share with us 🌸🤍🌸 love you all!
You have an army of support across from this screen, we believe in you and I promise the fight will be worth it! You’re body will heal and so will your mind 💕
I was right where you are two years ago and the bloating and stomach discomfort felt debilitating and isolating. I wish I had someone then to tell me it was all going to be okay. It was hard to feel beautiful or valuable when it felt like my body was against me, and I felt hopeless, like the stomach issues would never end. I would literally eat a handful of raspberries and look pregnant ten minutes later haha. It took time, patience, and radical self-love, but I slowly got better and better every month and am now the happiest and healthiest I have ever been. I understand how hard it feels to be waiting, but just be patient, and I promise your body and heart will heal, slowly but surely. Sending love to you! (Instagram is @nlicoe if you ever need someone to listen
Watching this in the morning puts me in such a good mood. Amy is like that girlfriend everyone should have: so positive, radiates love that seems so contagious!
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!! I know i've always thought this but didnt't know it fell under a differnt idea. this is so awesome. thank you for putting my thoughts into words 💕
Thank you for making this I’ve struggled with various ED for 10 years now. Currently in recovery. This gave me a new perspective. You are a gift. Sending love to you and all. 🙏🏽🔆🤍
Thank you for bringing this concept of body neutrality to me Amy💗 Only recently found your channel and your videos have already helped me so much. My first memory when I started seeing my body in a negative light was probably around age 11 - there wasn't any tragic backstory or something mean being said to me but I guess the constant praising of other girls my age with big eyes, small nose & fair skin by family members (mainly aunts and grandmothers) started to make me feel self conscious because when I looked in the mirror, it was my monolid eyes, wide nose and tanned skin that stared back at me. Once I became aware of my "less than ideal" features, it was like a switch had been turned on & my body image got progressively worse. Something else that really stuck with me was when I expressed my worries about my monolid eyes at age 12, I was "reassured" by the same aunts that I could always get plastic surgery to change them. I had never been aware of its existence until then but I started becoming obsessed with getting plastic surgery, fast forward I actually got my eyes altered hoping that my extreme self-consciousness would finally go away and that I'd finally feel worthy enough to dress nice, take pictures or go on a date. But to my surprise, I actually became more self conscious because the only physical feature I've been praised about since then is my eyes (and it's the only feature that isn't truly mine). The point you made about becoming "addicted" rings so true to me. It isn't like having a drug addiction per say, but after having my eyes done I started fixating on how wide my nose was and the list of things I wanted to alter just kept piling on. But deep down, I think I've always known that altering every bit of my features won't make me happy, which is why I've stopped getting anything else done - I still struggle at times on bad days when I feel absolutely worthless but I just have to remind myself that changing my features just seems alot easier in my head than to truly accept myself.
Coming across this term made me so happy! It perfectly embodies what I've been sharing for the past few years. Your body does so much for you each and everyday. Most of it occurs without a single thought. Your physical manifestation is your home and it belongs to you and you alone. It allows your spirit to reach so much further😊 Be thankful for your vessel and respect it.
Needed this today! I have been beating myself since gaining ten pounds during the pandemic. I moved back form Europe to the States and have been walking significantly less than I used to, which has affected me physically and mentally. My first memory of being self conscious about my weight was when I was 8 years old. I was hospitalized for kidney issues and was put on a liquid IV. While in the hospital, I went from 45 pounds to 51 pounds and I was DEVASTATED. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I felt disgusting. At 8 years old! I’m now 25 and still struggle to this day. But videos and comments like these really help me feel less alone and realize it is a common struggle many people endure. Thank you Amy! Much love
every new video I think "wow this is what I needed" but this one was needed at such an subconscious level I balled my eyes out when it triggered this wounded part of myself. thank you for this Amy.
Used to be very healthy/fit physically but looking back now I guess I have always struggled with dysmorphia to some degree, probably from my wonderful mum who is the healthiest person I know but always saying she's too fat and punishing herself. I have been struggling with binging for a while and have ended up on a 3 year break from working out but find it hard to relate to any of the videos about 'getting back on the right track', it just feels overwhelming. Thank you for the openness, I think I've found the right place to start ❤️
Excellent video! We are both in our 80's and are all about healthy aging. Getting older does have to mean getting sicker. We still strive for a strong body, a calm mind, & a positive outlook. The videos you present are very helpful.
I think as a woman my hardest relationship has had to be with my stomach - I’ve never achieved that 90s flat belly low rise jeans look and I feel like I resent myself for it even though when I look in the mirror I love my curves and I know others can see how good I look. I think I first noticed my belly when other girls could do harder gymnastics than me who didn’t have my belly - that was in 2nd grade.. You’re right Amy, it’s very healing to have let that out. Thanks for all you do!!!
the first time I remember being self-conscious was when I was like 10. my friend was talking about how fat her upper arms were and how she needed to go on a diet (she was TEN) and I just wanted to feel included so I said me too (even though I had never thought about my body in this way before that). after that day I started monitoring my weight and meals... truly, female socialization is wild. i just wanted to belong
As someone who identifies body neutrality, I would like to point out body positivity as a movement is still deeply important and why it’s important. Body positivity was a movement created by black fat women to include those pushed in the margins, disabled people, trans people, etc and have them think POSITIVELY about their bodies. All of these bodies have been told by society that they are “bad” bodies & systematically marginalized against. It can be easy to say that body positivity seems superficial but it’s radical to think of your body as a good body when society tells you doesn’t deserve to be seen as good. The modern bopo we see has taken a turn away from centering those people & mainly centering conventionally attractive thin white women & their looks so take that into account. Body neutrality movement today could not exist without the work done by bopo activists. (I am not implying she said any of this but some of the comments section made me feel like I needed to write this.)
true..something that will sustain. i used to want to achieve those IG bodies, but i wasn’t happy and can’t sustain it. i decided to be healthy, which is not to deprive myself, appreciate the beauty in a spectrum. see things deeper than what we ought to be
I think another REALLY important part about body neutrality that not alot of people realize is disability. Body positivity encourages you to love your body and that is REALLY hard to do when your body has betrayed you. I have Sjogrens, and secondary to that POTS, and ME/CFS, it is nearly impossible to love a body which causes me to fall regularly, which is in so much pain, and which is attacking itself, but to acknowledge that my body is doing the best it can given the circumstances and learning how to accept and come to terms with that has been such an important journey, and also selecting things like parts of my appearance and my skills to give a little more love to because they are things that assist me in my life has been really good for me as well. I just find that the concept of loving your body 100% for what it can do for you can be a little ablest at times, because for some of us our bodies cant do much, but our minds, our personalities, some parts of our appearance can be loved and the others can be accepted.
oh my gersh Amy i loved this so much!! thank you for all your amazing knowledge & sharing that knowledge with the world. i also think it's so important to recognize how the body positivity movement was created by Black fat femmes who, when we conceive ourselves as beautiful, are doing something radical and deconstructing notions of what beauty means (as it has been, and is currently, a eurocentric and anti-Black construct). I've felt for a long time that body neutrality goes more with my philosophy in life (bc i found body positivity to still be limiting) but i do think it's really important to honor the roots of that movement and to understand how it was co-opted by non-Black and non-fat people. i just think thats critical!!! thank you so much for all you shared. you're a gem
When you talked about when you influenced others with your dysmorphia/being effected by others negative self image that hit so hard for me. It felt like I saw my past experiences in a different light. AND THOSE AFFIRMATIONS!! I felt like if I believed them a lot of my issues would be fixed. Beautiful affirmations thank you!!
genuine question: what does it feel like talking about beauty neutrality while seemingly also liking the "story" you portray on social media via image (for ex. hair and makeup). I know the party line is "I don't dress for anyone, I dress for myself, or I dress for girls, not boys, etc." which I don't fully find to be true anymore, and at the same time, regardless, isn't producing and consuming your own reflection via selfies and portraits also a form of belief that your character can be portrayed by your image? I'm not saying this to be judgemental, but rather the "evidence" I notice in my feed where taking a self-love portrait (makeup or no makeup, via selfie or insta husband or not) does not really mitigate the root of anxiety. how are we going to get to the bottom of this? also i remember reading something that said, prior to the invention of the mirror, people wrote a lot less introspection literature, as if self-perception was tied to perception of our face.
I wonder the same thing. I went through a big change in mindset when undergoing some major life events and stopped wearing makeup completely, stopped straightening my curly hair, etc-- a lot of radical and vital self-acceptance. But eventually it got to the point where I placed judgement on women who choose to wear makeup and didn't post pictures of myself on my social media because it "didn't represent me," I started to have a bit of a 'holier than though' mentality. So I really think it is about balance and honesty. Rather than judging women who solely post pictures of themselves on Instagram, I appreciate their confidence because I understand that we do live in a society which values appearance so much. So I don't judge women (or anyone) who prescribe to the idea of body positivity, because I understand it is a step in a positive direction. And for some people, maybe body positivity is sustainable and all they really need to be comfortable with themselves. For me, I value myself based on my character, achievements, and interests. And I appreciate my body in all its imperfections because it is the vessel that allows me to communicate with others, spread kindness, laugh, do things I love, etc. Social media will never be perfect and genuine in the ways we want it to be, it's just not possible in our appearance focused society. So the best we can do as individuals is stay connected with ourselves and understand the root motivations for our actions and how our actions affect others. I.e. am I wearing makeup because I don't feel valued without it? Or am I wearing makeup because I love bright colors, glitter makes me happy, etc. It's really all about being in touch with ourselves. Sorry this is soooo long, this comment just resonated with me a lot!!!! Sending love
@@nicoleleary1000 " It's really all about being in touch with ourselves" I agree! I think being honest with ourselves means bringing our subconscious feelings to consciousness, so that there's no cognitive dissonance. If we want to do or not do something, we take ownership! Rather than pointing at something external as our motive.
i think i’ve always hated different parts of my body as i grew up and as society beauty standards changed, when i was in school i’d always hate my small boobs and big thighs but now years later out of school those don’t matter to me much anymore but now i’m more self conscious about my stomach and arms, i’m pretty average weight for my height but i still can’t stop looking in the mirror and seeing everything that’s wrong. thank you for the vid though i related a lot to everything you talked about so thank you for being so honest and open with us !! ily
When I hit puberty at 10 yrs old, I became so self conscious of my legs and ankles. I had a fixation on my ankles being fat- or kankles. I pretty much stopped growing at 10 and have been stuck at 5'2, but when I saw other girls my age who were much thinner and more delicate looking than me, I felt I must be fat. I was a little chunky as a kid tbf, but this feeling lasted long into my teens and beyond. I thought that just bc I had more fat on my body that I was fat. It didn't occur to me that I was simply just curvy or thicker naturally. Even at a time in college, when I was the smallest I had ever been on the scale, I didn't appear to be what was considered a healthy weight or body. Even when I felt cute, pretty, or even attractive, it didn't matter bc my body just wouldn't look thin. It took me a long time to realize that my body is what it is. I still struggle with it, but I am at least aware that my personal health means more than what others think when they see me.
I'm so glad i came across this comment! My situation is very similar as i hit puberty very young and am naturally curvy and petite. Despite getting compliments from other people about my figure, sometimes your biggest critic is yourself and just redirecting your thoughts to something greater than your looks may really help ❤
thank you so much for the words and the info, Amy. i started watching your videos two months ago when i started getting worse and i was so close to ending my life. i am telling you,,, thank you so much for helping me and please keep it up! you are amazing and your videos are amazing and it saved me when i was at my lowest and it i believe it’ll save a lot more people.
This video really helped the way I view myself and also how bizarre it is that I can look at someone who has exactly what I'm insecure about, think they're beautiful, and then turn around and be so mean to myself about that same thing. You have really helped me to not feel so alone and so crazy about my internal thoughts and emotions and you helped me understand that there isn't anything wrong with me. Thank you. What you're doing is affecting tons of young people who are growing up in a society that is designed to make us hate ourselves.
YES!! The book / instagram account “beyond beautiful” is incredible and I also love the account “beauty redefined” that you mentioned! That’s how I discovered and fell in love with body neutrality. I totally agree with what you said about body positivity. I’m so glad that you made this video!! Thank you 💗🥰
Growing up in a predominantly white area, I found that the first negative thought I had of my body was that, no one will ever find me attractive because of my skin colour. I wasn’t nor will I ever be white or skinny and for me growing up that is what I honestly thought was the only way to be attractive. It’s sad that some men in my life have proved this thought to be correct. You always inspire me Amy and are helping me realise that the way my body looks, does not determine my worth.
you opened my eyes about so many things!! everything seems so logical, but somehow tiktok has become so toxic for me. a lot of the "cool" girls are very thin and i feel like being super thin has become a new trend. only seeing these bodies being shown makes me feel less... which really isn't the point, like u said. thank u for the video
I love watching your videos! It's been a safe space for me mentally, physically, and emotionally!💕 I love what you do and keep being you! Your videos have helped and I just want to say I appreciate you!😊
This is amazing. You are so special and your videos make me think critically about my own experience and self image and how I interact with those around me. Always hoping the best for you and I hope you know your videos make the world a better place. THANK YOU!
Hi Amy! Thank you for explaining body neutrality for me. I once got into a heated discussion about body positivity. At that time, I chose the side of body positivity even though I couldn't properly articulate WHY I sided with it. I couldn't because I didn't completely believe in it myself. NOW I know why! So thank you, again. Growing up, and still to this day, I do not like the way my feet look. My toes are long. I have big feet. I consciously do not take any photos of them. I do not post them because they look weird and awkward to me.
My first memory of thinking negatively about my body was when I was 10 yrs old in ballet. I looked at my tummy in the mirror during dance class and noticed how I was slightly bloated. I felt horrible, seeing how skinny the other students in my class were. My ballet teacher always told me “Suck in your stomach I don’t want to see what you ate.” And I always felt bad for eating and feeling full after.. :/
That's awful! It's so sad how hard dancing (especially ballet) can be on young girls self-esteem. I've had friends who have developed eating disorders as a result of mean/strict teachers. I'm sorry your ballet teacher said that to you. You're a wonderful person & I hope you have a great week
Sometimes my coworkers talk about putting on weight and seeing their bodies getting bigger. I think it used to rub me the wrong way because my friends don't typically talk about our bodies and my family rarely talks about our bodies- so bringing attention to them gaining 3 or so pounds always felt so odd to me! I see them be a little down about gaining that weight- and looking at myself being maybe 20-30 pounds heavier I was always like.. well what do you think about me gaining a couple pounds? Should I be seeing it as negative? I think I'm accepting the fact that them being critical of themselves is not at all a criticism of myself and my body- bc they are such kind people I know they don't have bad intentions. I do hope they begin to not view their weight gain as negative, and just as a natural body process. I also hope their love for themselves and acceptance for themselves grows too! I'm working on myself and my mind everyday and am proud at how far I've come. Thank you Amy for sharing such uplifting videos and for giving such amazing insight to so many questions I ask myself.
This is the first time I’ve heard this term but I guess I’ve been body neutral for a long time. It doesn’t matter if other people/ society thinks you’re pretty or not. A lot of body positive people would agree with that. But I take it a step more. It doesn’t matter if YOU think you’re pretty or not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and YOU are one of those beholders. You don’t think you’re attractive? That’s OK. Your perception of your own attractiveness does not relate to your worth. It’s ok to not particularly like your appearance AS LONG AS you don’t devalue yourself because of it. Just accept it, treat your body and mind right, and keep on living.
My first bad thought about my body was my hollow and at the same time rounded back, I always felt so ugly and always let my hair grow over my back so that nobody can see it. Always trying to wear big sweaters, cause one very pretty girl i envied in secondary school said "your right i think your back is very disgusting" since them I struggle with it Your words helped me realize that I'm so worthy and lovable it doesn't matter how my back looks. Thank you
Hi Amy, i just wanted to say that this video is so special and has honestly helped me a lot. I always come back to it whenever im feeling down about my body. You and your videos are such a gift!!
thank you for being such a re-assuring human. you help validate a lot of stuff for people who never get to sit down and talk about these things with someone ❤️❤️❤️
Definitely needed to hear this ❤️ I can especially relate to thinking someone else with your body looks amazing but hating the very same characteristics in yourself.
I am so grateful for this video Amy!😭❤️ This is such a huge sign! I’ve been doing a lot of shadow work lately and a lot of body issues have been coming up, This really helps me gain a new perspective on radical self acceptance! Thank you!❤️
thank you so much for this! always love your genuine insight. i've been self-conscious about my body for a long time and i look forward to practicing more body neutrality moving forward! the story you shared about self-judgement and how it affects the space you create for others definitely inspired me to practice more self-awareness and accountability, too. favorite part of the last quote: "looking and feeling attractive are not gatekeepers to my happiness." much love to you and everyone else watching! 💛
I used to not think or care much about how my body looks and i still dont diet or care too much about what im eating but its the 'harmless' jokes about how skinny i am that are starting to get to me and i also realised i feel uncomfortable looking at my body in the mirror.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This literally brought so much clarity, I truly appreciate these conversation & honestly all that you do! So grateful for your existence 💛
Wow, I usually love your content but THIS video was so so so inspiring, really. You opened my eyes on things I would never have thought, like the fact that when we judge our body we are basically judging other people’s body too. Good job, this is exactly the kind of content we all need these days✨💪🏼♥️
Love your content and I truly think you have grown to be more and more beautiful. I think beauty is a manifestation of our inner energy and our desire to feel sexy and beautiful is totally valid. What’s important is being able to see our own beauty and amplifying it with our energy, instead of judging ourselves by beauty standards and feeling belittled.
I read a post about instead of focusing on “every body is beautiful” we should focus on “every body is valid” because the other one still puts a emphasis on beauty.
yes! i love that "every body is VALID" :D
Exactly! And a body doesn't need to be beautiful to function 😊
“ *Loving your body* isn’t believing it *looks good* ; it’s knowing your body *is good* regardless of how it looks” wow a whole new prospective, that one really hit home ❤️
ah i appreciate this comment so much :]
I’m sure this is a female centered space but I just wanted to say Amy as a straight black man these topics are taboo amongst my circles but I just want to thank you and say these videos have been a huge help.Since finding your channel last month I’ve restarted therapy, started journaling my thoughts and feelings and learning self-kindness. Good luck to you and all your viewers.
That’s so amazing! Sending love my guy
You go boss 👏
black non-binary here sending love and positivity your way, friend 💛
this is such a beautiful comment i am wishing you the best!!
❤
Your body is your home, not a prison. - A reminder I wrote to myself in a journal entry one day
I like that. :D
Omg its so good because i honestly feel like im stuck in my own body
Amy isn't aware of how many life's she's changing and healing just by her words, isn't that beautiful?
this is going to make me cry lol
@@amy_lee I love you so much!! Keep up the good work💞
I love that she doesn't even need to cut the video frequently. Her thoughts just flow freely and authentically. Really important ideas here, thank you Amy!
I love the concept of equilibrium. I think confidence doesn’t really have to mean you feel happy and positive all the time, but that you’re at peace with yourself and feel a healthy balance of emotions and treat your body with respect. humans are meant to oscillate within a moderate range of physical and mental health because we respond to our environment which is always changing. I gained a lot of weight in quarantine and now I’m back at school taking dance classes and structuring my eating better. I feel better not because I’m losing the weight but because my body is returning to the state I’m happiest in!
Love love love!
our bodies are powerful and strong vessels that allow us to experience this world. We are worth so much more than our appearance. thanks for sharing amy!
I was way to obsessed with the way I looked, because I always thought being pretty is everything in life. Right now I try to see my body in a more neutral way, accepting it and knowing that they way it looks does not say anything about me or my personality. It has no power to make me a better person. I try to focus on my health now and I‘m just thankful that my body is carrying my soul through this beautiful world.
This is going to be long, but I think this is a great space to share:
When I look back, every negative thought I've ever had about my body has been handed down to me by my mother. The first negative thought I ever had about my body was about my ears. When I was younger, I had big pointy ears, and always felt very insecure about it. My mom told me to wear a headband to sleep to make them move closer to my head. In middle school, I NEVER wore my hair up, and when I would have to put my hair up for science/chemistry labs, I would feel extremely self-conscious. When my boyfriend and I started dating a year and a half ago, on our first date, he told me he adored the way my ears stuck out from underneath my curly hair.
I have big full eyebrows, and when I was younger I had a unibrow. My mom started waxing and tweezing my eyebrows when I was seven years old, because they were "too bushy." When I was stressed, I used to pick at my eyebrows and I always hated them, I thought they made me look like a boy. Now I constantly get complimented on my eyebrows. I remember an incident where I was in the emergency room in 10th grade, and was having one of the worst days of my life, and the beautiful nurse who was caring for me, told me she wished she had my eyebrows.
These are just two examples. It has taken some major life events as well as time to grow out of these learned insecurities. It's so crazy what we can internalize from our parents and how critical we can be of ourselves.
Much love to everyone who read this far
i think i relate. aside from a sprinkling of comments from older relatives, i really can't remember anything mean someone has said about my body except repeatedly from my mom. it's really clear now that she was projecting some sort of self-hatred, and of course it's always more complicated when our parents aren't "full-on evil" people...that they also have a lot of attributes we're thankful for. but in any case, the strongest wave of body worry i've ever had to be immersed in was from my mom. and of course whenever i have brought it up to her, she would deflect with a "i'm ur mom, that's exactly why i can tell you these things no one else will"
Who else is in love with the thumbnail?🥺❤️ also, Amy is literally the most authentic person on earth
wau thank u sm 🥰
i remember being in 5th grade and trying to diet, so literally 9 years old.. i honestly find it heart wrenching!! i was a literal child and hated my stomach and thighs so much. i have one memory of laying on a trampoline with my friend, and asking if she could have any 5 things in the world, what would they be, and she said stuff like a dog, a phone etc. u know, KID STUFF. and then i went off and listed “flat stomach, thigh gap, nice nail beds, tanned skin”
it breaks my heart to think of my younger self :(
have been struggling alot with eating disorder recovery and my body image. this is everything i needed right now!! thank you for your words amy ❤️
My favourite quote on body neutrality: The body is the vessel that holds the soul.
Thank you! I always thought “body positivity” was the goal but to me, it wasn’t realistic. I didn’t feel the need to like love my body all the time, because the focus was still so much on appearance. I just wanted my body image to be neutral and just not so centered around physical goals. It feels like it has such a huge portion on my daily life. You’ve explained it so well in how I’ve been wanting to steer towards.
I love this so much. Being a part of the fitness community & a personal trainer, it’s important to me to help others find the balance between achieving their dream bodies at the same time as loving their body and their self for who they are and recognizing that our bodies don’t define us. You’re an amazing role model Amy💖
Sidney Heyuri wow what a beautiful comment thank you so much, swear I needed that so bad. Right back at you Sidney you have no clue how much yours words just positively impacted me. Have the best day ever✨
it’s really interesting to think about professions and hobbies that center our bodies and how we can find balance in them. I grew up doing gymnastics and now I dance, mostly ballet. in both, a level of strength, flexibility, endurance, etc is required just to get through training or rehearsal, but people do not need to be stick thin to move gracefully or powerfully! ballet has a very specific aesthetic and the industry is extremely slow to change in terms of inclusion, and in the mean time, I want to fundamentally challenge what it means to express through body movement.
Anybody that is struggling with eating disorder, I wish a day for you that you will be comfortable in your own body however size it is and when that day is, you'll feel you've won the hardest battle of your life. I promise 💕 may that day come sooner rather than later 🙏🏾💕
I'm a sophomore in high school and in 7th grade the first thought I ever had about my body was "do I have a potbelly" when I didn't even know what it was and still don't quite do. My whole life all I've heard and still do hear is "wow your so skinny" "I wish I was as skinny as you" "you should eat more you're like a stick" and being praised for my fast metabolism, and it did get very weird and brought me discomfort every time but I would always be told to take it as a compliment a that its a good thing so after a while I believed that being the way skinny and not being able to gain any physical weight, for the most part, was lucky. Then one day my aunt looked at me and said "I hope you're not getting a potbelly".The day I heard my aunt tell me that after we just had dinner at her house brought me the same discomfort as the "compliments" I had been getting but everyone started to laugh and make jokes like "I can never imagine you being fat" I didn't know what to do or say so I just awkwardly laughed it off and felt like everyone was now judging every single part of me. Before that day I had never really thought about how others see me or cared about what I looked like, I was always just told what to do and what to wear so I went along with it thinking it was normal for your parents to point out every flaw on your appearance and say "it's for your own good" when they realize that they're making you feel bad. I'm from an African family and they tend to point out everything about your appearance and basically judge you for it. I tried to act like I didn't care at all and shove it down like I usually did but this time it kept replaying in my head over and over again and it got to a point where I actually started to look at my body in the mirror and think "I shouldn't gain weight it wouldn't look good" I would get panic attacks in school because I let thoughts like "they can see everything" " they're all judging you" "you look awful" consume my mind and I couldn't tell anyone because my family would just reply with "pray about it ", and my friends that time would reply with "you should be glad you don't have to worry about gaining weight". Now that I'm older though I think I'm struggling a lot more with accepting my own self than accepting that others think differently of me. Deep down I know my worth and I know that I don't hate the way I look but I still have a hard time accepting it and I also don't know how to accept it. (I'm sorry this is super long)
Thank you for sharing
Nicole Leary Thank you so much ! I loved that i saw this at the start of my day, this really made my day ❤️
Another "pick me up" video for me
Her timing is always right, it's like she does these kinda videos exactly for me
Thank you for making this video. I've struggled with body issues ever since I was a little kid. I grew tired of not fitting in and dealing with a body that isn't considered to be "attractive" by society's standards. I never could get into the whole body positivity movement. I recently learnt about body neutrality, and it made a lot of sense. It seems a lot more reasonable and achievable than the idea that you're always supposed to love your body and everything about it. :)
THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED TODAY! You don't know how much I have been beating myself up about my body this past weekend just because of an off comment someone had made about it. I let things people say REALLY get to me and it's so easy to go down a spiral. I know there is so much for me to work on and videos like this help a lot!
I also thought about my body more that i should last days so this is amazing in the time now...
Also i know i should love myself but i just don't do it really deaply
Alma Sedlák Vendelová I am also working on loving myself!!
Not caring about the way you look is so liberating
In this social media world, I think everyone has insecurities about their own bodies. When you said you hated your arms but loved your friend's arm even though they are THE SAME - I felt that. I guess the grass is greener on the other side
Ikr
ive just been thinking the last few days about how growing up when my mom and i left my abusive dad, we constantly were getting candies and sweets whenever we went out as a way to reward ourselves for going through hard times and thats how ive treated food my entire life now. i constantly treat it as a security blanket or tell myself im just rewarding myself bc i went through x & y and it leads me to binge eat insanely. i ate well over $300 worth of snacks in less than a week recently due to a car crash and this behavior is getting worse and worse along with periods of restricting. its really insane how much stuff in our childhood forms us
Thanks for sharing Luna. Sending you love! You are valued
we have a similar body shape so while i was binge watching ur videos i was like “wow her body is so beautiful” and then it hit me that that body that i think is beautiful is similar to this body that i absolutely hate and shame everyday and that made me realize how toxic my relationship with my body is. hearing u talk about the problems and everything im going through rn made me feel so less alone and u really put me on the start of my loving myself journey. tysm omg:,))
Needed this video so much! I am trying to recover from an eating disorder anorexia and bulimia, i am very skinny but because of my previous bad/harmful eating/not eating habits i have a very sensitive stomach. Whenever i eat or try to eat more, even just a tiny bit, my belly bloats like crazy. I know that healing is a process and that my body is repairing all the damage i've done but it is SO HARD! eating like a healthy individual and not looking like a pregnant lady. So i am working on self-acceptance and just loving my body and supporting it in every way i can. Thank you 🙏🏻 for this video, Amy 🤍 i am going through a hard time and i appreciate all the love you share with us 🌸🤍🌸 love you all!
You have an army of support across from this screen, we believe in you and I promise the fight will be worth it! You’re body will heal and so will your mind 💕
@@Lindyluna1217 thank you!! 🙏🏻🤍 it means so much 🌸
I was right where you are two years ago and the bloating and stomach discomfort felt debilitating and isolating. I wish I had someone then to tell me it was all going to be okay. It was hard to feel beautiful or valuable when it felt like my body was against me, and I felt hopeless, like the stomach issues would never end. I would literally eat a handful of raspberries and look pregnant ten minutes later haha. It took time, patience, and radical self-love, but I slowly got better and better every month and am now the happiest and healthiest I have ever been. I understand how hard it feels to be waiting, but just be patient, and I promise your body and heart will heal, slowly but surely. Sending love to you! (Instagram is @nlicoe if you ever need someone to listen
@@nicoleleary1000 You are so kind 🌸
I am really tired of it all and just want to be okay and healthy again. Thank you for the love and support 🙏🏻🤍
Watching this in the morning puts me in such a good mood. Amy is like that girlfriend everyone should have: so positive, radiates love that seems so contagious!
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!! I know i've always thought this but didnt't know it fell under a differnt idea.
this is so awesome. thank you for putting my thoughts into words 💕
Thank you for making this I’ve struggled with various ED for 10 years now. Currently in recovery. This gave me a new perspective. You are a gift. Sending love to you and all. 🙏🏽🔆🤍
Thank you for bringing this concept of body neutrality to me Amy💗 Only recently found your channel and your videos have already helped me so much. My first memory when I started seeing my body in a negative light was probably around age 11 - there wasn't any tragic backstory or something mean being said to me but I guess the constant praising of other girls my age with big eyes, small nose & fair skin by family members (mainly aunts and grandmothers) started to make me feel self conscious because when I looked in the mirror, it was my monolid eyes, wide nose and tanned skin that stared back at me. Once I became aware of my "less than ideal" features, it was like a switch had been turned on & my body image got progressively worse. Something else that really stuck with me was when I expressed my worries about my monolid eyes at age 12, I was "reassured" by the same aunts that I could always get plastic surgery to change them. I had never been aware of its existence until then but I started becoming obsessed with getting plastic surgery, fast forward I actually got my eyes altered hoping that my extreme self-consciousness would finally go away and that I'd finally feel worthy enough to dress nice, take pictures or go on a date. But to my surprise, I actually became more self conscious because the only physical feature I've been praised about since then is my eyes (and it's the only feature that isn't truly mine). The point you made about becoming "addicted" rings so true to me. It isn't like having a drug addiction per say, but after having my eyes done I started fixating on how wide my nose was and the list of things I wanted to alter just kept piling on. But deep down, I think I've always known that altering every bit of my features won't make me happy, which is why I've stopped getting anything else done - I still struggle at times on bad days when I feel absolutely worthless but I just have to remind myself that changing my features just seems alot easier in my head than to truly accept myself.
"often it is the negative emotions of not feeling safe in your environment that lead you to do harmful & self-abusive behaviors" 😯 damn...
Coming across this term made me so happy! It perfectly embodies what I've been sharing for the past few years. Your body does so much for you each and everyday. Most of it occurs without a single thought. Your physical manifestation is your home and it belongs to you and you alone. It allows your spirit to reach so much further😊 Be thankful for your vessel and respect it.
Needed this today! I have been beating myself since gaining ten pounds during the pandemic. I moved back form Europe to the States and have been walking significantly less than I used to, which has affected me physically and mentally. My first memory of being self conscious about my weight was when I was 8 years old. I was hospitalized for kidney issues and was put on a liquid IV. While in the hospital, I went from 45 pounds to 51 pounds and I was DEVASTATED. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I felt disgusting. At 8 years old! I’m now 25 and still struggle to this day. But videos and comments like these really help me feel less alone and realize it is a common struggle many people endure. Thank you Amy! Much love
Such a lovely message 💞 were all just here trying to love ourselves more in this superficial society 😔
every new video I think "wow this is what I needed" but this one was needed at such an subconscious level I balled my eyes out when it triggered this wounded part of myself. thank you for this Amy.
Used to be very healthy/fit physically but looking back now I guess I have always struggled with dysmorphia to some degree, probably from my wonderful mum who is the healthiest person I know but always saying she's too fat and punishing herself. I have been struggling with binging for a while and have ended up on a 3 year break from working out but find it hard to relate to any of the videos about 'getting back on the right track', it just feels overwhelming. Thank you for the openness, I think I've found the right place to start ❤️
Excellent video! We are both in our 80's and are all about healthy aging. Getting older does have to mean getting sicker. We still strive for a strong body, a calm mind, & a positive outlook. The videos you present are very helpful.
I think as a woman my hardest relationship has had to be with my stomach - I’ve never achieved that 90s flat belly low rise jeans look and I feel like I resent myself for it even though when I look in the mirror I love my curves and I know others can see how good I look. I think I first noticed my belly when other girls could do harder gymnastics than me who didn’t have my belly - that was in 2nd grade..
You’re right Amy, it’s very healing to have let that out. Thanks for all you do!!!
the first time I remember being self-conscious was when I was like 10. my friend was talking about how fat her upper arms were and how she needed to go on a diet (she was TEN) and I just wanted to feel included so I said me too (even though I had never thought about my body in this way before that). after that day I started monitoring my weight and meals...
truly, female socialization is wild. i just wanted to belong
I love the fact that we always get to learn something from this Queen. Here's to breaking generational curses and perpetuating self awareness💞🎉
thank you for this, amy
My mum was constantly on diets when I was growing up. It taught me that my body was not ok and I had to do anything possible to change it.
As someone who identifies body neutrality, I would like to point out body positivity as a movement is still deeply important and why it’s important. Body positivity was a movement created by black fat women to include those pushed in the margins, disabled people, trans people, etc and have them think POSITIVELY about their bodies. All of these bodies have been told by society that they are “bad” bodies & systematically marginalized against. It can be easy to say that body positivity seems superficial but it’s radical to think of your body as a good body when society tells you doesn’t deserve to be seen as good. The modern bopo we see has taken a turn away from centering those people & mainly centering conventionally attractive thin white women & their looks so take that into account. Body neutrality movement today could not exist without the work done by bopo activists. (I am not implying she said any of this but some of the comments section made me feel like I needed to write this.)
I kept sighing from immense relief. I am happy I am not alone in this.
true..something that will sustain. i used to want to achieve those IG bodies, but i wasn’t happy and can’t sustain it. i decided to be healthy, which is not to deprive myself, appreciate the beauty in a spectrum. see things deeper than what we ought to be
I think another REALLY important part about body neutrality that not alot of people realize is disability. Body positivity encourages you to love your body and that is REALLY hard to do when your body has betrayed you.
I have Sjogrens, and secondary to that POTS, and ME/CFS, it is nearly impossible to love a body which causes me to fall regularly, which is in so much pain, and which is attacking itself, but to acknowledge that my body is doing the best it can given the circumstances and learning how to accept and come to terms with that has been such an important journey, and also selecting things like parts of my appearance and my skills to give a little more love to because they are things that assist me in my life has been really good for me as well.
I just find that the concept of loving your body 100% for what it can do for you can be a little ablest at times, because for some of us our bodies cant do much, but our minds, our personalities, some parts of our appearance can be loved and the others can be accepted.
oh my gersh Amy i loved this so much!! thank you for all your amazing knowledge & sharing that knowledge with the world. i also think it's so important to recognize how the body positivity movement was created by Black fat femmes who, when we conceive ourselves as beautiful, are doing something radical and deconstructing notions of what beauty means (as it has been, and is currently, a eurocentric and anti-Black construct). I've felt for a long time that body neutrality goes more with my philosophy in life (bc i found body positivity to still be limiting) but i do think it's really important to honor the roots of that movement and to understand how it was co-opted by non-Black and non-fat people. i just think thats critical!!! thank you so much for all you shared. you're a gem
I am so grateful to be able to watch your videos💙💛
When you talked about when you influenced others with your dysmorphia/being effected by others negative self image that hit so hard for me. It felt like I saw my past experiences in a different light. AND THOSE AFFIRMATIONS!! I felt like if I believed them a lot of my issues would be fixed. Beautiful affirmations thank you!!
genuine question: what does it feel like talking about beauty neutrality while seemingly also liking the "story" you portray on social media via image (for ex. hair and makeup). I know the party line is "I don't dress for anyone, I dress for myself, or I dress for girls, not boys, etc." which I don't fully find to be true anymore, and at the same time, regardless, isn't producing and consuming your own reflection via selfies and portraits also a form of belief that your character can be portrayed by your image?
I'm not saying this to be judgemental, but rather the "evidence" I notice in my feed where taking a self-love portrait (makeup or no makeup, via selfie or insta husband or not) does not really mitigate the root of anxiety. how are we going to get to the bottom of this?
also i remember reading something that said, prior to the invention of the mirror, people wrote a lot less introspection literature, as if self-perception was tied to perception of our face.
I wonder the same thing. I went through a big change in mindset when undergoing some major life events and stopped wearing makeup completely, stopped straightening my curly hair, etc-- a lot of radical and vital self-acceptance. But eventually it got to the point where I placed judgement on women who choose to wear makeup and didn't post pictures of myself on my social media because it "didn't represent me," I started to have a bit of a 'holier than though' mentality. So I really think it is about balance and honesty. Rather than judging women who solely post pictures of themselves on Instagram, I appreciate their confidence because I understand that we do live in a society which values appearance so much. So I don't judge women (or anyone) who prescribe to the idea of body positivity, because I understand it is a step in a positive direction. And for some people, maybe body positivity is sustainable and all they really need to be comfortable with themselves. For me, I value myself based on my character, achievements, and interests. And I appreciate my body in all its imperfections because it is the vessel that allows me to communicate with others, spread kindness, laugh, do things I love, etc. Social media will never be perfect and genuine in the ways we want it to be, it's just not possible in our appearance focused society. So the best we can do as individuals is stay connected with ourselves and understand the root motivations for our actions and how our actions affect others. I.e. am I wearing makeup because I don't feel valued without it? Or am I wearing makeup because I love bright colors, glitter makes me happy, etc. It's really all about being in touch with ourselves. Sorry this is soooo long, this comment just resonated with me a lot!!!! Sending love
@@nicoleleary1000 " It's really all about being in touch with ourselves" I agree! I think being honest with ourselves means bringing our subconscious feelings to consciousness, so that there's no cognitive dissonance. If we want to do or not do something, we take ownership! Rather than pointing at something external as our motive.
you are hitting all the right spots right there. ohmygosh. you are a life changer. excited every monday!
Amy this is such a new perspective for me.
I wish I knew about this earlier in life, but maybe this is the perfect time
thanks for this safe space
i think i’ve always hated different parts of my body as i grew up and as society beauty standards changed, when i was in school i’d always hate my small boobs and big thighs but now years later out of school those don’t matter to me much anymore but now i’m more self conscious about my stomach and arms, i’m pretty average weight for my height but i still can’t stop looking in the mirror and seeing everything that’s wrong. thank you for the vid though i related a lot to everything you talked about so thank you for being so honest and open with us !! ily
When I hit puberty at 10 yrs old, I became so self conscious of my legs and ankles. I had a fixation on my ankles being fat- or kankles. I pretty much stopped growing at 10 and have been stuck at 5'2, but when I saw other girls my age who were much thinner and more delicate looking than me, I felt I must be fat. I was a little chunky as a kid tbf, but this feeling lasted long into my teens and beyond. I thought that just bc I had more fat on my body that I was fat. It didn't occur to me that I was simply just curvy or thicker naturally. Even at a time in college, when I was the smallest I had ever been on the scale, I didn't appear to be what was considered a healthy weight or body. Even when I felt cute, pretty, or even attractive, it didn't matter bc my body just wouldn't look thin. It took me a long time to realize that my body is what it is. I still struggle with it, but I am at least aware that my personal health means more than what others think when they see me.
I'm so glad i came across this comment! My situation is very similar as i hit puberty very young and am naturally curvy and petite. Despite getting compliments from other people about my figure, sometimes your biggest critic is yourself and just redirecting your thoughts to something greater than your looks may really help ❤
Thank you Amy for your wise words as always,I'm forever grateful for your existence 💜💜💜🥺
whewww. i FELT THIS! especially "looking and feeling attractive are NOT gatekeepers to my happiness!"
thank you so much for the words and the info, Amy. i started watching your videos two months ago when i started getting worse and i was so close to ending my life. i am telling you,,, thank you so much for helping me and please keep it up! you are amazing and your videos are amazing and it saved me when i was at my lowest and it i believe it’ll save a lot more people.
This video really helped the way I view myself and also how bizarre it is that I can look at someone who has exactly what I'm insecure about, think they're beautiful, and then turn around and be so mean to myself about that same thing. You have really helped me to not feel so alone and so crazy about my internal thoughts and emotions and you helped me understand that there isn't anything wrong with me. Thank you. What you're doing is affecting tons of young people who are growing up in a society that is designed to make us hate ourselves.
YES!! The book / instagram account “beyond beautiful” is incredible and I also love the account “beauty redefined” that you mentioned! That’s how I discovered and fell in love with body neutrality. I totally agree with what you said about body positivity. I’m so glad that you made this video!! Thank you 💗🥰
Growing up in a predominantly white area, I found that the first negative thought I had of my body was that, no one will ever find me attractive because of my skin colour. I wasn’t nor will I ever be white or skinny and for me growing up that is what I honestly thought was the only way to be attractive. It’s sad that some men in my life have proved this thought to be correct. You always inspire me Amy and are helping me realise that the way my body looks, does not determine my worth.
you opened my eyes about so many things!! everything seems so logical, but somehow tiktok has become so toxic for me. a lot of the "cool" girls are very thin and i feel like being super thin has become a new trend. only seeing these bodies being shown makes me feel less... which really isn't the point, like u said. thank u for the video
I love watching your videos! It's been a safe space for me mentally, physically, and emotionally!💕 I love what you do and keep being you! Your videos have helped and I just want to say I appreciate you!😊
This is amazing. You are so special and your videos make me think critically about my own experience and self image and how I interact with those around me. Always hoping the best for you and I hope you know your videos make the world a better place. THANK YOU!
Watching your videos is a part of my night routine🦋💘 I love that you created a safe place for everyone💓
Hi Amy! Thank you for explaining body neutrality for me. I once got into a heated discussion about body positivity. At that time, I chose the side of body positivity even though I couldn't properly articulate WHY I sided with it. I couldn't because I didn't completely believe in it myself. NOW I know why! So thank you, again.
Growing up, and still to this day, I do not like the way my feet look. My toes are long. I have big feet. I consciously do not take any photos of them. I do not post them because they look weird and awkward to me.
this is EXACTLY what i needed to hear rn
Same!
Okay completely off topic but is anyone else noticing how her hair and makeup matches the dress? Idk if that was intentional but wow 🥺❤️❤️
My first memory of thinking negatively about my body was when I was 10 yrs old in ballet. I looked at my tummy in the mirror during dance class and noticed how I was slightly bloated. I felt horrible, seeing how skinny the other students in my class were. My ballet teacher always told me “Suck in your stomach I don’t want to see what you ate.” And I always felt bad for eating and feeling full after.. :/
That's awful! It's so sad how hard dancing (especially ballet) can be on young girls self-esteem. I've had friends who have developed eating disorders as a result of mean/strict teachers. I'm sorry your ballet teacher said that to you. You're a wonderful person & I hope you have a great week
Hannah Eve thanks girl you tooooo🌞
Sometimes my coworkers talk about putting on weight and seeing their bodies getting bigger. I think it used to rub me the wrong way because my friends don't typically talk about our bodies and my family rarely talks about our bodies- so bringing attention to them gaining 3 or so pounds always felt so odd to me! I see them be a little down about gaining that weight- and looking at myself being maybe 20-30 pounds heavier I was always like.. well what do you think about me gaining a couple pounds? Should I be seeing it as negative?
I think I'm accepting the fact that them being critical of themselves is not at all a criticism of myself and my body- bc they are such kind people I know they don't have bad intentions. I do hope they begin to not view their weight gain as negative, and just as a natural body process. I also hope their love for themselves and acceptance for themselves grows too!
I'm working on myself and my mind everyday and am proud at how far I've come. Thank you Amy for sharing such uplifting videos and for giving such amazing insight to so many questions I ask myself.
This is the first time I’ve heard this term but I guess I’ve been body neutral for a long time. It doesn’t matter if other people/ society thinks you’re pretty or not. A lot of body positive people would agree with that. But I take it a step more. It doesn’t matter if YOU think you’re pretty or not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and YOU are one of those beholders. You don’t think you’re attractive? That’s OK. Your perception of your own attractiveness does not relate to your worth. It’s ok to not particularly like your appearance AS LONG AS you don’t devalue yourself because of it. Just accept it, treat your body and mind right, and keep on living.
I love AM with Amy videos sm 🥰🥺
My first bad thought about my body was my hollow and at the same time rounded back, I always felt so ugly and always let my hair grow over my back so that nobody can see it. Always trying to wear big sweaters, cause one very pretty girl i envied in secondary school said "your right i think your back is very disgusting" since them I struggle with it
Your words helped me realize that I'm so worthy and lovable it doesn't matter how my back looks. Thank you
If you dislike your body, ask yourself if you would not like another person if she had your body or if you would dislike your body "on" someone else
yaas secure the coin ✨ the am with amy price going upp
Thank you for opening up this convo Amy. I always learn something new from your videos!!
Such a BEAUTIFUL video! Thank you so much for reminding me of my worth regardless of appearance. ✨🙏🏻
This topic meant a lot to me thank you honestly thank you 🥺🤍.
Your hair girl 😍
yay we have the same style of upper arm flower tattoo
I love you. You're the second best conversational/commentary youtuber I've found. You seem to ooze peace and serenity.
Hi Amy, i just wanted to say that this video is so special and has honestly helped me a lot. I always come back to it whenever im feeling down about my body. You and your videos are such a gift!!
My eyes r closed and I’m breathing this in
dang ur literally so inspiring
Thank you, Amy!🌹
thank you love. I needed this today.
I love your Videos❤️I am currently struggling with body dysmorphia and listening to you helps me so much
thank you for being such a re-assuring human. you help validate a lot of stuff for people who never get to sit down and talk about these things with someone ❤️❤️❤️
Love your body, love this message 💗
Definitely needed to hear this ❤️ I can especially relate to thinking someone else with your body looks amazing but hating the very same characteristics in yourself.
I am so grateful for this video Amy!😭❤️ This is such a huge sign! I’ve been doing a lot of shadow work lately and a lot of body issues have been coming up, This really helps me gain a new perspective on radical self acceptance! Thank you!❤️
Sidney Heyuri This really lifts my spirits since shadow work can be really tedious, Thank you!❤️ You are a beautiful soul✨
thank you so much for this! always love your genuine insight. i've been self-conscious about my body for a long time and i look forward to practicing more body neutrality moving forward! the story you shared about self-judgement and how it affects the space you create for others definitely inspired me to practice more self-awareness and accountability, too.
favorite part of the last quote: "looking and feeling attractive are not gatekeepers to my happiness."
much love to you and everyone else watching! 💛
I used to not think or care much about how my body looks and i still dont diet or care too much about what im eating but its the 'harmless' jokes about how skinny i am that are starting to get to me and i also realised i feel uncomfortable looking at my body in the mirror.
Amy, I love your content, it adds such value to my life. Thank-you 💜
Loved this topic! How you addressed it is on point.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This literally brought so much clarity, I truly appreciate these conversation & honestly all that you do! So grateful for your existence 💛
WE NEED A PODCAST GURLLLL
Amy, you are absolutely inspiring! Thank you for this talk
Wow, I usually love your content but THIS video was so so so inspiring, really. You opened my eyes on things I would never have thought, like the fact that when we judge our body we are basically judging other people’s body too. Good job, this is exactly the kind of content we all need these days✨💪🏼♥️
Love your content and I truly think you have grown to be more and more beautiful. I think beauty is a manifestation of our inner energy and our desire to feel sexy and beautiful is totally valid. What’s important is being able to see our own beauty and amplifying it with our energy, instead of judging ourselves by beauty standards and feeling belittled.
i resonate with body neutrality so much. thank you for talking about this ❤️