Is being thin equal to being healthy? Do stretch marks mean you’re fat? Is the weight on a scale an indicator of who you are and how you should live your life? The answer for every one of these questions is no. 

You can work out every day and still be plump, and that is OK. It doesn’t mean you are unhealthy or you are going to have health issues in the future. Because everybody is different, what works for one person may not work for another. Sometimes body positivity is looked at as a way to justify an unhealthy lifestyle, which is both wrong and could prove harmful. Body positivity is owning who you are. It means you should not hold back from things that have the potential to make you happy because of the way you look. It means embracing the fact that you were born with a certain body type, and it is your responsibility to make the best of it. 

Do stretch marks mean you’re fat?

Stretch marks do not mean you’re fat. They mean you’re evolving. They are extremely common. From curvy people to thin people, all of us can get stretch marks when experiencing a rapid growth spurt. These thin lines form on layers of our skin when it stretches to make more room for us. Growing up, the little pencil markings on the wall after every height check gave us such a giddy sense of pride. Stretch marks are exactly the same thing, but on our bodies. They’re signs of growth that we get to carry forever. Did you know even muscle gain can cause stretch marks. It does not have anything to do with being fat. So the next time you look at your stretch marks on your knees, your breasts, your thighs, your hips, your stomach, your shoulders, your butt, or anywhere else, don't curse them. Look at them and think of how much you’ve grown as a person.

Society has taught us that weight and appearance are of utmost importance. They have decided exactly what number and size a person can be classified as beautiful. It’s this stigma aastey is attempting to overcome. We’re trying to create a mindset where people can do and be what they feel like in their own skin. Our body carries us 24/7 since the day we are born, let's be kinder to our bodies and ourselves. You don’t need to lose weight or gain weight to be considered beautiful. Do that to be a healthier version of yourself and not merely to fit in. All of us are in the eternal pursuit of becoming a better version of ourselves, but that does not mean we have to hate our bodies or compare ourselves to others. Strive to become a better version of yourself from a place of self-love and not from a place of insecurity.

We want everyone to stop comparing themselves and live aastey.