I Heart My Body 2012

It's that time of the year again. Time for the "I Heart My Body" campaign & beautiful women everywhere, of every shape and size, to tell the word not only that they heart their bodies, but also why.

I participated in the "I Heart My Body" campaign last year and for the most part, received nothing but positive feedback. But I dedicate this post to the haters from last year. Why? Because I'm doing it again. Because I do heart my body and in the spirit of the campaign, I am shouting it from the highest mountain top I have: My blog.

I love that my body puts up with the beating I give it - football and scootering down huge hills... It may not always serve me so well. It's terrifically unco. But it keeps on going and keeps on being beautiful! This year, I am highlighting my favourite parts of my body.

I heart my body!

I heart my stomach. It may not be perfect but it's the part of my body that makes me feel sexiest

I heart my stupid little middle toe on my right foot. I don't know what its deal is but like the rest of me, it's not perfect and a little bit quirky for no good reason.

I heart my freckles. It's taken me a loooooong time to get to this point after years of teasing, but I do. Especially the three freckles on my right knee that spell out VIP. Can you see them?

I heart my smile. This is another thing that has taken me years to love. My smile has always been my most complimented feature, with the words "Your smile just lights up a room" being the most common compliment I receive. But after 13 months of braces, I finally see what everyone else has always seen and I heart my smile.

Miss SAMawdsley xx

Questions:

• Name three things you heart about your body!
• If you have a blog, join the I Heart My Body campaign here!

Haters gonna hate

"Honestly, I don't have time to hate people who hate me, because I'm too busy loving people who love me."

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First of all, I am proud of my "I heart my body" post. My boyfriend is proud of my post. My best friend is proud of my post. My dad is proud of my post. Of course I don't regret it. The point was to join in with the 'I heart my body 2011' campaign and to proudly declare "This is my body! It may not be perfect but it fits me just right!" (I've included links to some other amazing bloggers who love their bodies at the end of this post!)

I've been told I received some petty bitchiness negative responses that likened my post to porn and declared the sole reason for my post to be seeking attention. I think I was also called a whore, but don't quote me. I didn't actually read it.

Well I'm flattered that a photo of me in comfy boy-shorts and a bra, sans make-up, with a simple plait and bare feet can be misconstrued as porn. I really am. Fellow-'I heart my body 2011'-bloggers, you can now add 'Porn Star' to your resume because we be sexy!

I believe I was called 'attention-seeking'. To that I say, "duh'! It's a blog! If it was a secret journal just for me, it would be my diary and it would be hidden under my pillow with a padlock keeping it safe!" The purpose of my blog is to raise my public profile! I've received 241 views on that post alone (correct at the moment of publishing.) This is from links shared on two Facebook posts and three tweets! Interestingly, less than I normally publicise a blog post.

My other thought is this. I have a BMI of 21.5 and I'm a size 10. I wonder if the comments would have been the same if I had a BMI of 31.5 and was a size 18. Perhaps I would have been applauded for my bravery rather than scorned for 'attention-seeking'?

Perhaps not. Haters gonna hate, right?

And in the immortal words of Mr Gump, "That's all I have to say about that." I only have time (and the desire) for positive things in my life!

Miss SAMawdsley xx

Some bloggers who heart their bodies:

• Sarah from People don't eat enough fudge!
• Stacey from Veggie Mama
• Lori from Random Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mum
• Kate from Kate says stuff
• Victoria from V Shhh
• Lucy from Lucy in the sky with diamonds
• Kimmie & Heartpoet from The Serendipity Cafe

I heart my body!

I promised yesterday I wouldn't blog about death for a while. So that will be the last mention of the D word for this post!

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I was inspired (again) by the most amazing blogger I know, Miss Lori (Random Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mum) and her post: "Everybody's body is beautiful!" If you have a blog, you should join in too!

Here's the "I heart my body" deal:

If someone asked you what you love about your body would you be able to answer them right away?

Or would you instead think of all the lumpy bits first?

Today is I Heart My Body day and we are doing just that.

Loving our bodies just as they are.

To join in all you need to do is post a picture to your blog and tell us what YOU love about your body.

So... here it is!

So what do I love about my body?

I heart my curves. I love that even though I'm not very big, I still somehow manage to have a classic hourglass figure. (Something only 8% of the population has, apparently).

I heart that little dippy line thing that runs straight down the middle of my tummy.

Confidence = sexy

I heart that my boobs aren't very big and I can still get away with wearing a top with no bra.

I heart that (most of the time) my body can get me through a 90 min football game and do amazing things with a football without too much input from my brain.

Hands up if you heart your body!

It may not be perfect but I heart my body!

Miss SAMawdsley xx

PS: Unfortunately, not everyone loves their body. Read one story here: Taking the plunge