As I hear more and more people talking about wanting to starve themselves in the days or weeks leading up to vacation, I can't help but feel frustrated and upset. It hurts me to see so many girls who are so young and beautiful body-shaming and feeling like the only solution to their problems is to just extremely low calorie diets and be extremely strict on themselves in the gym.

The Problem: The reason this bothers me so much is because even if you are just switching to a healthier diet or working out more, it is for the wrong reasons. Eating right is not a punishment and neither is working out. Many people have this horrible connotation with being "healthy" or "fit" because they think it requires so much energy and will be mentally and physically draining. 

The solution: The only solution there is to this issue is to stop dieting a week before vacation, because let's all face it- it never really works anyways. Try adding more healthy foods into your diet every day, and they will end up replacing some of the alternative foods that might be lower in nutrition or more calorie dense. If you don't work out regularly, try to get a workout in 4 or 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day. If you do already workout regularly, try to switch up your routine so that your body doesn't get used to the workout, hence making it less effective. Up your water and try to drink 8 or more glasses a day and even add some lemon or fruit for extra flavor and nutrients.

It is so upsetting hearing girls my age, younger, and older making comments about how they are "fat" and feel worthless when they are beautiful young girls that have so much more to them then their weight. If you are going on vacation, don't go to extremes to try to make a quick fix because it will make you feel even worse in the long run and you will regret putting yourself through that one day. If you want to make a change, do it in a healthy way.