What being overweight taught me

Slowly during my final year of university up until now (which is over 2 years after graduating), I've put on weight. It's been a little bit at a time, slowly. I've developed bad eating habits which have made something I thought wouldn't happen to happen. Here are my favourite "skinny" pictures of myself:

My 18th Birthday

In my back garden when I was 15/16.

Looking at these pictures, I can't believe how skinny my arms are, how my cheekbones seem more pronounced and how I somehow look taller. I will be like this again, but probably not right away!

This being said, I feel a lot of good has come from being overweight, which I don't feel I would know without putting on some food baby pounds:

• I've learnt to accept my body shape - I've always thought I'd finally get boobs if I put on weight, but just haven't. I've learnt that I might not ever have a flat stomach (I've never had one even at my skinniest). Naturally I have more of a pear shape - skinny or not, which means I'm smaller on top and have a bigger bum.
• I've learnt I can't be perfect - I've always thought if I put on weight, I might get more curves, but sometimes you can't look the way you envision. It's all about being healthy!
• I've learnt to emphasise my good parts - I'm small chested, so can often wear things that other women can't. Being more self-conscious about my stomach, I am careful not to wear fitted or bodycon dresses which I like the look of. I think it's important to know what suits you
• I've learnt the styles that suit me/what I like - I like particular colours more like khaki, green, purple, blue, maroon or black; I think they suit me best. I like skirts and dresses, layering, wearing legging and tapered trousers. I love more formal/office outfits.
• I've learnt what I like most about myself - I like my bum and walk a lot so get a lot of tone in my legs.

With these new views and help with body confidence, it's made me more determined to lose weight - get in better shape for me, to boost my confidence and more importantly to be healthy. I've always been like I will do it one day, but after going to the doctor, I got the shock I needed. Apparently I've got a BMI of 30, which although it means I'm not obese, I do need to do something as I'm officially in the overweight category. I'm determined to eat more veg, limit my chocolate and keep active. I want to be able to maintain my figure - not to cut everything out that I like. It's just a shame I like most of the unhealthy stuff - cheese, pasta, bread, chips, chocolate, sweets, all the bad things.

I will maybe keep you updated on healthy things I'm enjoying, adaptions to my diet and any forms of exercise I've taken up.

Have you found particular things suit you? Does anything in particular help with your body confidence? I'd love to hear it!