Is it a shift that can be attributed to learning loving my body each and every day? To be honest, that's something I'm still striving towards. For now, the relief of foregoing another year of monitoring the scale feels like a weight off within itself. 

Working for a brand that elevates people of all shapes and sizes to supermodel status has surely helped and, surprisingly, social media has, too. TikTok has been a portal into seeing so many different types of bodies thrive and the likes of influencers, like Body Confidence Coach Tiffany Ima, have helped me peel back the layers of disapproval and learn to embrace my body — exactly where it is today. Recently, we sat down and chatted with Tiffany about just that.

This time of year tends to lend itself to "resolutions" and notions of "self optimization." What if we just invested all that energy into meeting ourselves where we are today?

(Tiffany Ima sporting Knix HiTouch Leggings and the Catalyst Zip Front Sports Bra in Pink Sorbet)

I think that is EXACTLY what is necessary! Setting goals is a great thing, but most resolutions tend to be surface level and non specific. I encourage people to assess what their needs truly are so they can make real positive changes. Sometimes resting right where you are is the most necessary!

You do a lot of work surrounding ditching body shame and boosting self-confidence. How do you empower yourself and others to feel at home in the bodies they have now?

I empower people to understand that their body is not their worth. Yes, we have bodies, and we may or may not like them. I firmly believe that liking your body is not something that is required to treat your body with honor and respect.

It's all about flipping perspectives. When I was recovering from my eating disorder, I found the biggest barrier was feeling like I needed to mold myself into a specific image in order to be valuable to myself and others. Realizing that my body's appearance is the least valuable thing about me helped me move forward.

Diet culture often stipulates that certain foods are “good” and others “bad” — in reality, food has no moral value. How can we deprogram that kind of thinking?

I believe that food is food. Of course there are preferences, allergies, intolerance, etc, but over all, we should be able to eat what we want. Taking moral value out of foods also removes that "guilty pleasure" mindset that leads a lot of people to binge on certain foods.

There is a way to properly nourish our bodies without heavy restriction. I subscribe to the Intuitive Eating model as written by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, and often refer to the book as a guide. We need to be in tune with our body's needs and pay attention to hunger cues. 

One of the pitfalls of the body positivity movement is that it can inspire feelings of inadequacy and shame when we’re not able to love ourselves. What is body neutrality? Can it help us embrace those difficult feelings?

(Tiffany Ima sporting Knix HiTouch Leggings and the Catalyst Zip Front Sports Bra in Pink Sorbet)

I definitely see that happening within the movement and believe that is because body positivity was never about empowering and loving yourself. It was intended to be about liberation for bodies who experienced marginalization and discrimination, especially fat, black, and brown bodies. I think the shift watered down the message and started to push for loving yourself, but didn't actually tell people HOW to do that in a way that is truly fulfilling.

With that said, body neutrality can definitely help people who struggle to have a positive outlook on their body! Body neutrality is more about having neither overly positive or negative feelings about our body. I think it's a great shift if you have had negative feelings for a long time — it is hard to go from hate to love!

How can we work towards accepting (celebrating, even) that our bodies are ever-changing? 

It's a mindset shift! We have to deprogram our minds from what society tells us. We've been taught that being thin and always looking youthful is what is acceptable. But bodies change as they age. They change with altering lifestyles. 

I like to think of my body as a phase of life. One of my favorite Instagram posts is a Now vs Now side by side instead of a before and after. I encourage everyone to join in with hashtag #celebratemyrightnowbody.

Do you think body confidence is something everyone has the power to achieve?

ABSOLUTELY. We all have that power, but some of us need extra help. You absolutely HAVE TO desire that change with every fiber of your being, especially if you are battling an eating disorder.   

That means being willing to take the steps you need to in order to step into that power. Find a therapist. Find a dietician familiar with HAES and intuitive eating. Journal. Educate yourself. Be honest and realistic with yourself and have hard conversations. Be positively relentless in the pursuit of body confidence.

How can we honor the bodies we have right now, wherever we might be on our wellness or body confidence journeys? 

One thing I love to do is thank my body for where it's gotten me and what it does for me. There is so much beauty and power in simply saying thank you.