An influencer who has posted photos showing off her weight gain says she refuses to hate her figure - and has encouraged other people to love themselves.
Bella Davies, who is based in Sydney, posted a photo of her stunning figure on Instagram with an honest caption detailing her weight gain and how it sometimes makes her feel.
She wrote: "My face is getting rounder and my stomach softer. Exercise is beginning to feel like a chore.
"I feel heavy, sluggish and sadly uncomfortable. My body has changed and I'm trying to adapt to the weight gain."
She added she was beginning to see cellulite develop "in places I didn't know it could," and that her arms now jiggle when she walks.
Acknowledging the change in her figure, Bella said it's "tough" to adjust to looking a different way than you used to.
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But she said she refuses to hate her body - and hoped others reading her post will follow suit.
"I hope you refuse to be disgusted with yourself when your favourite dress no longer zips up.
"I hope you refuse to feel guilty when consuming a delicious doughnut.
"I hope you refuse to feel ashamed for putting on weight. Because there's nothing shameful about gaining weight."
She added that while your weight might change, "your worth has not."
Bella wrote: "You are not unlovable, unworthy or unattractive because you gained weight."
She encouraged others to show their body some "kindness and appreciation" and added: "You are a masterpiece."
In another post, Bella opened up about how her weight gain stopped her from wanting to have sex with her partner.
She wrote: "'Does my body feel softer to him? Heavier? Does he notice I've gained weight? Do I still turn him on?' I wonder."
But she added she wanted to dispel the myth that just because your body has changed, you are somehow unworthy of intimacy.
She said: "Stop letting your body insecurities hold you back from enjoying intimacy."
In response, people praised Bella in the comments underneath the post.
One person wrote: "You are the best."
Another said: "Needed to read this. Thank you."
Explaining her history of body confidence issues, Bella wrote that she was just 16 years old when she joined a bikini body challenge in the hope of becoming "thin."
She slammed the diet and beauty industry "for taking years of my precious life away from me."
One person told her: "You need to write a book I swear!"
Do you have a real life story to share? Email jessica.taylor@reachplc.com
