Events

The year 2020 is all about self-love, which is why we are thankful for the body positive influencers that remind us that you don’t have to be a runway model with a size zero waist to be beautiful!

Body positivity is often confused with promoting obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle, when in reality it’s just a bashing to the decades old assumption that all women look the same, and it’s not okay to be different! Women – and men – come in all shapes and sizes, with stretch marks, beauty marks, and many other “flaws”, and that’s completely normal, and all are as worthy of love and happiness!

Here’s 5 body positive influencers we live in the region and we think you should check them out too! …

1. Ameni Esseibi

Being the first curvy model in the Middle East, Ameni Esseibi is an inspiration to us all! She poses with confidence wearing her stretch marks with pride, reminding us that you can be beautiful no matter what size you are, and without being airbrushed and photoshopped into perfection. Ameni Esseibi is the best reminder that stretch marks are normal and that all bodies are summer bodies no matter the size.

2. Danae Mercer

Probably one of the most candid influencers in the region, Danae loves showing everyone tricks about the difference good and bad lighting can make and how it can affect the image, as well as teaching her followers how to pick out a photoshopped body in comparison to a natural body. Danae also likes to remind all of us that real skin bends, stretches and doesn’t always have to look perfect. We love Danae because she’s real, natural, and isn’t afraid to tell it as it is, which helps people feel natural for having flaws. Oh and she’s a #CrazyCatLady too!

3. Waleed Shah

A commercial photographer whose passion is to click the truth, Waleed Shah tends to captivate us in all his photography. However, his #RockYourUgly collection is by far our favourite! Waleed focuses on the “ugly” bits in his models; the things people don’t normally show on social media, such as scars, injuries, discolouration, a little bit of extra squish here and there, and turns them into breathtaking photographs that highlight the ugly bits and showcases them as normal, or even beautiful. We love the elegance of his black and white photographs, and the message behind this collection is why he’s one of our favorite body positive influencers.

4. Shahad Salman

The gorgeous Shahad Salman is one of our favourite body positive influencers around, as she showcases her vitiligo proudly, and is an inspiration to anyone with this skin condition. We love that she doesn’t let her unique skin stop her from chasing her dreams, as she modelled previously for luxury brands as well as is pursuing many other fashion and beauty brands, just as she is.

5. Yara Ayyoob

Known for her artistic and bold makeup looks, Yara challenges the beauty standards in her own unique way. Her different make-up looks and her on-point eyebrows positively motivate all beauty-lovers out there! We love her because make-up is an art, and there’s space for everyone to be an artist in their own way, which she confirms by just being herself and going all out!

Layan AlJammal

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Who doesn’t crave a chocolate bar to feed their sweet tooth? Or eat a full bag of crisps when all you wanted was one? Even the healthiest and strong willed among us have fallen prey to cravings and binge eating at some point in our lives. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult to fight the cravings. Here are some tips I find easy to implement to make sure the cravings don’t get the better of us.

Plan your meals – Make sure you plan your meals, everything from breakfast to snacks. Understand what the right time to eat is and plan your meals to include times when you are most prone to snacking. A good schedule looks like the below:

• Breakfast: 8-11am
• Snack: 11 am – 12.30pm
• Lunch: 12.30 – 3.30pm
• Snack: 4 – 6 pm
• Dinner: 6-9 pm

Healthy snacking options – Your snack options are important and should be controlled. A piece of fruit, handful of nuts or even if it is some crisps, make sure it’s a controlled portion. Don’t sit with a huge packet of crisps as it will tempt you to finish. An amazing snacking option for your evening sugar fix is a banana and black coffee as it regulates your blood sugar.

Flavourful wholesome meals – Add herbs and spices in your meals, and make sure they are a good balance of carbs greens and protein. Start with greens, have a salad before your meals and loose the dressing please.

Find healthy options – We all love pancakes and noodles, but there is always a healthy option for them on the internet. Try to avoid refined sugar and processed flour. Look for natural sources of sugar and whole-wheat options. Buckwheat, amaranth and millet all make good alternatives for flour. Honey, Maple syrup and Stevia are good options for sugar. Make sure you are making the right substitution when required.

Understand your cravings – Why are you craving the chocolate or a bag of crisps? Is it something you crave for when you’re going to get your period or are you stress eating?

Understand when you crave foods and how the emotions affect your cravings, and stock up on healthier options. Choose good sources of fat and sugar to make sure you have something to fill the emotional space but are not binging on something that will disrupt your good eating habits for the week.

Also, sometimes your body misunderstands thirst for hunger, which brings us to the most important point.

HYDRATE – Drink a lot of water, especially in the middle of Dubai summer. Make sure you don’t step out without a bottle of water. Aim for 3 – 4 litres of water in a day and try to hold yourself accountable for your targets.

Sonika

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