Is 't weer die tijd? Fitnessmodel toont welk effect menstruatie op haar lichaam heeft (foto's)

Malin Olofsson - een Instagram-chick met 14K volgers die ook aan gewichtheffen doet, en ooit aan anorexia leed - toont op de sociale fotosite wat menstruatie met haar lichaam doet. Het 'fenomeen' is iets dat door ons - mannen - nogal wat ontweken wordt, we houden er dan ook niet echt van en het is een 'vrouwenkwestie'. Tampons meebrengen van de winkel, dat is eigenlijk al een brug te ver... Of de gekende grapjes: "Denk je dat menstruatie zwaar is? Krijg dan maar eens op FIFA een goal binnen in minuut 95!"

Door de foto's te tonen en erover te praten wil het fitnessmodel dat taboe wat doorbreken. Ze schrijft: "Sommigen hebben dit al gezien, anderen niet. Sommigen van jullie ondergaan dit zelf elke maand. Sommigen zullen gedegouteerd zijn. Anderen zullen denken: 'Oef, ik ben niet alleen!' Sommigen zullen deze tekst niet lezen en gewoon denken dat ik zwanger ben."

En zo gaat Olofsson verder om uiteindelijk af te sluiten met: "Dit is normaal. Dit is niets om je over te schamen!"

De eerste twee foto's hieronder zijn die waarvan sprake, de andere zijn 'normale' foto's. (WM)

-------------------------------------------- Some of you have seen this before. Some of you haven't. Some of you experience and go through this yourself once a month. Some of you will be disgusted. Some of you will sigh with relief and think -Omg I'm not alone. Some of you will not read this caption and presume that I'm pregnant. -------------------------------------------- This is the visual signs of PMS for me and many other women. For some it's less extreme, for some it's more. Water retention is a very normal and common symptom of PMS. Some women will hardly notice it and some go through immense discomfort for a couple of days a month. It can start anytime between ovulation and your period. -------------------------------------------- THIS ?? IS ?? NORMAL. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Yes - it is very uncomfortable, and yes - it is really difficult to not feel like you must hide it and try to suck your stomach in. I've stopped. I've decided that breathing is more important than what other people may or might think. I've decided that my body's reaction to the hormonal change is not going to be an aspect that I let contribute to my already unstable mental state. Because when I have PMS, I already feel like dying. And I've decided to love my body no matter how I feel about life. -------------------------------------------- Do not blame your body for how you're feeling. It is never your body's fault. It is never anything wrong with how your body looks. Yes - your body might experience discomfort due to hormonal changes - so instead of making it worse through shaming your body, try doing the opposite. Realize that this is when you need extra self-care and self-love. Realize that you don't have to be ashamed and hide. You are perfect and your body is just doing it's job.

Een bericht gedeeld door MALIN ? (@malinxolofsson) op 10 Mrt 2017 om 9:44 PST

I used to hate my body and all I saw was my perception of my 'flawed appearance' - I just saw everything that was supposedly wrong with me. All I saw was a surface. A shell. My body was mere a reflection in the mirror, the fat between my pinching fingers, thighs to big to wrap my hand around, gloomy skin and brittle hair. -------------------------------------------- Now I see a body. A strong, healthy, capable body. I see the work that I've put into my body in the sense of actually caring and giving my body as it has given me life. I see courage, mental strenght, assertiveness and passion. I see me. And I am so much more than merely an appearance, than mere a reflection in the mirror. My body is so much more than just an appearance. I am my body and my body is me - and for the first time I realize that my body is my best friend, is my home, is my everything. And I love my body for all it has been through - and for still being here, supporting me and enabling me to live. -------------------------------------------- I used to hate my body - but now I realize that it was never actually my body that I hated. That what I hated was myself - because I though that I was mere an appearance, mere a reflection in the mirror. But I am so much more. I am life.

Een bericht gedeeld door MALIN ? (@malinxolofsson) op 15 Mrt 2017 om 10:58 PDT