There was a time when I freaked out over gaining a little weight.
Looking back, it sounds funny because I wasn’t actually getting fat. I had simply spent most of my life being very skinny, so seeing my body develop a little more shape felt strange to me. I wasn’t used to having curves, a softer belly, or my clothes fitting differently.
With the support and encouragement of my family and friends, I slowly learned to accept my body instead of constantly picking it apart.
That was an important lesson for me because taking care of your body and being obsessed with your body are two very different things.
I still like feeling fit. I like being able to walk for hours when I travel, climb stairs without feeling completely exhausted, fit comfortably into my clothes, and feel good when I look in the mirror.
At the same time, I no longer believe I need to punish myself every time my body changes.
For me, maintaining my body shape is less about following a strict diet or spending hours at the gym. It is about the small habits I can actually stick to.
So, here are some of the things that work for me.
1. Make Workouts Fun and Flexible
If you’re lazy, trust me, I’m right there with you!
That’s why I’ve never been the type to follow an intense workout schedule every single day. I prefer finding little ways to stay active without making exercise feel like a chore.
Here’s what I do:
- Walking instead of running: I love running, but on days when I’m not feeling it, I simply go for a long walk. I’ll set myself a step goal before heading out and keep going until I reach it. It may not feel as intense as running, but I’m still moving.
- TV workout hacks: When I’m watching Netflix, I sometimes sneak in simple arm and shoulder exercises. It’s not exactly a serious workout, but hey, something is better than nothing.
- Squats at home: I used to do 20 squats whenever I went to the bathroom. If I went five times a day, that was 100 squats without having to schedule an actual workout. Haha. I don’t follow this as strictly now, but I still like the idea of turning little moments throughout the day into opportunities to move.
- Dance like nobody’s watching: When I watch music videos, which happens quite often, I follow the dance moves and have fun with it. Dancing gets me moving without feeling like exercise, and it definitely puts me in a better mood.
- Yoga for relaxation: When I want something slower, I’ll do around 15 to 20 minutes of yoga. I enjoy it because it helps me stretch, relax and pay attention to my posture.
The point isn’t to make every workout difficult. I’d rather find forms of movement I actually enjoy because that makes it much easier to stay consistent.
2. Wearing a Waist Trainer
I personally love wearing a waist trainer. I like how it gives my waist a more defined shape, especially when I’m wearing certain outfits, and I’ve been using one as part of my body-care routine for years.
Here’s what I personally do:
- My Daily Routine: I used to wear my waist trainer for 8+ hours a day. Before putting it on, I would apply a hot ointment such as Lotion Mustajab (Extra hot) around my belly, waist and thighs. The combination gives me that warm, snug feeling I personally enjoy.
- Layering It With High-Waisted Shorts: I usually wear my waist trainer first, followed by high-waisted hip-lifting fitness yoga shorts. I like these because the fabric is elastic and breathable, so they feel comfortable while I’m moving around or working out.
- Getting the Right Fit: I know some people prefer sizing down because they want a tighter fit, but I don’t think tighter automatically means better. The waist trainer should feel snug and supportive without making it difficult to breathe, move or sit comfortably.
One thing I’ve learned is that a waist trainer is more of a temporary shaping tool than a magic solution for permanently changing your waist. It can give you a more defined silhouette while you’re wearing it, but it doesn’t replace exercise, healthy eating or your natural body shape.
So, yes, I enjoy wearing one, but I see it as just one small part of my routine.
⚠️ A little disclaimer: Waist trainers are a personal choice and they aren’t suitable for everyone. If yours feels painfully tight or causes breathing difficulties, numbness, dizziness or significant discomfort, take it off. Your body should never have to suffer just to look a certain way.
3. Take Care of Your Bust Skin
Okay, let’s talk about something we don’t always mention when we talk about keeping our bodies in shape: our bust.
Gravity is real, ladies. Haha.
I personally like taking a little extra time to care for the skin around my bust. Apart from doing exercises that work the chest area, I use a bust-firming cream as part of my body-care routine. I don’t expect a cream to magically lift or reshape my bust, but I like how it keeps the skin moisturised and makes this area feel cared for.
Here’s how I do it:
- Massage It In: I gently massage the cream into my bust and surrounding area using circular motions. I keep the pressure light because the skin around this area is delicate.
- Keep the Skin Moisturised: I like using a dedicated bust cream because it gives me another little self-care ritual. Well-moisturised skin generally feels softer and smoother, which is something I appreciate.
- Be Consistent: Like most skincare, this isn’t something where you apply it once and suddenly wake up looking different. I use it regularly because I enjoy the routine and like keeping my skin well cared for.
My favourite:
Of course, a cream isn’t going to stop gravity or completely change the shape of your bust. Our bodies naturally change with age, weight fluctuations and other factors.
For me, this is simply another small way of taking care of my body and feeling good about it.
4. Be Mindful of What You Eat (Without Depriving Yourself)
I don’t believe in extreme diets or completely cutting out every food I enjoy.
I’ve tried being overly strict before, and honestly, it just made me want those foods even more. These days, I focus more on balance and paying attention to what I eat most of the time.
Here’s what works for me:
- Limit Fast Food: I used to completely cut out fast food, but that obviously didn’t last forever. Haha. Now, I keep it as an occasional treat. I might have fast food around once a month, and when I do, I enjoy it without feeling guilty.
- Cut Back on Processed Foods: I love chicken nuggets and fries. Who doesn’t? I just don’t make them a regular part of my meals. I’ve learned that I can enjoy these foods without needing to have them all the time.
- Have Plant-Based Days: I’m not fully vegan, but I naturally eat plant-based meals around three to four days a week. I find it an easy way to include more vegetables, fruits, legumes and other plant-based foods in my diet without making it complicated.
- Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables: I love oranges and pineapples, and I try to have plenty of fruits and salads throughout the week. I generally prefer eating whole fruit rather than drinking fruit juice because whole fruit contains fibre and is more filling.
- Keep My Sugar Intake Low: I don’t have much added sugar in my daily diet. In fact, a kilogram of sugar can last me more than a year. I don’t rely on sugary drinks or desserts every day, and when I want something sweet, fruit is usually enough to satisfy me.
- Enjoy My Favourite Treats: I love donuts and cheesecake, and I’m not going to pretend I’ll give them up forever just to maintain my body shape. I simply enjoy them occasionally. For me, having a healthy relationship with food means knowing when to enjoy a treat without turning it into an everyday habit.
I don’t think you need to eat perfectly to take care of your body.
For me, it’s about what I do most of the time, not what I eat on one random Saturday when I suddenly decide I need a donut.
That balance is what makes my eating habits feel realistic enough for me to maintain.
5. Love Your Body at Every Stage
We live in a world that is constantly telling us what our bodies should look like.
Be thinner. Have a smaller waist. Have a bigger butt. Get rid of your belly. Look younger. Stay fit.
It can be exhausting.
I used to be incredibly critical of my own body too. I could look in the mirror and think, My butt is too big, but my belly isn’t flat enough. Somehow, there was always something I wanted to change. Eventually, I realised that I could keep doing this forever. Even if I lost weight, there would be another part of my body to complain about. Even if I became fitter, I could still find something that wasn’t quite “perfect.”
That was when I started learning to appreciate my body for what it can do, rather than only judging it by how it looks. I want to feel comfortable in my clothes. I want to feel strong enough to travel, walk for hours and keep up with the life I enjoy. I want to look after my body without spending all my time worrying about whether it looks perfect.
That doesn’t mean I never notice things I would like to improve. I’m human. Of course I do. It simply means those things no longer determine how I feel about myself.
I also try not to compare my body to what I see online. A photo can be posed, edited, filtered, carefully lit or taken from an angle that makes someone look completely different. Comparing your real body, with all its normal imperfections, to someone else’s carefully selected photo is never going to be a fair comparison.
So yes, keep moving. Eat well. Take care of your body.
Work towards feeling stronger and healthier if that’s what you want. Just don’t forget to appreciate where you are right now, too.
Your body is yours. It has carried you through every version of your life so far, and it deserves more than constant criticism.
For me, loving my body doesn’t mean thinking every part of it is perfect. It means being able to look at myself, see the things I like and the things I don’t, and still think, this is my body, and I’m going to take good care of it.
✅ Taking Care of the Body I Have
At the end of the day, maintaining my body shape isn’t about following strict rules, going on crazy diets, or trying to look like someone else.
It’s about finding what works for me and building habits I can actually enjoy and stick to. Some days that means running or walking. Other days, it might be dancing, doing yoga, eating a little more mindfully, or simply taking care of my skin and body.
I’ve learned that looking after yourself doesn’t have to come from a place of punishment or insecurity. I can want to stay fit and still enjoy donuts. I can care about my body and still accept that it will change. I can wear shapewear because I like how it looks, without believing I need it to be beautiful.
Most importantly, I want to feel good in my own skin rather than constantly worrying about whether my body is good enough. So, take care of your body, have fun with it, and give yourself some grace along the way. You don’t have to wait until your body looks “perfect” to appreciate it. You can love and take care of the body you have right now.
And that’s it!
Love,
Auri Duham🌻
