Woman Shares Brutally Honest Photo Of Period Side Effects

By : On : 22 Oct 2017 16:25
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Despite the perpetual cycle of menstruation, we still live in an age when the subject is taboo.

But one Instagram fitness model has taken it upon herself to smash the societal ban on talking about your period with a series of candid photographs.

Malin Olofsson shared a photograph showing the extreme bloating she experiences at her time of the month.

〰 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.

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Malin wrote:

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.

Hey guys, let's be real for a moment. No, I'm not pregnant, and no, this is not a food-baby ❌ This is how pms looks like for me, and many other women. And it's nothing to be ashamed of. It is simply water retention and yes, it is really uncomfortable. But you know what makes it even more uncomfortable? -walking around hating your body because of it. There are already a lot of hormones effecting your mental state in quite a difficult matter, and during this period many of us need some extra self-care and gentleness. Trying to fight your physical body and how it appears during this time will not be a good idea since you're already more sensitive to physical neglect and self-loathing. It is really important that you learn to love yourself no matter how your body looks/how you perceive it – 'cause your body's shape/size/form will not be a constant factor. And this is what I look like for at least one week a month. And that is many weeks in a lifetime. So, I wanted to show you this – to show you that it is ok, that no one looks like the pictures they post on instagram at all times. We choose to show others what we are proud of – but I think it is important to be proud of the totality of you – to learn to be proud of you, no matter what your body looks like. Thanks for your support, love you guys ?

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Describing the painful side effects, Malin continued:

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.

This is my body. Some would call it skinny, some would call it muscular. Others will call it bloated. Some would call it fat. Some people will envy it, do everything in their power to obtain the same shape and form. Go through hell to look anything near this body. Some people will be disgusted – and would rather die than have their body look anything like this. If I'd seen this body three years ago I would have been disgusted. I would have seen a fat body, a body that's huge. A body that's anything but okay. I would rather have died than have my body look like this. This is not an exaggeration. Today I love my body. I am grateful that I still have a body considering what I put it through. I love my body because of everything that it is capable of, of what it enables me to do. I love the fact that I can sit on the floor and on chairs without having my bones hurt my skin. I love the fact that I can lift heavy objects, that I can stand up without fainting, that I can run to the bus when I have to, that I can take a shower without having to sit down half-way through it due to not having the leg-strenght for standing up. I love my body's shape, size and form. Not because of the actual appearance but because I have DECIDED to love it no matter how it looks. I owe my body love, so much love. No matter if you're overweight, underweight, have a physical injury, are disabled, need to lose weight, need to gain weight – no matter if you're trans, bi, gay, queer, black, white you OWE your body love. Your body keeps you alive. If you are breathing – you're okay, your body is okay. Your body is amazing. Thank it for being there with you, for you – because it's the only thing you can be certain of having for the rest of your life. It is you and your body. That's it.

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In among Malin’s ‘fitspo’ selfies, she also tries to campaign for body positivism. Malin battled anorexia for 15 years.

As a woman who knows all to well the consequences of ill feelings towards your own body, her message strikes a powerful chord with others who are trying to overcome the same obstacles.

Malin now dedicates her time to fitness and activism, as well as helping other women love their bodies.

? @rumpustimeisover ?@riviasports

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Malin explained that she has learned to love her body, saying:

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.

This badass body has given me yet another year. I am so grateful of my body and all of you supporting me. You are amazing and I love u ❤? 〰️ I had the best birthday ever and I realize how lucky I am to have such incredible people around me. I used to hate my birthday, I dread that people would find out, wishing me a happy b-day. I didn't know how to handle the attention. I didn't feel that I deserved it. Everything felt fake. 〰️ I have worked really hard on getting better at receiving and accepting compliments, stopping myself from neglecting the positive words from others and instead just say 'thank you'. This year I decided to say thank you when people wished me a happy birthday rather than saying 'I don't celebrate b-days, it's stupid' 〰️ And I mean seriously. The response! There are such amazing people out there. I am so grateful for the support and friendships that I have. Both here and also in 'the real world'. Thank you for the flowers, the birthday-wishes and the unconditional love and support. You are all amazing and I love u so much. Be kind, be considerate, show others how much you appreciate them. Make an effort. Support one another. Seemingly small things can mean so much to other people.

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Adding, ‘You are perfect and your body is just doing it’s job’, Malin helps to debunk one of the myths about monthly menstruation and prove that our bodies are to be loved and respected.

In a time of free-bleeding, the Great Tampon Tax Debate, and specially-designed period pants for women, Malin is at the forefront of a great feminist movement.

Take a bow, Malin.

Credits

Instagram

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