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.
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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.
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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.
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In amongst 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 other who are trying to overcome the same obstacles.
Malin now dedicates her time to fitness and activism.
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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.
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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.
Take a bow, Malin.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.