“I am so much more than a ‘before’ photo.”
Before-and-after snapshots highlighting weight fluctuations have taken social media by storm. In response, #BoycottTheBefore was created during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. This initiative encourages everyone, especially women, to forgo sharing those “before” images from their battles with eating disorders, and instead, to celebrate who they are today.
Take, for example, 26-year-old model and body positivity champion Mia Taylor. Having faced her own challenges with food and body image, she joined the movement and shared her own story. “Once I opened up about my struggles, I was blown away by how many girls from my past reached out to me, saying, ‘Wow, I felt the same way!’ It’s wild that we all went through this, yet we never spoke about it,” she told Wellness Daily.
“I felt the urge to share before-and-after photos myself to validate my journey, but that’s simply not right,” she wrote on Instagram. “We don’t owe anyone proof of our struggles. Nobody’s journey is less valid just because their photos aren’t as ‘dramatic.’ It’s all about your personal progress, so @boycottthebefore is here to celebrate YOU right now! To acknowledge how far you’ve come and the path still ahead — because there’s no one-size-fits-all recovery, and everyone’s journey is unique.”
The movement was initiated by another inspiring figure, Lexi Bennett, a mental health advocate with nearly 20,000 followers. Lexi explained that the frequent posting of before-and-after photos can adversely affect those still grappling with eating and weight issues. “For individuals in early recovery, our eating disorders often tempt us to compare sizes or numbers. We might even wonder, ‘Am I sick enough to get help? That person seems to need it more than I do,’” she shared. “This mindset can be incredibly damaging. These images only highlight physical changes. It’s a common myth that someone has to be underweight to be struggling with an eating disorder. You can’t always see who is hurting.”
While before-and-after pictures are likely to stick around, the #BoycottTheBefore movement is a vital reminder that our journeys toward self-acceptance are so much more complex than any photo can convey.
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In summary, the #BoycottTheBefore initiative highlights the importance of recognizing our individual journeys rather than reducing them to mere images. It’s a call to celebrate our current selves and embrace the complexities of recovery.