Australian plus size model La’Tecia Thomas is very outspoken on social media. She’s often posting inspirational messages to her more than 350,000 followers about body acceptance and loving yourself where you are now, not where you think you should be. In a post that showcases a before-and-after of how the model used to look when she was much thinner, compared to her now rounder, curvier physique, she revealed that things aren’t always how they appear and the “heathier-looking” image of her svelte frame was in fact, not healthy at all.
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“I remember how unhappy I was in the picture to the left, I would loathe certain parts of my body—particularly my bum/ thighs because that was and is the hardest part of my body to lose,” she wrote in the caption. “I had so many insecurities, I compared myself to other women and I lacked confidence.”
The 5’9 curvy stunner says that although it may appear as though her formerly tight, toned body automatically meant she was in better shape, she disagrees. For her, being in great health means having a good balance in both the mind AND body, and that’s something that was lacking when she followed a strict diet and rigorous training schedule in order to compete in bikini competitions. “Your mental health is just as important as your physical,” wrote Thomas. “…I’m not saying it’s okay to be inactive and make unhealthy choices, I think it’s about finding balance, listen to your body, you know what’s best for it.”
By no means does Thomas’ curvier “after” photo equate to a lack of exercise. The model has been very vocal about her love of working out and has shared details of her fitness regimen to prove to online detractors that just because she’s thick doesn’t mean she isn’t fit. “I had someone say to me, ‘why do you go to the gym if you don’t want to lose weight? What’s the point,’ For me it’s several things, I love training, plain and simple— it helps me clear my mind. Strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteo[porosis] which is something that’s in my family so I’m staying on top of it by lifting weights. Also, I like to move my body. it’s important to be active, just because I’m comfortable with my weight and how I look doesn’t mean I should disregard being active.”
