# @adriansanderson on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DNc_cg9oEVf
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/63289383-adriansanderson-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c912029277.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-17T10:35:57.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Adrian Sanderson (@adriansanderson) — https://gondola.cc/adriansanderson

## Caption

Took a lot for me to post this…

MY BODY WORKS and I’m so grateful for that, even when I think badly about it.

I don’t usually show below the chest, but lately I’ve seen so many posts shaming bodies. If a friend showed me this photo and said “I look fat,” I know I’d tell them not to speak about themselves that way. I’d remind them how beautiful they look and how lucky they are to stand in the ocean on a summer’s day.

Important note: the top photo in this carousel doesn’t show my body. I wasn’t ready for that. And that’s ok. We’re all in different places with how we see ourselves. Also there were less attractive photos that I know I’d never want to put out there. Also…I’m very aware that the sun and the settings are perfect. This helps my confidence too. 

Over the past year I’ve lost around 3 stone. It’s fluctuated. Right now I think I’m gaining. I’ve got a huge fitness challenge ahead and I know I’ll get fitter and healthier soon. Will I lose the belly? Probably not. And that’s fine.

I’m not in my worst shape. I’m not at my best either. But I am happy. And I’ll wear my tiny pants at the beach if I want to, without covering up like I used to but I do feel better when I’m more out of sight if I’m topless. There’s lots about my that I like. Got some cracking legs and I take a lot of confidence from my hair, but sometimes the only thing I can see is fat. 

I feel better mentally and physically when I’m fitter, so the changes I want are for me and no one else. But even now I’m grateful for what my body does. For standing, walking, holding, running and hugging.

I’ve seen a lot lately in the state of men’s mental health and honestly some terrifying statistics. So that gave me a push too. Being gay often call for us in the LGBTQAI+ community to fit into a perfect body type, a particular box, and if you’re not in it, you’re not accepted as easily. At least by my experience. 

Be kind to your body. I’m not always, but it carries me through. And that’s enough. xx

And I had a wonderful day at the beach 😊 

#bodypositivity #loveyourself #begrateful #kind #summer

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## Tags

begrateful, summer, loveyourself, kind, bodypositivity

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