Women are genuinely just too hard on themselves. You won't catch a guy thinking the same thing. That doesn't mean that you stop trying to be your best, to look your best or as older generations would say of friends 'They're letting themselves go'....

It's hugely important that you do make the effort. Why? Because when you look well, you feel better. You're in better form and have a better outlook on things generally. Of course, there's parts of us that we would prefer to be higher, tighter etc., but does it REALLY matter? It can get to the point where one becomes practically paranoid about certain features and only zones in on the negative & can't see how genuinely wonderful the rest of you is.

Not everyone can be a supermodel and do you know what? Not everyone would want to be! They may appear to have a better lifestyle than you but they too pay a significant price for it. They're slated for being 'too thin' once week and 'chubby' the next. Rumours circulating that they're 'doing drugs' or if slightly bloated are 'obviously pregnant' - they can't win.

Would you really like a possy of paps hanging around the school gate (like Elle McP has to endure every day) cameras clicking and snapping trying to get an 'exclusive'... nightmare!

Loving yourself isn't just about what you show the world around you on a daily basis, it's what's inside that really counts. Did you Mum ever tell you ' Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' or 'Beauty is only skin deep'. For years, I had no idea what she was banging on about but I do now and find myself telling our children the same things. Looks will fade, money will dwindle, but if you love someone for who they are - you won't be disappointed.

So, don't put yourself under unrealistic pressure to lose weight before your Wedding because you've been lucky enough to find someone who loves you for being just you!

Next time you catch your reflection, give yourself a wink and a smile and say 'Well done you'!