In honor of Operation Beautiful Week I wanted to share my own operation beautiful story.
Many of you have come to know this girl…
Me shy? Pshhh….
I’m the girl who isn’t afraid of anything. I’ll talk to strangers, I have bikini confidence, I’ll run 20 miles in just a sports bra, and I’ll take chances on things people tell me not to.
I’m Meghann, I’m awesome and I’m not afraid to say it.
But, as I mentioned on Tuesday – that wasn’t always me.
Enter sixteen year old Meghann.
Awkward, unsure of her friends and unsure of herself Meghann.
I wanted to fit in with the in crowd so bad that I became a follower instead of a leader. I dressed like everyone else, I listened to the same music, and I went to the same parties. But, I never felt like I was one of everyone else.
When friends got together and didn’t call me, I would become an emotional wreck. I would immediately assume it was because they really didn’t like me. I spent many nights in high school curling up into a ball and crying because I hated the way I Iooked. I thought I was too fat, I thought I was too short, I thought I wasn’t pretty. There were too many negative thoughts running through my head and I couldn’t control them.
Here comes college Meghann.
Same insecurities – different venue.
College was a whirlwind of frat guys, late parties, too much junk food, and not enough good food. I lost weight. I gained weight. I stopped looking in mirrors. I stopped taking pictures.
I smiled a lot, but deep down I wasn’t happy. My mind was wrapped around guys, which is far from where it needed to be during that time in life. Judging myself by how guys judged me led to too many low cut tees and too many short skirts. Wearing clothes that were too revealing tried to make up for the insecurities I was having with my own body. It didn’t work. That never works.
Post- college Meghann.
Now, this Meghann lived in the real world. All of a sudden things began to click.
I started a job and I gained weight. Instead of wallowing in it, I decided to make a change. If I don’t see myself as beautiful then when will everyone else see it?
For the first time in my life it was all about me. What did I want to do? What did I want to eat? What did I need to do to make this better? So, I ran. I cooked. And I finally opened up enough to let people see the true Meghann – not the Meghann I thought everyone else wanted to see.
It took me a while, but I gained that self confidence I had been missing for so many years.
Operation Beautiful is more than just changing the way we see ourselves one post-it note at a time – it’s also about achieving that confidence in being ourselves and not what we think others want us to be.
One day I hope to spread that same message to my future little girls. I want them to be strong, I want them to be confident, and I want them to be brave. I already know they’ll be beautiful – we’re all beautiful – I’ll just have to remind them of that every day, just like I want to remind all of you.
So, I challenge everyone to take the time and remind someone they’re beautiful with an Operation Beautiful post it today. Sometimes we tend to forget these things, but it never stops it from being true.
You’re beautiful.
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Sucha a great post! I felt exactly the same during high school – not fitting in, crying…I have it at uni too
I hope one day I find your happiness! I’m so glad you’re better now 
beautiful story meghann!
i love everything you wrote here because i feel like i can relate so much! i hope i can regain my confidence and inner self-love like you did. i just graduated college and want to make huge changes instead of just letting my life pass me by and blaming anyone/anything but myself for my unhappiness. thanks so much for sharing! you and caitlin are both such strong, beautiful and independent women that we can all learn from
You are beautiful Meghann!
Great story! I agree you are awesome
awesome post – thank you SO much for sharing – the fact that that it was difficult makes it that much more meaningful and inspiring !
I can relate on so many levels. I wrote a lot in my diaries about my body image concerns as a wee little teenager. I’m still working on it everyday this community is helping immensely. Thanks for sharing, Meghann!
What a great post Meghann! I am now 39 years old but I remember very clearly feeling just the way you felt when I was young and in High School. I am so glad that you are truly happy with yourself. Take it from me it only gets better as you get older!
Beautiful post by a beautiful blogger!
I can relate to everything in this post!! I feel like I had the same life as you!!
It’s amazing how much you have grown into the strong, confident women you are today.
Thank you,
Beautiful post!
Lovely post Meghann! I think almost all girls go through times of their life when they’re unhappy with themselves and feel less than beautiful. I know I did! I love the message behind Operation Beautiful and hope it will help women everywhere realize they are beautiful- no matter their size and shape.
Love the post and love your confidence!
What a beautiful post! Yours is one of my favorite blogs and I think your attitude to running, achieving a healthy balance, and life in general is truly inspiring. I’ve struggled with similar insecurities in the past and it really helps to know that I’m not alone. Keep up the good work!
I. Love. This. Post.
LOL, the one thing that hasn’t changed is that you have great hair throughout the transition! You look fantastic, and your enthusiasm and confidence is contagious. Thank you for sharing your story with so many of us!
Amazing post. Really hits home for a lot of us, I’m sure.
This community has taught me a lot about celebrating how amazing we each are: our accomplishments, our strength. Truly beautiful!
Love this post. trust me i can totally relate! you are amazing and beautiful!!!!
Great post!!!!
Great post, thanks for sharing!
Great post!
I can relate to this so much. I feel like people who knew me in grade school and high school wouldn’t even recognize the person I am now. I was so insecure and worried about people liking me. At least you’ve come to love the person you are now! Your long hair is gorgeous.
I sometimes wonder if anyone was truly confident in HS. I know I was extremely underweight, and wore baggy clothes that covered every inch of me because I thought my pale skin was disgusting. My friends were mostly anorexic or bulimic. And, I’d guess that many outsiders would have labeled all of us as confident.
It’s inspiring reading about your personal growth that has moved beyond all of it!
Okay, so you just made me tear up at my desk! You’re AWESOME!!! Thank you for that post!
You rock, girl.
Such a lovely, thoughtful post. I was insecure in high school, but I also knew that I was unique and different — it was a funny balance, and often left me feeling unsettled. I wore long skirts and weird hair styles and wrote poetry and stood up for what I believed in; but I also felt deeply left out, just like you did. As college comes to a close, I have moved forward a bit. I am only just beginning to realize who I am. I am grateful to OB for helping me see that who I am is indeed beautiful. I am letting the real me shine through — I’m not afraid of that anymore. Thanks for reminding me that I too am “awesome.”
I read but never comment but this really touched me and made me tear up. I’m so happy for you – keep doing what you’re doing! I wish you the best!
Thanks for posting your story! Very inspiring!
I love your blog, by the way! Thinking of starting my own soon!
Meghann, I think this is one of my favorite posts because I feel you’ve really let your guard down and opened yourself up to us. I can relate to everything you said and I’m so proud of you! I feel like I’m getting to know you as a person, not just “Graduate Meghann”! Thank you for the post – it’s inspiring.
This is a great post! It’s so inspiring to see where you’ve come from and who you are now:)
Wow! Beautiful post…I loved this. I can definitely relate to your younger self. So glad to see how far you’ve come! You’re an inspiration!
wonderful post. so true. You are so amazing!
As a college student it is so refreshing to hear that other people have had the same difficulties that I often deal with! Thank you for sharing and making sure that everyone knows it is a personal decision to become healthy and love yourself. No one can tell you differently! You are awesome Meghann!
I ADORE your confidence! All women need to learn from you. After all, confidence is what makes beauty in my book. Along with kindness and passion.
Awesome post! I can relate to the high school and college struggles…and the terrific feeling of living on your own and realizing how strong you’ve become.
Awesome post! I can really relate to it.
I think that we may have grown up in the same town. I don’t want to sound like a stalker, but I recognize one of those girls in the picture, lol.
Wonderful post today.
Meghann, that high school bit is so familiar. I do think that many people feel that way. I was lucky that I had an older brother who always seemed to have somewhere to go and didn’t mind me being with him. When he left for college, I was soooo lonely. Nobody ever called and invited me anywhere. On top of that, wanda wouldn’t let me cheer because I couldn’t attempt a back-handspring during tryouts after I shattered my arm. I had a metal plate in my arm! Besides, half of the people she put on the squad couldn’t do it either. They just fell on their heads during tryouts. So my brother was gone and cheerleading was gone. I had NOTHING to do after school.
I ended up getting straight As my senior year and my mom became my friend.
All of that really made me appreciate friends in the future. I grew into my adult self through traveling abroad, college experiences, working, and getting married. Now I’m discovering who I am as a mother and I’m VERY glad I got to know myself first.
Anyhoew, its comforting to know someone else that I interacted with so often also had the same issues. I’m sure a lot of our other friends from hs felt the same as us and we didn’t know it. I never knew you felt alone too!!
Love the post… I got my Operation Beautiful in earlier today! Stay Beautiful
Such a great post…brought a tear to my eye, as I had been down the exact same road! Such a great story and I feel so many girls go through these same feelings….I love the person I have become but hate to see young girls go down the same path.
What a fantastic post – I think your best ever. Well written, honest, true. I loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Great post! Very similar to so many girl’s journeys too – congrats on how far you’ve come!
YOU’RE beautiful! Thanks for sharing your inspiring, heartfelt, honest post with us today. I’ve been reading for almost a year now and all I’ve seen is the confident, go-getter Meghann that you are today. Thank you for sharing your journey and allowing your readers to see you–past, present, and future–as you are.
Thanks for sharing,
We are all so proud of Caitlin, great to spread her/OB message!!
You’re such an inspiration to anyone in need of motivation
Great post!
You are a beautiful, strong, and inspirational woman. Stay confident!
I love the post!
A post that resonates with so many of us!! I really think once we change our mindsets and vow to put ourselves first, we are able to be true to what we need and begin the process of loving ourselves
Thanks for being a great example!
Thank you Meghann for sharing this story with all of us. I’m still struggling with finding me and finding confidence. After a bad relationship and feeling insignificant, I think I’m finally on the way to become that confident person that I know is inside me somewhere. I don’t comment often but I read your blog daily. I was always envious of your confidence and it’s very comforting to know that you also found yourself through your own personal journey.
Thank you.
Fabulous post! Your story reminds me so much of my own. Thank you for sharing!
i LOVED this post — thank you so much for sharing your story!!! I had a very similar college experience, in that I hung out w/ people who didn’t like me for me and judged me by my appearance all the time . . . oh, the catty comments! It is SO freeing to finally be finding confidence in who I am and what I like to do—and you set an excellent example
I love your blog because i can tell that you run and eat well because you absolutely, unequivocally love to, not because you feel like you “should” or you’re trying to punish yourself — your passion and consistency jump off the screen!
beautiful post Meghann. Running definitely helped me find my own self confidence.
That was awesome! Love it! So glad you’ve gotten to a better place. YAY for you!
Great post Meghann! It can be hard to be so open about issues like self-confidence. You have made an amazing journey and I’m sure it will serve as an inspiration to many!
- Beth @ http://www.DiningAndDishing.com
Reallly great post, Meghann! I think your story rings true for a lot of people, myself included. Thanks for sharing
That was such a great post Meghann, thanks for sharing that! I can definitely relate to a lot of your own story as I’m sure many others can as well.
We are all beautiful!
What a great, honest post! I love your confidence, it is inspirational and motivating. Thanks for sharing!
Meghann, I had those same feelings in high school and college, but am slowly overcoming all that. I think running a marathon really puts it in perspective for ya, ya know? I mean, my body can run 26.2 miles, why do I care that I’m not a size 00? Anyways, I really enjoyed this post. You’re amazing!
This may be my favorite post from you – I can really identify with a lot of what you said. Thank you so much for your honesty and willingness to share your life!
Wonderful post Meghann! I also read but never comment but this post touched me so much that I had to! Your story mirrors mine almost to a tee-even though I look ( almost) the same as I did in HS, I feel like I’m a completely different person now that I’ve shred my insecurities and stopped worrying about what others think! Thank you for writing this and reminding me how far I’ve come!
I bet so many people can identify with this post. It is admirable that you have shared your story so openly and honestly, even from times in your life when you felt insecure. New Meghann seems a lot more fun that old Meghann!
In my book, you are still very young, and I love your self-confidence. You are enjoying a pretty amazing life – in large part due to your being your unqiue self. I am confident that you are going to continue to do great things!
Great post, Meghann! I love and admire your confidence!!
thanks for sharing your story. very inspiring!
I read your blog because I love how real you are. You are a pretty woman working everyday and trying to balance it all; family, boyfriend, being healthy, having fun, everything! Don’t ever change a thing.
You are awesome! I can relate to so many of the things you went through in high school! This is why I love the healthy blog community because so many of us went through similar situations in our life and we are there to support everyone!
Love it and you!
For me it’s weird because I was confident in high school and college. My lack of confidence didn’t kick in until I was a lawyer and it almost destroyed me completely. This is why I believe true confidence comes from within and is not dependent on outside approval or achievements.
I love this story because it could have been written about me. I was the same way, particularly when it came to men. I somehow decided that my self worth was determined by having a boyfriend. I made so many mistakes and totally brought the crazy in college and I am so sad that I remember it as such a horrible time in my life.
You are awesome, and I only hope I get to the same point that you are one day.
Wow, this was so inspirational. Thank you for sharing this story with us, it was really touching and inspiring.
Thanks for sharing, Meghann! Love learning more about my favorite bloggers.
What a great story! I’m glad you managed to find a way out of negative talk and low self asteem. You are beautiful girly!!
What an amazing post and story. I found your blog over a year and a half ago and you still inspire me everyday. Thank you
This is such a great post!
I didn’t become confident until my 2nd to third years of college. Confidence came hand-in-hand when I started eating right and working out!
Middle school and high school are SO TOUGH. It is SUCH a tough age. I love the Operation Beautiful message SO MUCH and especially for younger girls. Everyone deserves to feel amazing
Your post brought tears to my eyes! Everything really resonated with what I am going through. Thank you! I feel inspired to gain more self-confidence.
Wonderful post. I think a lot of people can relate to your journey (me included). Thank you for sharing
I hope you realize how insanely adorable you are in that blue bikini. I wanted to hug you, you look so cute. I remember what made me start reading you regularly was actually that cruise you and your bf went on together. I adored your ‘kini confidence and you’ve never let me down. You’re a great example of what Op Beautiful is all about.
great post! so glad you grew into a confident person!
What a beautifully wonderful story – thankyou so much for sharing!
I can definately relate! College was all about trying to fight the weight gain and figure out who I was and I what I wanted out of life.
Thanks for being an inspiration to us all for living a healthy lifestyle!
I love this post, thanks for sharing!
Beautiful post, Meghann! I never knew that you had struggled so much in high school and college–it goes to show that the confidence you have now truly shines through in your posts.
you should do personal posts more often, you are so awesome and easy to relate to. you seem like a cool girl’s girl!
Great post! I love the website operational beautiful has!
You are amazing! Thank you for sharing your incredible story!
Great post girl! I can relate to a lot of it. But you are so right it is about finding my confidence! I know there will be people that look at me and say I am different…but this is me. And I am trying to learn to be happy for me, no one else.
Thanks for being such an inspiration!!
Not only are you beautiful, this post is beautiful, too. Thanks for sharing, friend
xoxo
Wonderful post – seeing the transition of your from HS to now is so inspiring and I know so many people can relate. You are such an awesome woman
What a touching post Meghann. I am so happy for you that you managed to get over the body image issues and are as confident as you are now. You rock
Wonderfully written post! You’re truly an inspiration.
Nice post!! I’m actually going to college this fall to major in Nutrition.
. I’m excited and nervous and going to pick my classes this week at orientation, yay!
i read but never comment, but i wanted to say that i could relate to your lack of confidence in HS and even part of college, and it’s still something i struggle with today. thanks for your inspiring post.
go you!
Very beautiful story, thanks for sharing!
I remember those days of being sad when people didn’t call me to get together. I felt horrible about myself. Now I am proud to be me and if you don’t like me it isn’t my fault.
I can totally sympathize with a lot of what you said. Its so refreshing to be able to focus on myself instead of on what other people think of me.
Your story is such a inspiration!!!!
This is the best quote I read today:
“I’m the girl who isn’t afraid of anything. I’ll talk to strangers, I have bikini confidence, I’ll run 20 miles in just a sports bra, and I’ll take chances on things people tell me not to.
I’m Meghann, I’m awesome and I’m not afraid to say it. ”
Thank you so much for this lovely blog! =))
this is a lovely story!
you’ve come such a long way. you’re in such a good place.
pat yourself on the back! and treat yourself to something delicious!
This is a brilliant post
Thank you for letting us see a snapshot of the old you. I’m so glad you gained the confidence you deserve. You are amazing 
Em
Love this post!!! I’m the woman who has struggled with her weight all of her life. In high school, I was laughed at and rediculed many many times. That has stuck with me to this day and I am now almost 34. I am trying very hard everyday to see myself as a beautiful and wonderful person, and on some days I am exactly that but I am still struggling with self-confidence.
Thanks again for such a great post from such a wonderful person
Thank you for so candidly sharing your story. YOU’RE beautiful!
Great Post Meghann. You are beautiful!
you ARE amazing!
Shannon, Tropical Eats recently posted..Free
i had to comment on this because it really hits home…people like you inspire me every day to try to figure out who I really am..thank you for sharing your story! It helps more people then you could ever know, including myself
kate recently posted..Rainy Day Blues
Meghann–Thank you for writing this! I don’t know you but I will be reading your blog.
Courtney recently posted..Sports Bras- Finding the Right Fit and Size
Meghann, this post is very beautiful. Thank you for sharing your own journey. I think that many people can relate to this, I know that I can. I wish young women could figure this out much sooner and their lives would be so much different, but we all have to fight our own battle. You are an inspiration for sure. Thank you.
I love this… I am just reading this again, and it made me feel sorry for the girl you were(and I was), giggle at the truth at the part where you talked about how the low cut tops and revealing clothes NEVER work to get over insecurities, yet it seems most of us do it, and the next generation after us! Glad you have found your happy place and own YOU! (Me, on the other hand am still on my way despite being a little older than you…)
Nikki @pickynikki.ca recently posted..Cinnamon Bun in a Cup!
Meghann, I love this post.
I’ve been reading your blog since the summer but I’ve never gone way way back in your posts. I’m writing a story about healthy living blogs and the article that was in Marie Claire last year and I found this link via the response post you wrote.
I keep my own blog, have struggled through an eating disorder, and want you to know that your blog has been HUGE in helping me find a healthy balance, giving me something to aspire to, and putting things in perspective.
At first I was iffy on whether or not I should keep a blog, should read blogs, or if I should avoid them (did they fuel my ED? give me an excuse to obsess?). Writing this project has let me step back, look at “healthy living” blogs objectively, and to decide that they’ve actually made me realize that there is hope! Thanks for being such a positive role model.
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