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What We’re NOT Going To Do Is Use Our New Year’s Resolutions To Body-Shame Ourselves

Sorry, no. …

Many of us have done it: Started the year with the resolution to lose weight, sure we’d stick to high-pressure goal we’d dreamed up in a fit of self-hatred. To drop 20lbs, go to the gym every day, count calories or never look at a piece of bread ever again. The fact of the matter is, New Year’s resolutions about weight loss can be dangerous and damaging, especially if you let them warp your self-image and negatively impact your self-esteem.

I’ve been that person—the first one at the gym on January 1, so sore by day three that they take the rest of the month off. I’ve also been the person to go and stick to it, grinding day in and day out. Both versions of myself are valid. In transparency, I’ve never been the person to commit to a hardcore diet, but I’ve definitely been the person to try to eat less and end up binging, only to totally hate myself for it. In at least one of these examples (or potentially all of them) I’m sure you see yourself. That’s OK. This is a reminder that you don’t have to start your 2021 apologizing for or trying to “fix” your appearance.

For some reason, weight loss, gym dedication and getting in shape are some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions of all time. And for people who, for one reason or another, need to do all of the above, that’s perfectly okay. Setting goals and sticking to them is a good thing. A great thing. I’m not here to shame anyone for trying to become healthier. My concern is for anyone who allows an unhealthy self-hated to bloom from the desire to look a certain way.

My concern is for anyone who allows an unhealthy self-hated to bloom from the desire to look a certain way.

I’m sure I don’t have to give you the whole ~we live in a world of Face-Tuned Instagram models and Photoshopped magazine ads~ spiel, but in case I do, I’ll keep it brief: The perfect bodies you see online and in ads are often not real. You shouldn’t compare yourself to them. Healthy looks different on everyone.

Before you think I’m out here shaming anyone with the goal of hitting the gym, let me clarify yet again. Working towards a healthier lifestyle is an admirable goal! However, in this negative world, it is all too common that we use the season of New Year’s Resolutions to body-shame ourselves, picking our appearance apart in the mirror until we’ve resolved to change every little thing we hate. Does this behavior ultimately lend itself to a healthy lifestyle? No. Very often, it leaves us so distressed that we lose all motivation to do anything. We feel doomed. Defeated. Embarrassed. Trapped.

Out of all those words, “trapped” hurts me the most. My body is my home, the only home I’ll have forever. I hate the idea of someone feeling trapped inside theirs. My body is the reason I am able to get up and live my life every single day—how can I hate it (and hate myself!) for not looking exactly the way I want?

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My body is my home, the only home I’ll have forever.

As you set your New Year’s resolutions, ring in 2021 and maybe even stock up on some new gym gear or healthy snacks, I urge you to be intentional with your goals. Don’t use your resolutions as opportunities to body-shame yourself. Instead, resolve to appreciate and love your body—in fact, this is a far better reason to vow to make healthy choices. Aim for health because your body deserves a long and beautiful life, not because you need to drop 10lbs in case low-rise jeans come back in style (and believe me, I’m doing all that I can to ensure they don’t). In 2021, I challenge you to a different kind of New Year’s Resolution: Resolve to be kind to yourself. You deserve it.

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Artist Spotlight

Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” Reigns as the Ultimate Summer Soundtrack

HonkMagazine Dua

Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” is a catchy new summer soundtrack. It evokes the sunshine, excitement of nightlife, and happiness that come with a true summer song. Co-written with the talented Mark Ronson, “Dance The Night” is a full-on experience that has quickly become the standout track of the season.

Not only is Dua Lipa a massive music star with multiple number-one hits, but this summer, she also made her acting debut as Mermaid Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. It was only natural for her to be part of the film’s soundtrack, and she truly delivered. “Dance The Night” captures the fun and energy of her previous hits while turning it up with even more sparkle and good vibes, making it impossible not to dance along.

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“Dance The Night” was on the fast track to success. It quickly climbed to the top of the music charts, marking Dua’s fourth number-one song and adding to her growing legacy with hits like “New Rules,” “One Kiss,” and “Cold Heart.” This is about creating a lasting impact.

“Dance The Night” became the soundtrack for fun moments, whether at parties or dancing alone in your room. It’s the perfect song to play when you want to dress up, grab your friends, and dance the night away, just like Barbie does in the movie.

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No summer track is complete without a great music video, and “Dance The Night” doesn’t disappoint. Featuring eye-catching visuals, impressive dance moves, and even a surprise appearance from the director, Greta Gerwig, the video captures all the exciting energy of the song. It also shows Margot Robbie’s Barbie living her best life, reminding us that having fun and being confident is always in style.

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What makes “Dance The Night” the ultimate summer song? It’s upbeat and instantly lifts your mood, making you want to dance. Its lyrics invite you to enjoy the moment, and it succeeds on all fronts. Dua Lipa has a knack for creating both familiar and new songs. With its lively disco sound, beautiful strings, and catchy rhythm, “Dance The Night” pays tribute to the classic dance music of the past while still feeling modern. It’s vibrant, exhilarating, and simply irresistible.

In a summer filled with movies, exciting pop moments, and unforgettable times, “Dance The Night” shines as the perfect soundtrack. Whether you’re watching Barbie on the big screen or dancing under the stars, Dua Lipa has given us another fantastic song to which we’ll keep dancing even as summer ends.

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Celebrity

Lizzo’s Bold Transformation and Powerful Message Ignite Fan Debate

Lizzo

Grammy winner Lizzo is back in the spotlight this time, not for her music, but for a new chapter on a different path in her life. The “About Damn Time” singer sparked a flurry of comments when she took to Instagram over the weekend, showing off a noticeably trimmer figure. But she wasn’t just turning heads with her transformation. It was the statement she made alongside it.

In the clip, Lizzo spray-painting the words “Bye B####” across the cover of her Special album felt like a bold yet symbolic move. Alongside the clip, she wrote, “End of an era.” The four words reverberated across social media, leaving fans and critics alike wondering. What era was coming to a close, and what’s next?

Lizzo’s body positivity and self-love advocacy have long been central themes of her work, which makes this moment all the more provocative. Several fans lauded her evolution, viewing it as a sign of natural maturation. Others were unsettled, wondering if her transformation changed the message she had long promoted.

Social media erupted in response. Some commended her for calling her own shots in a changing era, while others debated whether this decision was consistent with the fearless body-acceptance philosophy she had long personified.

The Special era was a watershed moment for Lizzo, cementing her place among the industry’s heavy hitters. From songs of self-empowerment to adrenaline-infused performances, she clearly illustrated that confidence isn’t about a stain on a scale. It’s about knowing who you are. By spray-painting the album cover, she appears to be closing a chapter to clear the way for something else.

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Artists evolve. As musicians do, Lizzo is trying her skills out on fresh sounds; her evolution physically, emotionally, and artistically is hers to narrate. Whether this moment is a rebrand, a shift in perspective, or an artistic expression, one thing is certain: Lizzo is fully owning being Lizzo.

With an “end of an era” declaration, fans eagerly wonder what comes next. Will she bring in a new sound? A new way to think about body image? An utterly wild card project? If Lizzo has a specialty, it’s ensuring that the world never knows what to expect.

Whether you love, hate, or celebrate it, her latest move shows she still owns her narrative and is not afraid to rattle the bones.

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