Sucking in your stomach for photos. The universal pose of body insecurity. For years, it was my default setting in front of a camera. Engage core, hold breath, look uncomfortable, repeat. It was exhausting, unnatural, and ultimately, pointless. Then, I decided to try something radical: stop sucking in.
The first few photos felt…weird. My stomach, relaxed and natural, looked…different. Bigger, softer, less “perfect.” But as I scrolled through the photos, something else struck me. I looked…happier. More relaxed. More…real. The sucked-in stomach, while technically “flatter,” also looked strained and fake. The natural stomach, with its gentle curves and imperfections, looked…human.
This wasn’t about suddenly loving my stomach in every photo angle. It was about prioritizing authenticity over an unattainable ideal. It was about realizing that sucking in your stomach is a performance, and that real life isn’t a photoshoot. Stopping the sucking-in habit was liberating. It freed up mental energy, breathing capacity, and a whole lot of self-consciousness. Now, in photos, I just…stand there. Stomach relaxed, body natural, smile genuine. And guess what? Those photos are way better than any sucked-in selfie I ever took. Your body is beautiful as it is. Relax and let it breathe.