Shape magazine recently implied that an Illinois woman’s after pictures were not fit to publish. The offensive picture, according to blogger Brooke Birmingham, showed the woman proudly sporting a bikini after 172 pounds of weight loss. A magazine representative asked Birmingham to cover up and wear a shirt, allegedly owing to her loose skin.

What is Birmingham’s Story?

Shape magazine asked Birmingham to wear a shirt, despite printing weight loss success stories — along with pictures of women in bikinis and/or sports bras — on a fairly regular basis. When Birmingham pointed out the discrepancy, the magazine denied asking her to hide her body or shaming her for excess skin. Even so, Birmingham retracted the story, preferring not to share her story with others in Shape. News outlets all over the U.S. are covering Birmingham’s account, and it has easily gone viral. The public response has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. “This woman is the perfect example of what women look like after major weight loss. I applaud her for being brave! We need to get away from airbrushed, photoshopped, [and] surgically-enhanced images,” Dawn Hiatt Hanson said in Today.

What Can Men and Women Do About Fine Lines, Wrinkles, and Loose Skin?

There are some ways men and women can feel more confident about their bodies — including the inevitable aging process. First and foremost, acceptance is wildly productive and healthy. “Even natural, gradual weight loss can leave extra skin that, in some cases, can only be fixed with surgery,” ABC News explains. Similarly, our bodies stop producing an essential protein — called collagen — as we age, and that naturally results in the appearance of wrinkles.

Secondly, there are some ways to reduce the appearance of loose skin and wrinkles naturally — and restore confidence that way. Natural collage products, including natural collagen face creams, night creams, and collagen anti wrinkle creams, stimulate the production of the body’s proteins, firming up skin. The best collagen creams can even be used to restore the appearance of skin after weight loss.

Birmingham’s story impresses the importance of accepting your body. Use the best collagen creams and a positive attitude to graciously accept aging and excess skin. See more.