Candice Wagner is a CrossFit Games athlete. She’s strong, fit and capable of doing so much with her body.

But before she found CrossFit, she had a different idea of what it meant to be fit and she didn’t see her body the same way. She struggled with an eating disorder and her body image for years.

Sadly, 92% of women in America are unhappy with the way their bodies look and resort to dieting to achieve the body they want. Maybe it’s not the women who need to change to be beautiful, but the definition of beauty itself.

But while society works that out, here are 5 things Candice Wagner has said about her body that every woman needs to read.

1. Embrace the body you have.

“Embrace the body you have. Wear it proudly and don’t be afraid to show it off or to expose the things about it you may not like completely. We are all imperfect. Don’t let society alter the way you view yourself. You’ve worked too hard for that.”

A post shared by Candice Wagner (@candicewagner21) on Aug 9, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT

2. Your body tells YOUR story.

“I am proud of my body, the hard work I have put it through, all the scars, bumps, bruises, and the many imperfections it comes with. To me, those things tell a story about my life. My muscles show the hard work I’ve put in day in and day out of the gym. They tell a story about how I fuel my body and that health and nutrition are very important to me.”

3. Talk about it.

“If you still struggle, and I know many of you do, don’t be afraid to talk about it, to ask for help…I saw a counselor once a week, tried various exercises she recommended, and wondered if I’d ever live my life free from my disorder. In 2009, I found CrossFit. I don’t even know when it happened, but eventually I realized I had overcome my addiction. I literally just stopped obsessing.”

A post shared by Candice Wagner (@candicewagner21) on Jun 4, 2016 at 6:37pm PDT

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

“I took a year off from competitive CrossFit and it was one of the best things I ever did as an athlete. It gave me an opportunity to take a step back and see that there is so much more to life than training…I learned that I can be at my fittest AND still enjoy my life more than ever. It may be a process that takes a very long time, but just remember that though being fit is important, it shouldn’t take over your spirit. It shouldn’t put out that flame inside of you. It should ignite it! It should uplift you and excite you.”

A post shared by Candice Wagner (@candicewagner21) on Mar 7, 2016 at 7:03pm PST

5. The journey is worth it.

“I was still struggling with an eating disorder and before (CrossFit), I would drag myself into gyms to counter my disorder and did not enjoy working out at all. It felt like a chore and I stressed about it all day until I completed a workout. Fast forward to today…I no longer suffer from an eating disorder and I genuinely enjoy working out. Though it has taken YEARS, the journey has been worth it and the outcome continues to improve.”

A post shared by Candice Wagner (@candicewagner21) on Jan 3, 2017 at 10:32am PST