If there’s one thing we love about Camila Mendes, it’s how open she is with her fans. Now, in honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness week, the Riverdale actress took to Instagram on Sunday, March 3, to bravely speak out about living with an eating disorder and how she overcame it.

“About a year ago, I decided to stop dieting and chasing this idea of a body that I was conditioned to believe is the only acceptable shape,” she wrote. “I was never concerned with weight and numbers, but I cared a lot about having a flat tummy, no cellulite, and those ‘give that girl a sandwich’ arms that make you look slender from every angle.”

But the 24-year-old explained that when she decided to let go of her insecurities, she felt so much better.

“When I stopped obsessing over the details of my everyday dietary choices, I started thinking more generally: Am I drinking enough water? Getting enough sleep? Eating enough veggies? I started trusting myself, and trusting that I care enough about my well-being to make healthy choices more often than not,” she added. “But ALSO I started allowing myself to make ‘bad’ choices. Because those made me feel free, and like I wasn’t trapped in an unhappy lifestyle. Give yourself the freedom to make ‘bad’ choices. they do not make or break you. they do not define you. I was terrified of giving myself the freedom, of all the weight I could potentially gain. And to be honest, after one year of not dieting, I pretty much look the same. Been training more so maybe a little stronger, but mostly I’m just healthier and happier. I’ve finally accepted that this shape is the shape my body wants to live in. You will never win the war against your genetic makeup!”

And the actress had some amazing advice for anyone who’s going through something similar.

“I’m just here to remind you that your healthy body deserves love,” she continued. “There is a life for you in which you can be healthy in both mind and body. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, but whenever I struggle, I always come back to this: Why should I care to look like a runway model when my curves got me lookin’ like a d–n fertile, renaissance goddess? Find the beauty in your body. I promise you it’s there.”

YAS GIRL! As fans know, the brunette beauty first revealed in October of 2018 that she used to suffer from an eating disorder.

“I’ve struggled with bulimia,” she told Shape Magazine. “It happened a little bit in high school and again when I was in college. Then it came back when I started working in this industry with fittings all the time and watching myself on camera. I had such an emotional relationship with food and anxiety about everything I put into my body. If I ate a sweet, I would be like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not going to eat for five hours now.’ I was always punishing myself. I was even anxious about healthy food. I was consumed with the details of what I was eating, and I always felt as if I was doing something wrong.”

But Camila explained to the outlet that she decided to seek professional help and that she’s doing a lot better now. Although, she added, the negative thoughts will “never completely go away.”

“They’re just way quieter now. Every once in a while I’ll look at myself in the mirror and think, ‘Ugh, I don’t like the way that looks.’ But then I’ll just drop it. I don’t let it consume me,” she said. “I think it’s natural to judge or be critical of yourself. Everyone does it. But you can make the decision on the spot that you’re going to conquer it. In those moments I’ll look at myself and say, ‘You’re fine. You look good. This is your prime, so enjoy it.'”

We’re are seriously so proud of her.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Youth Crisis Hotline at 1-800-448-4663.

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