--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always feel that there are two choices…" description: "\"I always feel that there are two choices for women. Either be totally confident about your non-size-zero body and say, 'I love what I look like and thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/lena-dunham-1013_being-a-girl_i-always-feel-that-there-are-two-choices_818211.jpg" --- # I always feel that there are two choices for women. Either… ![“I always feel that there are two choices for women. Either be totally confident about your non-size-zero body and say, 'I love what I look like and this is who I am,' or be the person who is obsessed with diet and exercise and keeping toned. What feels more realistic to me is that some days I wake…” quote by Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/lena-dunham-1013_being-a-girl_i-always-feel-that-there-are-two-choices_818211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/lena-dunham-1013_being-a-girl_i-always-feel-that-there-are-two-choices_818211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/lena-dunham-1013_being-a-girl_i-always-feel-that-there-are-two-choices_818211.jpg) > “I always feel that there are two choices for women. Either be totally confident about your non-size-zero body and say, 'I love what I look like and this is who I am,' or be the person who is obsessed with diet and exercise and keeping toned. What feels more realistic to me is that some days I wake up and think I love how I look. On other days I say, 'If I had real self-control, I would be 10 pounds lighter.' That contradiction is, to me, what being a girl actually feels like.” [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women often oscillate between self‑acceptance and self‑criticism, feeling pressure to look perfect while also wanting to love their bodies. **In simple terms:** Women feel pressure to love or critique their bodies. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑acceptance while allowing realistic goals. Themes self‑image body image confidence societal pressure Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational personal growth When to use this quote - daily self‑talk - social media scrolling - gym motivation - dating - career networking Key Concepts self‑esteem cognitive dissonance media influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture consistent self‑love? - What small steps reduce body‑shaming? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can become entrenched, hindering mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-girl/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Diet and exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet-and-exercise/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Real self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-self/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Size zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/size-zero/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Two choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-choices/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [“Look to your heart and soul first, rather than looking to your head first, when choosing. Rather than what you think, consider instead how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-anderson/look-to-your-heart-and-soul-first-rather-than-looking-to-your-head/) [Jeffrey R. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-anderson/) > [I feel the choices our president Barack Obama is making now are safer and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-feel-the-choices-our-president-barack-obama-is-making-now-are-safer/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I want every person in New South Wales, no matter where they live, to feel that they have the choices and the opportunities to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/i-want-every-person-in-new-south-wales-no-matter-where-they-live-to/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) > [What leads us astray is confusing more choices with more control. Because it is not clear that the more choices you have the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/what-leads-us-astray-is-confusing-more-choices-with-more-control/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [Do not allow anyone or anything, decide your actions or your attitude! Ultimately those are your and yours alone to declare, whether you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kels-holstine/do-not-allow-anyone-or-anything-decide-your-actions-or-your-attitude/) [Kels Holstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kels-holstine/) > [Not that i had a big arse but even that was toned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/not-that-i-had-a-big-arse-but-even-that-was-toned/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Skincare is what's going to help you look fresh, plumped, and toned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/skincare-is-what-s-going-to-help-you-look-fresh-plumped-and-toned/) [Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/) > [I notice now, whatever character in whatever movie you're watching, they have these toned arms and muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-clayburgh/i-notice-now-whatever-character-in-whatever-movie-you-re-watching/) [Jill Clayburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-clayburgh/) > [I work out. I'm getting toned, too. The Wii Fit really works your body. When I get off, I'm dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-work-out-i-m-getting-toned-too-the-wii-fit-really-works-your-body/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [I skate a lot with my shirt off, so working out has always been important to me. I almost have as much fun working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/i-skate-a-lot-with-my-shirt-off-so-working-out-has-always-been/) [Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/) > [It felt great to acquire rock-solid, fab abs, toned shoulders and great legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bedi/it-felt-great-to-acquire-rock-solid-fab-abs-toned-shoulders-and-great/) [Pooja Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bedi/) > [“Tanned, toned, curves in the right places and that small waist…lips, hair, eyes all packaged up like a siren. If she’s a siren, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/tanned-toned-curves-in-the-right-places-and-that-small-waist-lips/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [An actor has to be a complete package, he should have a toned body, know how to dance, act and do everything possible under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/an-actor-has-to-be-a-complete-package-he-should-have-a-toned-body/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [The CW is a very fashion-oriented network and they like their stars to look a certain way. I like that, but at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-q/the-cw-is-a-very-fashion-oriented-network-and-they-like-their-stars/) [Maggie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-q/) > [“The skinnier and more toned I got, the fatter I felt. The more in shape I got, the more out of shape I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/the-skinnier-and-more-toned-i-got-the-fatter-i-felt-the-more-in-shape/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) ## More by Lena Dunham > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“Oberlin being a liberal haven where opposition was king, the coolest clique at school was a group of rugby-playing, neon-wearing lesbians. They dominated every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/oberlin-being-a-liberal-haven-where-opposition-was-king-the-coolest/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Calling someone a drama queen is so negative. Why not 'content creator'?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/calling-someone-a-drama-queen-is-so-negative-why-not-content-creator/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My relationship to eating, my relationship to critiquing my own shape, all of that has changed since I've started viewing my body much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-relationship-to-eating-my-relationship-to-critiquing-my-own-shape/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“I am sorry (not to you but in a deeper way, sorry for my brain chemistry and who I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-am-sorry-not-to-you-but-in-a-deeper-way-sorry-for-my-brain/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [At my age, no one is married, no one has kids, no one has a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/at-my-age-no-one-is-married-no-one-has-kids-no-one-has-a-career/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I should do the things that make me feel cool and smart. As I get older, I'm realizing more and more that it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-should-do-the-things-that-make-me-feel-cool-and-smart-as-i-get/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My shape reminds me a lot of my grandmother, whom I was really close to. She died when I was 13, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-shape-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-grandmother-whom-i-was-really-close/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I never set out to make any statements about a specific character, I just set out to tell what feels like is a truthful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-set-out-to-make-any-statements-about-a-specific-character-i/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I would go to work from 9 to 6, go home, nap for two hours, then write from 8 to 2 a.m.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-would-go-to-work-from-9-to-6-go-home-nap-for-two-hours-then-write/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My uncle's a lawyer and I remember going to see him in court and thinking, 'That's cool, too bad I could never be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-uncle-s-a-lawyer-and-i-remember-going-to-see-him-in-court-and/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I love directing scenes that I'm not in because suddenly I really feel like a filmmaker which is a different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-love-directing-scenes-that-i-m-not-in-because-suddenly-i-really/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I'm glad if my work can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-m-glad-if-my-work-can-make-a-difference/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) [Explore all 301 Lena Dunham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## More Being a girl quotes > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [Dear boyfriend, Those 800 miles, I can feel them. They arent just 800 miles of tar on this earth, theyre the cruel and manipulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-boyfriend-those-800-miles-i-can-feel-them-they-arent-just-800/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You want to make the first move but you can't because people will think that "OH YOURE A GIRL, WHY WILL YOU DO THAT?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-want-to-make-the-first-move-but-you-can-t-because-people-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [SMILE is BETTER than DUCK FACE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shennon-fabiano/smile-is-better-than-duck-face/) [Shennon Fabiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shennon-fabiano/) > [A boy makes his girl jealous of other women, a true gentlemen makes other women jealous of his girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara-sellars/a-boy-makes-his-girl-jealous-of-other-women-a-true-gentlemen-makes/) [Kiara Sellars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara-sellars/) > [Every girl has 3 guys in her life: the one she loves,hates & the one she can't live without.In the end,they're all the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murali-iyengar/every-girl-has-3-guys-in-her-life-the-one-she-loves-hates-the-one-she/) [Murali Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murali-iyengar/) > [Girls are the best vehicles in the world because: 2 beautiful headlights in front, 2 great bumbers at the back, self-lubricating when hot, finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-are-the-best-vehicles-in-the-world-because-2-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dr. Armonson stitched up her wrist wounds. Within five minutes of the transfusion he declared her out of danger. Chucking her under the chin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/dr-armonson-stitched-up-her-wrist-wounds-within-five-minutes-of-the/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [A girl is special. If you praise her , She thinks your lying. If you dont , Your good for nothing. If she talks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justanothergirl/a-girl-is-special-if-you-praise-her-she-thinks-your-lying-if-you-dont/) [JustAnotherGirl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justanothergirl/) > [Blondes do it best <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blondes-do-it-best-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She might seem strong, but she's extremely fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xuan-ta/she-might-seem-strong-but-she-s-extremely-fragile/) [Xuan Ta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xuan-ta/) > [Why periods? Why can't mother nature just text me and be like 'Waddup girl. You ain't pregnant. Have a great week. Talk to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-periods-why-can-t-mother-nature-just-text-me-and-be-like-waddup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not one in a million kind of Girl... I'm a once in a lifetime kind of Women...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-one-in-a-million-kind-of-girl-i-m-a-once-in-a-lifetime-kind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hey. I'm a girl. I'll make a big deal out of small things. I'll get jealous easily. I'll cry if I get a broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-i-m-a-girl-i-ll-make-a-big-deal-out-of-small-things-i-ll-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 345 Being a girl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-girl/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always feel that there are two choices for women. Either be totally confident about your non-size-zero body and say, 'I love what I look like and this is who I am,' or be the person who is obsessed with diet and exercise and keeping toned. What feels more realistic to me is that some days I wake up and think I love how I look. On other days I say, 'If I had real self-control, I would be 10 pounds lighter.' 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