Demi Lovato embraces her stretch marks in candid post about her eating disorder recovery

Demi Lovato has opened up on her stretchmarks and being in recovery from an eating disorder in a candid, empowering Instagram post.

The singer, 28, wrote from the heart about her previous beliefs surrounding eating disorders when she was growing up, and how she finds herself in the position of being in recovery.

"I used to genuinely believe recovery from an eating disorder wasn’t real." Lovato's post begins. "That everyone was faking or secretly relapsing behind closed doors. “Surely she throws up here and there”, “she can’t POSSIBLY accept her cellulite”... those we’re just a few of the things that I used to tell myself growing up."

Watch Demi Lovato's powerful performance at the 2020 Grammys:

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The post continues in full:

"I’m so grateful that I can honestly say for the first time in my life - my dietitian looked at me and said “This is what eating disorder recovery looks like.” In honor of my gratitude for the place I’m in today, this was a lil shoot I did by myself in quarantine this summer when I wanted to celebrate my stretch marks instead of being ashamed of them.

"I started wearing actual glitter paint on my stretch marks to celebrate my body and all of it’s features (whether society views them as good OR bad) My stretch marks aren’t going away so might as well throw a lil glitter on em’ amiright? ????✨ Also let this be a reminder to anyone who doesn’t think it’s possible: IT ACTUALLY IS ????????????????☺️☺️ YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

"This year was tough.. be gentle on yourself if you slip up and remember to get right back on track because you’re WORTH THE MIRACLE OF RECOVERY ????I LOVE YOU ✨ (last pics without sparkle edits - Instagram vs reality type shit you kno? ????)"

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As Yahoo! notes, this isn't the first time this year that Demi Lovato has opened up about her eating disorder. Back in March during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Lovato spoke about her 2018 relapse and explained what ultimately led to her hospitalization and overdose.

"My bulimia got really bad and I asked for help. And I didn't receive the help that I needed," she told Ellen. “Ultimately, I made the decisions that got me to where I am today; you know, it was my actions that put me in the position that I'm in."

She continued:

 “If you do go through this, you yourself can get through it.

"You can get to the other side, and it may be bumpy, but you are a 10 out of 10. Don’t forget it. As long as you take responsibility, you can move past it and learn to love yourself the way you deserve to be loved.”