While the holiday season bestows heart-warming merriment, it also comes with an only too-common concern for millions of women – the extra pounds that we all seem to heap on. Just in time for this almost ritualistic worry, a new survey by 8fit sheds light on what is an everlasting question –  “If I lose that much weight, would I feel differently about myself?”

Having queried 800 women, the fitness, health and lifestyle company found out that a whopping 77 percent replied positively. Yet, the results are not as clear cut.

“Our research shows that in spite of a lot of misconceptions around diet and weight loss that still (pardon the pun) carry weight in pop culture, women care most about having good health,” said Laurel Toney, communications lead at 8fit. “In fact, a staggering 80 percent of women in our survey said their happiness is tied to feeling healthy, compared to only 43 percent of women who answered ‘yes’ when asked if their happiness is tied to their physical appearance.”

Although 83 percent of the participants said they are confident about their looks, some popular misconceptions, augmented by the echo-chamber of the internet, still persist. “We didn’t ask for women’s take on social media’s impact on their self-esteem or body image this time around, but in general, social media can serve as a great support system if you’re choosing to engage with like-minded people who lift you up and inspire you,” said Toney. “It can also be a source of stress and increased insecurity if you’re playing the comparison game. Approach social media with the healthy perspective that it’s usually just a glimpse into the best moments of another person’s journey to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself to be ‘insta-perfect.’”

To attain physical perfection, 51 percent of the women asked believe they would have to make big sacrifices, while 30 percent said they would go to extremes.  Some 36 percent, though, stated that their relationship with food is a healthy one. When asked what they would sacrifice, 43 percent were willing to forgo their favorite meal, but 36 percent said they would not part with “a darn thing.”

In an age when images of chiseled bodies and preened visages are only a click away, 8fit’s research points to a shifting paradigm of beauty, happiness and fitness. More and more women seem to embrace and celebrate their bodies and work toward healthier – not necessary smaller – numbers on the scale.

“The fact that women are feeling confident and drawing happiness from parts of their lives like their relationships, their careers and their health is a big victory, and reflects a larger trend toward wellness and health as a journey of self-acceptance rather than catering to a specific societal ideal,” said Toney. “But the data also shows we still have work to do to shift our collective mindset as women.”