Have you ever been judged because of the size of your body? Did you know that health comes in all sizes?
My family went camping one year. As we arrived, we saw a friend across the parking lot waving. We parked, I got out of the car, he came up to us and the first words out of his mouth were, “You are SO skinny. I didn't realize it!” Whatever he intended with this comment was irrelevant to me, but I felt embarrassed, hurt and frustrated. I didn't have a response. Back then, I never knew how to respond to those comments. I usually just shrugged and looked away. If and when I ever made a comment back, which was very rare, I was usually told in response that it is much worse to be called fat.
For anyone who has struggled with weight issues, being called "skinny" can be just as uncomfortable as being called “chubby”. I have been naturally thin all my life and have dealt with anxiety about whether or not there was something wrong with me. I ate, but couldn't put on weight, and was constantly confronted with acerbic comments like, “Do you eat?”
Our culture looks unfavorably upon being overweight, but fat shaming has become less and less tolerated. Most of us know that this kind of gesture is alienating, offensive, and insecurity-inducing. But what about the opposite? Is calling someone "skinny," or making a comment about someone's thinness, supposed to be a compliment? I don’t believe so.
I find myself wondering why it is socially unacceptable to comment on someone’s largeness, yet completely acceptable to comment on someone’s thinness. Regardless of your natural weight, or whatever your relationship is to your weight, the problem here is our focus on weight itself. To comment upon someone's thinness — even if it is socially acceptable — makes a tremendous number of assumptions about how this person feels about themselves and about the way our culture thinks about body image... among other things.
Several years ago, after seeing multiple medical specialists, I learned that I have an auto-immune disease called psoriasis, as well as obscure condition called IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). As if those weren’t enough, I also had adrenal fatigue and leaky gut- all of which were leaving me malnourished. No matter how much I ate, or what I ate, I couldn’t gain weight. My body was not getting the nutrients it needed to be healthy.
Because of my conditions, I have spent several years healing my body and mind holistically. I’ve begun to love and accept myself for the way that God created me, and I have made changes to my lifestyle and diet that actually address my health issues. I am now healthier and happier than I have ever been.
My life’s goal is to help others feel that vibrant health and happiness too. There is one major thing that we can do to make each other feel loved and accepted, no matter what body type we have- STOP listening to what society says is the perfect body and start loving ourselves for who we are. Only then can we truly heal.
Are you ready to be empowered and create lasting changes in your life? Book a Complimentary Call where we can discuss your health and wellness goals and see if we are a right fit to work together.