When I first started gaining weight, I treated it like a fluke. Nothing had changed diet or exercise wise and soon the gain would stop and I’d go back to normal. Except it didn’t stop. One day my pants fit like usual then I couldn’t pull them up at all. The gain was rapid and relentless. By the time it stopped I’d gained 47lbs, all in half a year.
Emma took a video of me singing “Stay” at karaoke last night and I didn’t even recognize myself. Even my face has changed dramatically. I hate the way I look now. I miss my old self.
If I followed societies narrative, I’d be doing anything I could to lose weight. Restrictive diets, extreme exercise. Even medicine fueled weight gain must come off eventually. That’s how success happens, right?
I see the videos and before and after pictures of smiling, happy people… finally proud in their new skin. I also know the failure rate and the struggle and this is when I say “fuck it”.
Our society teaches us to shrink ourselves in so many ways. Physically is just one of them and from now on I’m refusing to shrink.
My Facebook flashback today showed a past me who bragged about only eating one crepe at work and I brought my own diet syrup so I could save 20 extra calories. This was a once only experience where our store owners came in and made crepes and pancakes, complete with whipped cream and strawberries… and I refused an extra crepe so I could lose weight. I didn’t by the way.
We only have one life to live and I refuse to live it in an endless cycle of trying to lose weight so society likes me more. And endless cycle of saying no and praising myself for punishing my body.
I will eat healthy food, exercise to keep myself limber, and treat myself when I need some kindness. And I will accept that I am no longer a size medium, average woman.
Maybe someday I’ll be that size medium woman again but I doubt it. I’m on too many psychiatric medications (including Abilify and Lithium, which are known for weight gain). I have a feeling the only way to lose this weight, other than starvation, is stopping the meds… which are keeping me alive. That’s not an option.
My life was not meant to be scenery. I was always more than a pretty face and now I’ll show it.
This is one of the best posts about women’s crazy relationship with body weight that I’ve read. In your case, I’d bet money on the gain being those damn drugs. I was on Seroquel for two months and still ran six kms a day (I was high – I don’t run that much anymore). I still gained weight. So, it’s a cost that comes with the benefit. You’re already being the best version of yourself and by refusing to shrink you do us all a favour. Go you! ❤️
Thanks 🙂
This post is great, it makes me feel normal that I feel the same! Thank you xxx
You’re welcome