Have you ever felt embarrassed about how your body looks? Have you felt uncomfortable around in public, or even around family? How many times have you reminded yourself to “lose weight”? Are you tired of the fat shame you keep on getting? I am sure you would want to get rid of the excess weight, but staying consistent is hard for some people.
I started feeling insecure about my weight during my middle school years. I did not look like my other peers in terms of physique, and I would get called out for it. The emotions I had were not great to say the least, and it left me feeling ashamed of myself. Having to go to school five days a week under these conditions really shattered my self-esteem. I constantly felt like I was alone in class, as I was certainly isolated from the rest of the kids. I had no one to talk to because I was unable to make friends during that time. With the shame I carried, I even avoided speaking to my parents and teachers regarding the situation I was in. Honestly it was hard for me.
Being overweight and having to deal with body shaming scarred my mental health and well-being. I had a phase where I refused to take proper care of myself, which consisted of me eating less calories than the norm and hating my body overall. The harmful comments I received left me unaware of what I was doing to my health in general.
Ever since the days of my traumatic middle school experience, I wake up displeased with the way I looked in the mirror. Losing weight has become an objective for me, hoping to improve on myself and my health. It became less stressful when the pandemic hit a few years ago. I no longer had to constantly think about what others thought about me. It was a time where I could be at peace and find my values as a person.
Losing weight requires proper consistency and self-discipline. For some people it can take a long time to notice weight loss, as everyone’s weight loss journey is different. What’s important to me is that I learned to love my body and pushed through it and I’m proud of myself for that. Sometimes we just need to ease off on what others think and focus on yourself, and not for the sake of others
Unruly Bodies 
Your story takes a turn for the better when you talk about how, despite the continual pressure of social criticism, you managed to discover inner peace and self-worth during the pandemic. It is a significant discovery to turn the focus from other people’s views to your own self-love and progress. Your perspective is essential in that it acknowledges that each person’s weight loss journey is unique and emphasizes the significance of consistency and self-discipline in this process.
Above all, your encouraging message of learning to embrace your body and accept who you are is really appreciated. The reminder to put one’s own well-being ahead of other people’s opinions gives hope and inspiration to those going through similar challenges.
I am so proud of you for learning to love your body! There are so many people in society who spend their days judging others, and I hope you never have to deal with anyone like that again. Although our experiences are different, I can relate to being insecure about my weight. In middle school, I was chubby and my family certainly made that clear by pointing out my weight any chance they had. It negatively impacted my mental health and self esteem, and ultimately shaped how I looked at myself from then on. This reminds me of our conversation in class about weight as it relates to the body. In society, there is a stigma around being any weight that is not accepted as the standard. I hope that people in society can shift their mindset and appreciate everyone for who they are. I wish you the best of luck in your journey!