It Gets Better?

I read the most amazing blog yesterday on www.thestranger.com entitled, Hello, I am Fat (I tried to link this, but it would not work!)

So this blog really got me thinking. Most of what us fat people are told is to guilt us into doing everything in our power and spending every last dime we have in pursuit of thinness. Now, I'm not saying that I or any other individual that is obese doesn't need to lose weight, but I'm taking a different perspective on it. Perhaps the biggest problem in our country is not only based on what we eat, but how we are treated for being the way we are. Even when you are trying to lose weight, you still get cut down by others. I mean, seriously, you feel worthless to society until you reach that "ideal" weight. Your life sucks until you are thin (or at least this is what we are told) and things will magically get better when your dress size is in the single digits.

My question is, why can't I enjoy my life now? How do others know that you aren't in the process of changing your life? Why should they care? Why is everyone in this country so damned obsessed with what I eat, my activity level, etc? You cannot look at a person and know their diet. I pretty much never eat fast food and rarely drink soda, but yet that is what I get told to cut out of my diet by people. You don't know me! You don't know my situation. Shut the hell up!

This society pushes to the point that many people start thinking, "Well, why do I try? I'll never be perfect and my life sucks." So they give up and just keep living the way they are. I'm all for eating healthy and being active, but the key, I believe, is to start living the life you keep envisioning for yourself once you become thin now!!! Why can't I go for walks with my son? or go out with friends? My waist size should not define me, but I (and so many other fat women) allow it to!!!

I am always inspired when I see a confident curvy woman. I don't think, "Wow, she really needs to lose weight." or "I wonder if she is planning on staying fat?" No, I think, "Oh my goodness, I am so jealous of her confidence. I want to be her." How incredibly strange is that???? I loathe my body, but I see a woman around the same size as me that is holding herself with confidence and I want to be HER not b/c of her looks necessarily, but b/c of her attitude. Why can't I be confident in myself? I think I can.

So, the moral of my story is, screw everybody else that is worried about you. Or that you think is worried about you. Just be proud that you care enough about your body to make differences and appreciate the body you have. If it changes drastically, great, but if not, just keep living your life and you may not be as obsessed or depressed anymore. :)