10 Things To Remember If You’ve Ever Been The Victim Of Body Shaming

1. You are so much more than that number on the scales.

It’s just a number – that’s all. It doesn’t represent who you are or have any bearing on your worth. It might go up and it might go down, but that won’t have any bearing on who you are at your centre.

That number is totally irrelevant if you think about it.

2. People who throw insults like this will find anything to pick on.

If it wasn’t your weight, it would be the pimples on your face, how you dress weird, or what a total loser you are for being into comic books.

People who are low enough to throw the word fat at you as an insult simply want to find something wrong with you so they can feel better about their own pathetic existence.

3. We should all feel sorry for people who feel the need to tear others down.

Who would you rather be:

A) The ‘fat’ person
B) Or some spineless loser who feels the need to pick on others, humiliate and shame them, in order to get their kicks?

4. The way you look right now is temporary.

You are 100% in control of your body – you might be a little heavier than you’d like but you can change that right now if you choose to.

If you’re unhappy with what you see when you look in the mirror, there’s nothing stopping you from deciding to do something (healthy) to fix it.

And if you’re happy, then just keep doing you.

5. Someday, we all have to give our looks back.

It’s sad how society places such importance and value on our physical appearances, because our looks are merely temporary.

When we get to the end of our time here we have to give back our bodies, and all that will be left is our spirit and our heart’s work.

6. Enjoying food is certainly not the worst thing in the world.

So you like to eat? Well guess what, so do I!! Food is AWESOME and I struggle just as much as the next person to exercise portion control or follow insane diets, because what is life without carbs?!!

There are bigger problems than being partial to doughnuts.

7. In case you didn’t know – being skinny will not miraculously solve all of your problems.

There might be a part of you that thinks if only you could lose that extra 10, 20, or 50 pounds, everything would fall into place and your life would be awesome.

Hate to break it to you but aside from looking marginally better in skinny jeans, you won’t feel all that different, because how you feel is 90% related to your thoughts and inner belief system.

8. Somewhere in this world, being ‘fat’ is desirable.

For some unknown reason, a lot of people in the Western world equate skinny with being beautiful and popular, but this is simply not the case.

There are many other countries and societies in which women who are thin are seen as poor and unhealthy, while curvier women are viewed as far more attractive and desirable.

I’m not saying one is right or wrong, but it’s something to think about the next time you’re made to feel conscious of your weight.

9. Nobody has the power to make you feel unworthy or inferior – unless you let them.

There will always be an endless amount of trolls and haters just waiting to pick you apart and dampen your spirit, but the truth is no one’s opinions or judgements of you count for shit.

Who cares what anybody has to say about you?

Fuck them, life is too short to waste it worrying about what other people are doing.

10. There are way worse things you could be than fat.

Inconsiderate, cruel, someone who thinks it’s okay to body shame others, rude, unkind, belittling, someone who tears other people down, obnoxious, vile, hateful, aggressive, someone who bases worth on physical appearances, jealous, spiteful, a compulsive liar, manipulating, violent, not careful of other people’s feelings, abusive, malicious, narcissistic, racist, sexist, homophobic, intolerant of all beliefs different to your own, ignorant, cold-hearted, someone who takes pleasure in other’s pain.

I don’t know about you, but call me fat all day long over any of these things.

Sometimes, all it takes is one book. One book that turns your world upside down. One book that changes your entire life.

Bloom by Shani Jay available here.