These women are highly educated in the fields of health, nutrition and medicine. They are also each half my weight and eight inches shorter. So far, I’ve ignored those comments or tried to deflect any overtly grossophobic talk while silently hoping they haven’t noticed I’m not like them.
But I gained 15 pounds during the pandemic and it shows. I already deal with a lot of self-loathing and knowing what my mother-in-law really thinks about bodies above a size 10 is exhausting. How can I stay sane and defend myself and others subtly, without feeling like I’m arguing with professionals about something I’m not doing well myself?
Walrus among otters: People can be educated and still be wrong, be blind, dull, or puny. Gosh, walruses are my favorite funny animal, but please don’t do this to yourself.
It might be asking too much, but I hope the next time you meet their body talk, whenever it happens and regardless of your weight, you say what you think: “You don’t you may not realize how often you talk about body size I am, however, and as someone who is a very different body size, shape and type than all of you, I found it difficult to d ‘hearing about bodies like mine being a problem. You really are a wonderful family and I care about you all so much. I just hope you reflect on how these conversations feel to me.
If they do work in “health, nutrition and medicine,” they are introducing attitudes into their work that are unhealthy for a range of patients. If you think you’re not worth fighting for, then defend these patients, however, for the record, I think you’re definitely worth fighting for, and I really hope you do.
· I wouldn’t even mention myself or how I feel. “I don’t know if you noticed, but you talk A LOT about other people’s weight. Why do you care so much about other people’s bodies?
· I’m sorry you went through this, writer. If it’s any consolation, people who sit around and obsess over other people’s weight, body, and food choices probably don’t have a healthy relationship with their own bodies or their own food. In other words, they are the problem, not you.
And yes, I am a 6 foot tall woman who was blessed with peasant birthing hips. I am middleweight. I train 4-5 times a week and do my best to eat healthy. I could lose 80 pounds and not be below a size 10. Your loved ones, frankly, don’t seem like very educated or nice people.
