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And that’s a great thing
“You’re so thin!”
“You look amazing!”
“What’s your secret?”
When I embarked on my weight loss journey, I expected to hear some version of these things. After all, my friends and family knew my struggles with gaining weight after taking anti-psychotics to battle bipolar 2 disorder. Plus, I had also been subjected to acquaintances’ thoughtless comments about my 70lb weight gain.
So why hasn’t anyone noticed my substantial weight loss? After all, as a petite woman, losing even 10lbs results in me dropping a dress size or two.
In the United States, losing weight and being thin are equated to being “healthy.” A quick browse through any publication geared toward women will turn up numerous stories on how to lose weight, find lower calorie dupes, or tips for dressing to look slimmer. Even with the current body-positive movement, American society celebrates thinness and weight loss, and many doctors still push the antiquated BMI chart as a benchmark of health.
I’ve written before about my experience with a doctor deeming me obese based solely on my BMI number and not on my actual physical appearance. At the time, I exercised regularly and ate well-balanced, healthy meals, but no matter what I did, my…
