This is not one of those ‘love your body’ posts.
I’d never do that because nobody cares about my body issues. It’s annoying when people my size preach about ‘accepting’ their ‘horrible’ bodies.
BUT this is a post about society’s obsession with SIZE and the assumptions we make about people based on the number at the back of their clothes.
We see someone with curves and assume they’re lazy and weak.
We see someone like me and assume they eat well and exercise.
People aim to be thin – at all costs.
Hi, I’m Lauren, I wear a size 8 and I am NOT healthy.
I have a chronic illness called Narcolepsy. Along with medication to help me stay awake, I have an addiction to sugar because of the energy spike. I’ve tried to cut back but I still eat too much (no, I don’t want diet advice, ta)
I also don’t do regular exercise because raising my heart rate triggers my symptoms. I’ve done weights in the past and I’d like to do it again, but I guess I’m just a bit slack.
I’m not healthy. You don’t want my body.
I’m ok, and I can get through the day, but I’m not a model of well-being simply because I’m on the smaller side.
This is my body because this is how my body is supposed to look. Some people’s bodies are supposed to have curves. It’s just the way we are made.
So please remember, the size of someone’s thighs could have NO correlation to the health of their insides.
I know women who are bigger than me who’d kick my arse at the gym. Actually, anyone would .
I know women who are thin because they’re starving and afraid to eat because society tells them they’re better off skinny.
Let’s stop obsessing about SIZE, I don’t want our kids growing up thinking ‘thin’ is the end goal. The goal is health and happiness.
I don’t talk about weight, diets or size in front of my kids. We’re more than the skin we’re in and my kids don’t need to learn from me how to criticise their bodies. If it’s not a comment about how awesome someone is (including myself), I don’t say it out loud. I encourage you to do the same.
P.S please don’t tell me I’m ‘lucky’. I’d take some curves, some energy and a healthy body any day of the week.
You can follow The Thud on Instagram @TheLaurenDubois