I have wanted to write this post for a while. Weight has always been something I struggled with and in a different way than you may think. I’m naturally skinny. According to the BMI chart, I’m considered under weight. I have drank smoothies with tons of protein and calories, took a work out class in college, eaten my fair share of chik fila all in the hopes of putting on weight. Post baby, I definitely have managed to keep on a few pounds!
Growing up however, I struggled when people would comment on how skinny I was. I remember a baby sitter calling me bony butt and how that stayed with me for years. I would complain to my dad that I had skis for feet and noodles for legs, decrying the fact that my body just never looked proportioned to my height. My dad always told me God made me perfect just the way I was and that models had thin legs! Thanks dad for trying to make me feel better!
As I have entered my adult years, I have bristled when people mentioned my weight issues and asked me if I ate enough. Never once have a skipped a meal that I wanted! In fact, I should probably limit the fries from time to time!:) So why do I mention all this? First, regardless if you struggle with gaining too much weight or you can’t gain enough weight, weight issues are extremely personal. You never know how hard the person might be trying to manage their weight issues. To even mention about someone’s thinness can definitely hit a raw nerve. Second, comments about weight often feel like assumptions to the person they are made to. I have often felt when I had comments made about my weight issues that people assumed I struggled with an eating disorder. If you struggle with gaining weight then I am sure you would feel like people assume you do not try hard enough or work out enough. Either way, assumptions are hurtful and can feel judgmental. Finally, talking about weight issues makes the person feel inferior. I can’t tell you how many times someone in college would remark, ‘geez you are SO skinny’, or ‘what size are you, a double 00?’ I would go home and feel like there was something wrong with me or that think that I must look weird. Talking about someone’s weight is almost always putting them down even if you do not mean to. In this hurtful world, we should always seek to build up those around us.
Now if you are my friend out there reading this and think omg I have mentioned her weight issues before. Know that I really don’t remember!! As I have gotten older and have entered motherhood, I don’t let negative comments about my weight affect me. After all no one is there usually when I down a pint of my favorite ice cream!;) I am reminded of the Psalm 139:14 verse when tempted to think negative, “I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” So regardless of your body type, shape, excess of weight or lack of it, embrace YOU. Do not let the hurtful or ignorant comments from people get you down!
I hope you all have a great weekend! We are headed to Commander’s Palace Saturday to celebrate my husband and mother in law’s birthdays! It is an annual tradition that I will NEVER get tired of. Thanks for stopping by.
Sale Alert – You can get an additional 15% off this Daniel Wellington watch seen below with the code MCKENNA through the 16th. It is such a classy, timeless piece!
