“When I was 8, my mom bought me a new skirt. It was too small in my waist. For the rest of the day, I walked laps on our front lawn. ‘I can walk the weight away.’ I felt immense guilt about myself and my body.”
‘I hope you aren’t stuck-up when you’re slimmer.’ It struck me. I’m a kind person because I’m a kind person, not because I’m fat.’: Woman details body positivity journey, ‘You are worthy’
‘You’re lucky to be alive!’ The last thing I remember is a nurse stroking my head. I sobbed when I saw my stomach.’: 27-year old beat Covid 19 after near-death experience, ‘Always trust your gut’
“My body was unrecognizable. It was like a lightning strike. I nearly passed out trying to take my dog to use the bathroom.”
‘You need to lose your baby fat.’ At 13 I was deemed ‘unworthy.’ I was told I shouldn’t exist.’: Woman fights for body positivity, ‘I want to define what ‘healthy’ is’
“My mom bought me shorts from Abercrombie and Fitch. They didn’t fit, and my mom just said ‘We’ll get them a size up.’ They didn’t make them in a bigger size. My heart broke. Mr brain immediately went to: ‘I’m fat, ugly, and unworthy.’”
‘You look so great! How did you do it?’ All of my validations were coming true, but I wasn’t happy OR healthy. I hardly recognized myself.’: Woman recovers from eating disorder, ‘I love my body’
“In sixth grade, I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting. We counted points and bought ‘low-cal’ foods. I never really hated my body. I wanted to be accepted for who I was.”
‘I’ll just be a fat mom.’ Over 14 years, I had 5 more babies. Now what? I knew I wasn’t finished.’: Mom of 8 transforms body, ‘Be PROUD of what your body can do’
“I felt so proud but looking back, it was just sad. Unfortunately, it was the norm for girls my age.”
‘String cheese and pistachios, that’s it.’ I cut my chicken and slid it into my napkin. He noticed something was wrong.’: Partner helps woman recover from anorexia, ‘He met me halfway’
“Ermes and I met online. He noticed quickly something was wrong. When he saw there was hope, he met me halfway. A week or so later, he proposed to me. Hope.”
‘It’s nobody’s business!’ I’d tell myself. I was in survival mode. I dropped to 75 pounds. I thought I’d never wake up.’: Woman shares recovery journey from eating disorder, ‘I chose a life of fullness’
“I had to navigate the chaos alone. When I finally got to see my fiancé, he was hurt and confused. I was 75 pounds.”
‘I don’t look like your stereotypical pregnant woman. I won’t have that little bump. This isn’t the body I envisioned myself carrying in, but it so worthy.’: Expecting mom ‘thankful’ for unplanned pregnancy, ‘My weight stopped me from happiness’
“I used to think I would allow myself to get pregnant once I had lost all this weight. I blackmailed myself against the one thing I truly wanted in life. All my life, I’ve written off happiness because I wasn’t the ‘correct’ size.”
‘I stumbled upon a Facebook post from a former high school classmate. ‘I’m in Stage 4 Kidney Failure.’ A voice in the back of my mind screamed, ‘It’s you…’: Woman loses 150 pounds to donate kidney, liver, ‘Our lives are forever changed’
“My phone rang. ‘You’re a match!’ I stopped breathing for a brief moment. My BMI was still too high to donate. I tipped the scales at 297 pounds. The surgeon told me, ‘You need to lose more weight.’ I’d been searching for my ‘why’ for months. She needed me, and I needed her. Someone else’s life was now in my hands. I was called to save her.”
‘I was caught kissing a boy. ‘Come to the station. We’ll have fun with you. Clearly that’s what you like.’: Man shares coming out story, ‘I cared too much about fitting in’
“I’m a child of an Officer in the Indian Navy. I assumed only white men were gay. I pretended to have a crush with a female celebrity, lining my bedroom with her posters, while hiding a collection of pictures of men in their underwear under my mattress.”
