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Over 200 lbs and think you’re hiding it? You really aren’t.

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Posted by Bobbie | Posted in Emotional Eating, Holidays, Relatives | Posted on Sun January 10, 2010

Today I wanted to talk about revealing your weight to others – on blogs, in person, in public, etc. I think this is a very important topic.

As a woman in our society, there’s this feeling that if you get over the 200 lb mark, you are a big fat whale or swamp creature.

There’s this need to keep your true weight number under wraps and not share it with anyone. I have no idea why this is the case, but it’s the way I’ve always felt. It’s almost like 200 lbs or more for a woman is the end of the world. There’s a level of shame involved at that point. Maybe it’s self imposed. Maybe it’s not. Either way, I hate it and I think it sucks ass.

Let me tell you a story. Like the majority of you, I’m an emotional eater due to a lot of circumstances arising from my shitty childhood that were beyond my control. I was abandoned by my father at an early age and my older brother by six years was/is a bully that used to beat the crap out of me nearly every day that he could. I really had life stacked up against me. I used to cry nearly every single day as a child because I was so sad. In fact, I don’t remember much from my childhood. I guess I blocked a lot of it out because it really sucked.

Fast forward to Christmas of 2006. My deadbeat dad decided he wanted to suddenly be a part of my life after being absent many, many years. He had never even met my husband or my children, and I had been with John for at least seven years at that point. And of course my bully brother had to join in on the festivities too. The two of them are a magnificent team of deadbeat-bullies, and it was a holiday week that wasn’t so merry for me.

It’s funny because bully is a fat ass too. I hate this picture.
It’s so unflattering in so many ways. First, my weight.
Second, my family. We were never a real family. It’s all a put on
for the camera. I don’t even know these people.

christmas-06

I was so stressed out from the impending doom (and their arrival), I gained 10 lbs the week leading up to the holiday. You can see how puffy I was in the picture above. I was huge. I don’t remember the exact number on the scale, but I had to of been close to 265. I looked 300 due to the camera angle and puffiness. I hate that picture so much.

While deadbeat and bully where sitting at the table awaiting to be served Christmas dinner, I overheard them discussing my weight. Deadbeat said, “Yea, I think she’s close to 260-262.” Bully chimed in, “Nah, I’d go for 270.” Leave it to my brother to over-estimate. Typical. Of course, I was the only one who seemed to hear the humiliating discussion about my obesity. I was crushed. What kind of jacked up family does this?!? Why didn’t I stand up for myself and say something, anything?

The truth was, they were pretty close in their guesses. And I actually thought I looked slim in my jeans! What did I do after hearing this? Piled on the extra potatoes and stuffing. Such assholes. But it’s in the past, and I’ve owned it and it’s over with. It doesn’t make me who I am anymore. It does NOT define me. It defines the type of people those two are.

Which gets me back to the main topic. Why, as a woman in our society, are we so afraid to admit what our true weight is? We lie on our drivers licenses, we lie to our doctors (until they weigh us), we lie on the gym machines that ask for our weight, we lie, lie, lie. The truth of the matter is, most of us look what we weigh. If we weigh over 200 lbs, we look it. There’s no hiding it. It’s obvious. You’re not hiding a big secret. Everyone is in on it, trust me – people just like deadbeat and bully (in my case).

When I started this weight loss journey back in November, I bounced back and forth on whether I should share my true stats on my blog. What if one of my clients reads it? What if one of my friends knows my true number? And jenkies, what if someone from high school knows I’m carrying around a 100 lb mule around my waist and a few bowling balls on my ass?

In getting past my own Fat Denial Syndrome, I decided that I needed to put it out there. Yes, I’m a fat ass. Yes, I weigh over 250 lbs. It’s therapeutic. It’s the truth. And guess what? I’ll never be this weight. EVER. AGAIN. IN. MY. LIFE.

So I urge you – don’t be afraid to share your true weight on your blog. Own up to it, and get out of fat denial. It just may help you get the weight off.

(In case you are wondering, no, I don’t cry anymore, and haven’t for many, many years. In fact I think there is something wrong with me in that regard. LOL

I don’t let the opinions of others form how I feel about myself anymore – when I can help it. I’m a happy and positive person now.)

If you are new to my blog, I urge you to read these posts where I talk a little bit about this subject:

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Comments (20)

I’m so sorry to hear about your family. It’s tough! I’m so glad though that you are discovering the root issues and working through them. You are truly a beautiful woman, inside and out!
She-fit´s last blog ..Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred My ComLuv Profile

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Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

She-fit, thank you for your kind words.

I think it’s important that every woman reads and BELIEVES what She-fit typed. We are ALL beautiful women inside and out, not matter our weight – 200+ or not.

:)

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Although I think I would’ve died rather than reveal my weight in high school (when it was perfectly healthy), at some point over the past five or so years I’ve become desensitized to it and will talk about my actual weight frankly if its relevant. Maybe it helps that my boyfriend fell for me near my highest weight (203 lbs), or that I turned 30, or that I started blogging about weight a few years back (under various aliases). I’m not sure, honestly. I think I finally just said “eff it,” you know?
Hilary´s last blog ..The First No-Change Weigh Day My ComLuv Profile

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Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

Totally agree Hilary. I feel the same way. :)

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Hot Mother Reply:

So much word! I weighed 130 my senior year, and thought I was a *heifer*. Hindsight being what it is, I’d like to go back to that time and kick my own ass. :-)

I’m much more comfortable in my own skin now, even though I am surely not at a healthy weight (yet!). But transparency is the only way to go as far as the numbers go (but I’m still keeping my ID under wraps for now). :-)
Hot Mother´s last blog ..To sleep – PLEASE! and other irritations My ComLuv Profile

[Reply]

Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

I think “Hot Mother” is one of THE coolest hats I’ve ever seen. Love it!!!

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Hot Mother Reply:

::blush:: thank you. Now all I need to do is make it so… :-)
Hot Mother´s last blog ..To sleep – PLEASE! and other irritations My ComLuv Profile

so many of us have the same issues, thanks for discussing this. i am working up to sharing my stats on my blog and you are helping to tip the scales! hee hee no pun intended. i’m sorry to hear about pain in your past but i like your attitude. and it sounds like made your own happy life despite what examples were laid out for you, so once again, kudos to you, afg.
liz´s last blog ..Snow in MO My ComLuv Profile

[Reply]

Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

Liz, kudos to you girl!!!

Looking back I wasted too many years living in the past. Wondering how I could have reacted, wondering if things would have been different had I made other choices.

I’ve decided I’m not going to live like that. I’m writing my life now as we speak. No more dwelling on the pain and disfunction.

Thank you for commenting. It’s people like you that keep me posting topics that were once to painful to discuss.

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and you have been a posting machine! now that my fun-filled final christmas of the season is over i will catch up on blog-reading and i think i have three of yours yet to read!
liz´s last blog ..Snow in MO My ComLuv Profile

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Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

I am a posting machine!!! LOL I’ve had so much downtime this weekend I’ve been making up for lost time!

:)

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do you mind if i post a couple links to your blog? i am referencing conversations and your post about putting one’s weight and inches out there.
liz´s last blog ..Snow in MO My ComLuv Profile

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Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

Sure girl, go ahead. :)

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(There’s nothing wrong with you in that (not crying) regard). I have so much respect for you for pulling out of the awful childhood and rising above it. My father and his siblings had a hellish childhood. Only he and his sister stopped perpetuating the abuse and were awesome parents. The others, well, weren’t so strong, and society and their kids and grandkids are paying for it.

And good post on owning our weight.
Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42´s last blog ..Consistency My ComLuv Profile

[Reply]

Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

Thx Gina.

It’s funny how you don’t know what dysfunction is until you see another family and how they treat each other the right way?

After I met my husband, I was blessed to have them as family now. So I kind of have a new beginning. :)

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Funny that you mention this. All last week I was telling people my weight. They had looks of shock and horror on their face. I’d tell them… and then there would be this big sucking in of the breath. But I wasn’t ashamed. I made a choice to do something about it. The more people that know, the better. I want to be held accountable for this. I don’t want to keep this my “dirty little secret”.

I even told my husband on Sunday. Same look. Same shock of horror to know that I outweighed him by almost 20 pounds.

The looks of horror and the *shock* sounds are probably what has lead me to keep my weight under wraps.

But whatever. I am still me and this weight does NOT define me. I am beautiful inside and out.

[Reply]

Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

That’s the kind of attitude we ALL NEED. Shoot girl 20 lbs! That’s nothing! I probably out weigh my husband by 50. And he’s complaining that he is about 25 lbs overweight! I’m like whatever… At least you’re not over 250!

But yea, I hate that the weight topic is a “dirty little secret”. We as a society shouldn’t give it that much power over us.

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I never told my (ex)-boyfriend how heavy I was until I was much smaller. I cringe at the thought of you even dealing with dad/bro. One of the few people in this world who I consider really happy and well adjusted has banned her father and half brother from her life – self protection! I realize the implications, blood thicker than water, blah blah blah, but some wounds reopen too easily. I suppose it’s none of my business, but I had a mom who did a non so stellar job, and I am resentful. I still talk to her, but just out of guilt. Maybe what I’m trying to say, is that some family is toxic, and I hope you’re not keeping horrible people who make you feel awful in your life.

The whole topic of weight and food is so filled with shame, not good for our health and well-being

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Anonymous Fat Girl Reply:

Julie thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.

Actually haven’t talked to my brother in several years and my father in months. I decided I don’t need their drama. It’s just not worth it.

:)

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