Fat Shaming

This past Monday, my husband and I went to lunch. As he finished paying and getting our food, I filled up our drinks. While I was putting tea in our cups, I heard a whistle. I turned around, and three guys in their mid-20s were staring at me. Immediately, I turned my back to them to finish what I was doing. Then I heard this behind me, "She's huge." "Look at those white legs." "She doesn't need to be wearing shorts." "She needs to skip lunch." I had to make a quick decision in that moment. Either I go up to them and tell them off or cry or ignore it and move on with lunch. I decided to ignore it and move on with lunch because I have a husband who probably would have gone to jail had he known what they said. I decided to wait until I saw them pull out of the parking lot to tell my husband. Naturally, he built me up and tried to soothe my breaking heart. The rest of the day we ran errands for church, and I was okay until I got home that night.

Suddenly, their callous words caused me to see everything in a negative way. I couldn't stop crying and Facebook was only exasperating my mood with memes on motherhood and nasty comments about everyone and everything. I decided to take a Facebook break due to the shame I was starting to feel.

During that break from Facebook, God spoke to me. He said,"Misty, you are worthy. You are worthy despite being childless, jobless, poor, fat, and moody. Those are man's conditions, not mine. I love you exactly the way you are. Be not ashamed." He's right. I am worthy!

It's hard to feel worthy in a world where the cutest clothes are size 12 and under, where people openly brag about how much weight they've lost like it's some competition, where models are considered plus size when over a size 6, and where people hide behind social media to make fun of others. 

I have struggled with my weight since puberty. I was a skinny kid and then "Bam!" I had a pudgy stomach. My weight issues are not a roller coaster of weight, but an inability to move my weight. I have been the same clothing size for ten years. After wondering for years why, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Finally, I had an answer to my weight issues. People with PCOS have insulin resistance which makes it difficult to lose weight. Additionally, women who take fertility meds put on weight. So, this is my story. I can't lose weight easily, and I keep adding more on. 

Those guys on Monday didn't know this about me. They were morons who chose to be rude instead of knowing my story.  Many women have PCOS, thyroid issues, and other medical problems that make it difficult to lose weight. Additionally, some women have difficulty gaining weight due to medical issues. 

Here's the thing. People have stories that we don't know. Before making snap judgments, we need to think about what their story could be. Their story isn't our story. It is wrong to judge others based on our own, narrow story.

I am not trying to play a victim here. I could do more to better my health. However, I am happy with this body that God has given me. There's no one else like me. I am uniquely and wonderfully made by a God who loves me. That's hard for some people to understand.  They want me to look like they do or fit their mold of beauty. That's their story. My story is that I have a husband who makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and a God who loves me no matter what. I think my story is wonderful. I feel no shame. I am proud of me. 

Take that, jerks!