For most of my life, I was thin.
I took it for granted.
For a relatively small stretch of time (comparatively), I was getting proper exercise. I’ve had periods of my life where I went overboard with exercise (sometimes a full workout two or three times a day), and I’ve had times where I did nothing.
Growing up, exercise and positive eating habits weren’t illustrated. I’m not trying to blame anyone for anything, rather I didn’t have an example of what to do or how to proceed. I was fortunate that my metabolism was always active enough that I could eat anything I wanted and stay pretty much like that picture above. That was me in 2001, getting headshots done. I think, when I think of what I must look like (“must” being the operative word), I think of 2001 me. I think of getting myself on track and finally seeing hard work pay off.
But 2001 me is more than just historical me; 2001 me is unrealistic.
I go to the post office several times a week; I belong to this amazing sticker swap group and many of us are nearly hyper-active with sending stickers out. I take every swap to the post to be weighed so it can have the proper postage. I like my local post office. Well, I like the ladies at my local post office. The post office itself, I don’t enjoy, strictly from a reflective perspective.
As you come in, there is a wall to the right, and the entire wall is reflective.
I hate that wall.
When you are in line, you can see yourself in the reflection and, every time I see my full self, it makes me literally cringe.
I look worse than terrible.
When I went to the post office on Tuesday, as I was leaving, I went to open the door and I saw someone and thought, “I’ll hold the door for her.” It took me a full moment before I realized the “her” was me. It was so jarring, so colossally devastating, that I hurried to the car and locked myself in so I wouldn’t burst into tears in the parking lot.
I think terrible things about myself and my appearance. It’s likely I actually have body dysmorphia. I see myself in reflections and it doesn’t even look like me. It freaks me out. I’ve actually said out loud to my reflection, without even thinking about it, “You look like SH*T.”
The irony here is that not only would I NEVER say any of the things I say to myself to other people, I’d never even THINK them about other people. The horror is reserved exclusively for myself.
It’s bad enough that I don’t want anyone to have to look at me or interact with me in public. If I can self-checkout at the store, thank christ. If I can not have to ask anyone anything face to face, perfect. If I can go somewhere at night, I’m going to go that place at night. I hate anyone having to see me or talk to me if at all possible.
I feel like less of a person because I’m fat. The irony is thick.
And, again, I’d never think that of anyone else, it’s only how I think about me.
When I told my partner about my episode at the post office, he asked me, “Before you realized it was you, did you think that person was disgusting?” I told him of course not. And he let my words hang.
Point taken.
Logically, I understand what I’m seeing and feeling isn’t necessarily accurate. But it doesn’t change that I am consistently horrified by reflective surfaces or the size of my shadow or seeing my clothes in the closet. I feel like if someone has to interact with me or see me, I’m a burden just by existing.
I would love to go back to the gym; I’ve had a gym membership for years. My chronic illness makes even standard life tasks (like going to the grocery store) borderline impossible at times. I would love to exercise so much. Then I think about the last time I really made efforts to get in shape. I remember seeing myself in all the mirrors at the gym and how it made me physically sick. I’d go to the back corner of the treadmill rows and try to use one behind someone else so I couldn’t see myself.
I feel like I will never get to be healthy again and that devastates me.
I know it can happen, I know I can do it, it just may take forever and I may feel miserable the whole time. But it certainly can’t be any worse than hoping no one has to talk to me or see me or that I’m a blight on humanity just by existing.
I have to go back to the post office today.
Deep breath.
Categories: musings
Rebekah Lang 
I understand where you’re coming from on this. I’ve gained weight consistently since… well, as long as I can remember, really. I was never really very active, didn’t eat very well throughout university and onward into “adult” life and ended up much bigger than I’d like, to such a degree that there are things I’ve been unable to do because I’m too large and/or heavy.
A few years back, I joined our local Slimming World group and managed to shed six stone and a bit. That felt good. Really good. Unfortunately, rather than continuing the downward trend in my weight, bad things happened in my personal life and I changed medication; those two events simultaneously caused me to start eating badly again, and I ended up putting all the weight I’d lost back on again. This time with an added hernia! Fun. A hernia they can’t/won’t get rid of unless I lose some weight. Double fun.
The wife and I went back to Slimming World shortly before Christmas because we both knew we needed to start paying more attention to this stuff. So far I’ve lost nearly a stone again, and we’re both eating a lot better. This morning I started an exercise regime with Fitness Boxing for Switch. While I still disgust myself when I look in the mirror, much like you describe above, I feel a bit better that I’m taking some clear steps that have had proven results in the past.
I hope that you either manage to find something that works for you — look up Slimming World if you’re unfamiliar with it, it works very well, doesn’t involve any massive shakeups to lifestyle or diet, and doesn’t require eating wood-chipping “lunch bars” or drinking horrible shakes — or that you’re at least able to feel a sense of acceptance and comfort in who you are. Both are difficult journeys to take, I know all too well.
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<3
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My story is very similar to yours, but I believe I was trying to belittle or traumatize myself more than seeing myself as unnatural or disgusting, body shape-wise. I’ve been fat my whole life and I think it’s because I’ve always had this policy of not caring about myself. Very much like you’ve stated, my own self-esteem was painfully low and any time something happened that caused me to self-evaluate my behavior, a task I’ve completed, or even my own life experiences, I just automatically assumed my existence was nothing compare to anyone or anything else.
I’ve made small efforts here and there to get healthy, always telling myself that I need to push harder, work harder, be more motivated, be more efficient, be better at literally everything. I was really just trying to sabotage myself so I didn’t have to feel like a loser if I couldn’t achieve what I was going for.
Some time earlier this year I felt like I turned a corner in my attitude towards myself. I don’t know why, I can’t really explain what happened to me. I just decided that I had managed to build myself up as a person, in regards to handling my anxiety and self-esteem issues, in regards to my skill sets, in regards to my maturity and ability to get along with others, and that I was finally at a good place where I had proof that I could count on. I still feel the sting of self-judgement and it’s easy to shatter my self-esteem, but I’m much better at repairing the damage immediately and calming myself down before it gets bad. I honestly wish the same for you, Rebekah, you really are just the coolest.
Anyway, just thought I’d share.
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I once heard someone say look at a picture of yourself as a child and imagine telling her all the horrible things you would say to yourself. Maybe it won’t help at all. Maybe it won’t make any difference. But maybe it would help to realize you’re the same girl capable of th same dreams and worthy of all things wonderful. Someone also once told me that if you truly want something you go get it. (That was you by the way) Not saying this because I want you to feel bad or god forbid even worse than you do. But your words helped me in other areas. And you have always been a beacon of light in my darkest of days. Body dysmenorrhea is so real and you are not alone. I do hate to think of you shying away from people because I know how wonderful you are and everyone needs to know people like you!!!
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That’s a really interesting idea, honestly. I would be ashamed to talk to child me the way I talk to adult me.
Sh*t, Erin. WHY YOU DO THIS TO MEEEEEEEEE?
And you CAN do anything. You’re amazing. <3
Thank you for this.
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