April 7, 2010
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What’s Good For The Goose…
Why is it Ok for people to say things like; “Oh you can afford to eat that- you are a skinny mini” or “Whatever…you’re lucky because you are so tiny” and totally offend people like me, but god forbid we all turned to those who make offensive skinny comments and make a comment about them being fat.
This kills me.
For any of you who might have a hard time understanding my point, compare it to this:
It’s college graduation day and there you are with well-deserved and earned smiles wide and proud because; YOU DID IT! Those long nights of studying, tough exams, no sleep for 3 days every few months because you had to finish that term paper, walking to class in sub-zero temps or drenched from rain because you don’t have a car and 4 straight years of eating nothing but microwave mac and yack and ramen noodles because holy sh*t how were you ever going to repay all these college loans?
You get your diploma and are flying high. Later that day someone says to you; “You are so lucky.”
You then want to punch them in the face because you wonder if by lucky they mean being broke as a joke for 4 years and beyond, exhausted, stressed, confused, working your a** off, trying to understand how to live on your own without mom and dad and all those other things that come for so many people who chose to do something like earning an education to try and make a better life.
Yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel when people make the skinny comments to me often. Funny thing is, I am not even that skinny, in fact, according to health news and some research I have done I am actually over weight by a few pounds for my height. (I am 5′ 3″ and currently around 128lbs.) I guess the majority of the population is so obese that someone my size seems skinny. That’s insane.
On days like this one when I drag my “skinny” ass out of bed by 6am so I have enough time to run my morning hills and stairs before speeding to an early morning work meeting, then to get a gazillion things done in the office, then after work do something like meet a friend for a trail run or do sets of push-ups, crunches, etc. so that when I sometimes eat those things that maybe aren’t the healthiest ever or drink a beer I won’t become as huge as a house or my heart won’t fail by the age of 40, maybe I forget how “lucky” I am to be so “skinny” because I am too exhausted to think about it.
If busting your ass at things and trying to maintain, being honest, dealing with the garbage that life often drops in your lap and owning your past, your demons and keeping a positive attitude through it all makes you “lucky”, then slap me silly I am one lucky chick.
I am so lucky that I don’t want anyone to be surprised if I start responding to rude and assumptive comments people make with something along the lines of; “Yep, you’re right. I can eat this triple chocolate cake and love every minute of it. Sorry if you feel bad about yourself and are somehow jealous of me because you are fat and I am not. I have earned every once of my “skinny” and I don’t feel bad about it one bit.”
…is good for the gander- right?
The truth is not mean. It’s the truth.
Troy R
April 8, 2010 at 2:56 pmI understand your point… but coming from someone who has struggled with weight since a child… Telling people they are fat, is too many people, hurtful..and I don’t think that is you. Sure, the truth hurts, but why try to hurt someone if all they are doing is envying you. As many people struggle with weight issues… and work out and try to eat right, and are still fat… or for that matter, still skinny. As I also know people who have tried to gain weight.. as sad as that sounds.
I can say without a doubt, I know “fat” people who eat better and work out harder than some “skinny” folks… who have not broken a sweat in the past 10 years. Yet, as we get older and metabolism changes, we have to work harder to maintain or lose weight.
A lot of it has to do with genetics, I don’t care what people say. But I can also say without a doubt, it also has a lot to do with choices.
Saying someone is lucky, because they are thin and can eat cake, should not be offensive… it should be a compliment to your work ethic.
For me… for someone who was 350 lbs at one time, to work my ass off to get down to 180… and now, that I have a family and don’t workout like I used too (see excuses below), to gain some weight back. But at my “skinny” weight, for people to assume I had the surgery to lose the weight… that is offensive…. because they question my work ethic. So really, I get where you are coming from… But I simply tell them, no.. that I worked hard to be where I am.
Most “fat” people like myself, make execuses… like I don’t have time, or it’s too hard. Trust me, been there, am there, and trying to correct the attitude. But if I can get my ass out of bed at 6am and workout like I want to, and then work out again after I put my kids to bed… I too can eat my cake.
So, in summary, don’t be mean, be helpful. Next time someone makes a comment about something “unhealthy” you are eating… drop a little knowlege on them and let them know they can eat cake too if they get out of bed early and workout.
Diane
April 9, 2010 at 12:21 pmThanks for thoughts Troy and being a loyal reader!
Of COURSE I never want to just run around being mean to people, I just think it’s Ok for me to look at someone who constantly makes rude comments and make one back if I am feeling like it every once in a while.
That and I think in general people walk around too afraid to speak up and be “offensive.”
That bothers me.
I am simply promoting being honest and straight up with each other and trying to figure out why it’s so socially acceptable for people to crank on “skinny” people but not fat ones.
Seems crazy to me:)