Image: Ari Evergreen, Flickr, CC
Norma instantly made friends when she joined university. It was a first, given that she was generally a reserved person after having dealt with obesity-related body shaming all her life. Her parents had made her go to fat camp after her high school graduation. The program had worked wonders. Norma had yet to get used to her much smaller frame.
The truth was that, up to that point, her entire life had been centered around being overweight. While it was nice to have trendier clothes to choose from, Norma wasn’t sure if her newfound popularity was because university presented a society more susceptible to her quiet intellect or because she was now a size eight.
The Romantic Quill 
#1 by Robyn on February 28, 2017 - 3:39 am
I can relate to Norma. I focused on healthy eating and exercise and went from a size 14 to a size 4. I definitely noticed a change in people’s reaction to me. For example, it felt like people held the door open for me more as a thinner person. Little things. But still things I picked up on.
#2 by lupa08 on February 28, 2017 - 3:53 am
That is quite a feat! You must have great will power.
Although, I would like to know how you felt about this change in how people responded to you…
#3 by Robyn on February 28, 2017 - 5:18 am
I lost 115 pounds – so yeah – I felt really bad about myself 115 pounds ago. Maybe my attitude allowed for people to ignore me? Not all the time. I remember trying to get into work one day and just a few steps behind a guy my age – he let the door close behind him. He saw me, but didn’t just stop to hold the door. I had to open it and stand next to him to wait for the elevator. When I lost the weight, I felt good. I felt confident. I looked up and smiled at people. That led to more interactions. And maybe that guy would still not hold the door. Who knows.
#4 by lupa08 on February 28, 2017 - 11:37 am
What a jerk he was! I’m totally feeling indignant on your behalf. He must have missed that day in kindergarten when his teachers taught the class how to hold the door steady long enough for the person behind you to catch it. I’m sorry you were made to feel that way and glad you managed to attain your target weight. If you are healthy physically and mentally, that is what matters, not losers like him. He was just rude whatever his reasons for not keeping the door open.
#5 by Sonyo Estavillo on February 28, 2017 - 4:28 am
Body image is such a hot topic these days. I think that there is more awareness around the topic now, you have reality shows like “My 600 Ib Life” and “Fat Fabulous Life” that center around body image, weight loss and etc. I definitely think that people treat you differently if you appear the way they expect you to appear.
#6 by lupa08 on February 28, 2017 - 11:27 am
Absolutely. And that is why it is important that there are writers such as Jenny Crusie who portray female protagonists with more typical body shapes and not all molded from the same catwalk. These characters demonstrate a healthy body image and still manage to lure in imperfect but attractive heroes who fit their needs. Kind of like having your cake and eating it too. The goal is to be healthy and not a prototype.