Recently there was an article going around about how body positivity is a sham when it promotes unhealthy behaviors. For example, most body positive things towards big girls glorify being big and totally ignore the health of concerns of being that overweight, and the long term consequences of continuing those behaviors. The other ones geared towards super skinny girls can also have similar effects.
But I'm here to show you 3 big girls who are indeed overweight, who have rolls, love handles and everything that is typically frowned upon by society, yet all still love themselves and promote body positivity, but who also sport a healthy lifestyle.
1. Whitney Way Thore
Whitney Thore, star of the show "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" on TLC, takes her audience through her day to day life. She runs her own Big Girl Dance Class, as well as sponsoring other body positive events. She is well known for her "NO BS" campaign, which means No Body Shame. Whitney has also released work out videos, as well as the No Body Shame At Sea cruise-line adventure, where anyone can wear a bikini and do typical cruise-line activities, without the built in judgment from skinny people.
Whitney's big thing that led her to gain so much weight in the first place is her diagnosis of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). It is a chronic hormonal disorder that affects menstrual cycles, causes excess hair growth, acne and you guessed it - obesity. Even though there are treatments, there's no cure. So inevitably, Whitney has gained more weight than she has ever imagined.
But she still manages to live her life to the fullest. And she also does her best to eat right and exercise in order to control her PCOS. You can check out her Instagram here. Also here is a cool video of her dancing hard core (it's awesome).
2. Chrissy Metz
Chrissy Metz, star of "This Is Us" and her role in "American Horror Story," is another big girl who overcame, but who is still big yet healthy. When Chrissy had her first debut, she was coming out of severe depression, panic attacks, only had pennies to her name and suffered a mind blowing 100 pound weight gain as a result.
Since landing these roles, and perhaps a little budge from a contractually obliged weight loss, Chrissy has lost those 100 pounds and counting. She said she simply went on a 2,000 calorie diet and went walking for 20 minutes a day for five months.
As someone who struggles with depression, anxiety and is borderline obese, Chrissy is a great inspiration for me to conquer my weight challenges and to adopt a healthier lifestyle while still loving your body and yourself in the process. Check out her Instagram here!
3. Megan Jayne Crabbe
Megan is the author of the book "Body Positive Power," and is an overall advocate for body positivity and healthily loving your body. Megan comes from the other end of the spectrum in terms of body positivity and being a "bigger" girl. On the left is a picture from when she was anorexic and loved nothing about herself.
The thing I love most about Megan is that she goes against the norm of what skinny and fat look like. She now looks healthy as opposed to when she was struggling with anorexia. But she embraces all of the rolls and love handles she now has and is grateful that she is alive and well to experience living with these.
To be honest, this girl is more of an inspiration to me than anybody. She is fearless, she is strong and she is sexy in her own right. Here is her Instagram.
These 3 big girls can teach us all valuable lessons on body positivity, including the glaring one. You should love your body no matter the size, no matter the scars, cellulite, burns, rolls or lack of fat; as long as you're happy, and more importantly, healthy, then you keep on doing you ladies. Your body is a temple, so treat it and respect it that way.
