It would seem as though society has deemed skinny people lucky for being the size that they are. They praise us for having such a nice physique and claim that so many other people would die to have a body like ours. But if this is the case, then why bash us for looking the way that we do? I, along with my fellow “slender people,” are tired of hearing the same comments passed around about our appearance and the jokes that often come with them. So I decided to let you guys in on our secret to being so “petite” along with uncovering some lingering myths.
Myth #1 “How do you stay so small? Do you ever eat? You probably have one meal a day huh?
This is actually the farthest from the truth! Smaller people such as myself tend to have higher metabolisms which means no matter how much we eat or how often, we will continue to burn it off quickly. Most of the time when I’m asked do I eat, I tell them “as often as I breathe.” Just because we don’t look like we have hearty appetites, doesn’t mean we can’t give you a run for your money in an eating contest.
Myth #2 Most skinny people have eating disorders such as anorexia.
If those words have ever left your mouth, then I’m sure most skinny people would have called you ignorant right afterwards. This is not only insulting and humiliating to people who actually possess such disorders, but it’s rude to us that don’t. Just because we don’t look like the typical overweight American, does not mean that there is something wrong with us. Stop assuming and jumping to conclusions, ask first. In fact, if you’re like me, then the only eating difficulty you have is being able to stop.
Myth #3 The ever so famous… You’re so skinny, you need some meat on your bones!
We do, it’s called skin. While the two previous myths coincide with this one, it is the most common and the most over used statement. We are all beyond tired of hearing it! We have mirrors and working eyes; we understand that we are skinnier than the average person and face that realization every day; we don’t need you to tell us. Comparing our bodies to toothpicks, stilts, chop sticks, walking sticks, string beans, skeletons, and twigs does not help boost our self-esteem, nor does it change the way we look. So do us a favor and save your breath.
Myth #4 Skinny people don’t need to work out.
Just because we aspire to keep our bodies healthy and in shape, does not mean that we are attempting to lose additional weight. Some of us do it to gain muscle while others pick up exercising as a hobby or to train for a sport. There’s no need to try to convince us that we have the luck of the Irish for being so small and assume that we can all fit a size zero. We have heard every name in the dictionary… twiggy, slim, slender, skinny minnie, small fry, scrawny, lanky, bony, the list goes on. These words hurt just like fat, chubby, thick, and husky would to an overweight person; so why treat us any different?
Myth #5 You’re so tall/have really long legs, you should be a model!
This is the one statement we take as a compliment because we don’t have the time or energy to entertain your ignorance.
These myths have overcome the test of time and continue to haunt the ears of every “slender, slim, petite, and skinny” individual. Some may ask what even qualifies as skinny, but being that I am one of those people; I think I speak for us all when I say if you have to ask that question, then you aren’t one. If you have been stuffed into this category, then you have been plagued with these phrases and questions your entire life and can’t wait for the day when they finally cease. So no, there is no secret to keeping our bodies the size that they are, we were simply born this way and would appreciate it if you finally accepted that.
