Here's the thing. I am 5'4" 115 pounds with abs, no matter if I go to the gym every day or if I don't go for months. There are days where I'm feeling healthy and do the whole grilled chicken and veggies thing and other days where I eat two Qdoba burritos drowned in queso. I don't think calories, I don't think time at the gym, I just don't really care. Not because I have a disregard to my health, but because my genetics have allowed me this period of time to not worry about it. I have never gone to the doctor and had a problem. My parents always tell me that my eating habits will catch up with me eventually, but that point in time isn't now. I was given the holy grail of metabolisms and I am super thankful, but that also isn't something I should feel bad about.
Spring break rolls around and it's like the skinny shaming gets infinitely worse. Everyone is trying to look their best for spring break, whether that means feeling good in a new swimsuit, losing a pound or two or making sure you don't look pasty on the beach. More power to each and every girl who is doing what she wants to feel confident in a swimsuit. It should be about what you feel best in, not what everyone else thinks about you. Even I try and eat a little healthier and work out a little more the weeks leading up to spring break because I want to look my absolute best when I'm enjoying my spring break. Unfortunately, it's normal for girls to think like this. Whatever it takes for you to get through the day, do you, but please don't make me feel bad based on what I'm doing.
"Oh well, looks like Anne just got back from the gym, maybe we should go now or maybe we should go twice."
Little do you know, this is the day of my weekly gym trip. Also, just because I go doesn't mean you have to?
"You must live at the gym."
See above.
"I can't believe you're getting another serving of mashed potatoes."
I really like them, what's your point?
"Do you eat?"
K. Like a lot, actually. Thank you very much.
"So what do you do to stay so thin? What's the secret?"
Uh... I have lucky genes. No secrets here.
My least favorite: "Why can't I look like you?"
What? Like, I don't even know what to say back to that and I'm uncomfortable. There's plenty of things I haven't liked at a point in life as well, but I've taken the time to be comfortable in my own skin.
I understand that you may not be feeling what you've got going on. Society has unfortunately forced girls into thinking they need to look a specific way, but please please please don't make me feel worse for the way that I look because you're not confident with the way you look. You're more than welcome to dislike things about your body, to each her own, but the second you start making other people feel bad about their body, that is when you are in the wrong.
