Growing up we most likely had a friend who was a little overweight or we were that friend. We all realize it, but no one says it out loud. Now that we're older we are more sensitive to the topic or more open about it with the people we are close to. However, that wasn't always the case. This is a real account of what is like being the fat friend for those of you who never got to experience it.
My whole life my weight has been up and down. I've noticed it and didn't really need anyone to tell me because I already knew that my metabolism sucked. It's not like I never played sports or anything, it was just that being super skinny was never in my deck of cards. In elementary school when I was with my friends, I would just pray to God that no one would bring up their pants size or how much they weigh. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine being in sixth grade and trying to avoid the topic of weight when we're all at the age where honest opinions and brutal observations came out of your mouth like word vomit?
Middle school was even worse. Hormones and puberty were starting to kick in and everyone was going crazy. People were figuring out what flirting and feelings were. They were starting to "date" and text each other questions like "Who do you like?" or "Do you think Rachel's cute?" And for me the response to those questions was either: "who is she?" or "no I just copy off her in math." Tight Hollister and Abercrombie shirts were the shit and everyone had at least six in all different colors. For the chubbier friend (me), you sat there wishing you could wear one of those horribly vague shirts because they're cool and "in." But you also don't need people staring at you and asking the person next to them, "Why is she wearing that?? She knows it doesn't look good, right??" You also don't need one of the pain-in-the-ass kids in your class that says whatever is on his mind, saying to your face while you wear this shirt on picture day that, "You're kind of fat" (That actually happened to me).
High school was when everyone divided. Cliques were a thing and judgement was passed around like a bad cold. People were in supposedly serious relationships or getting asked to prom. As the fat friend, none of that ever happened to me. No boy was going out of his way to get my attention or asking me to go to the movies with him. I never got the awkward car ride to the movie theater with a guy and his mom when we were to young to have our licenses. I did, however, get the third wheel experience which was about as good as it sounds. Going to the beach or a pool party was pretty much my worst nightmare and my friends would constantly ask me for advice about their boy problems. I would sit there and relay how I had absolutely no idea what to do because boys didn't talk to me. I was their shoulder to cry on when someone broke their heart, and I would go home everyday and ask myself, "What's wrong with me?" and "Am I not good enough?" and "Why will no boys talk to me?"
This is what it's like to be the fat friend. It sucks, but it makes you a stronger person and lets you see that is not the kind of attention you want to have. You learn that the attention of a man is not the most important thing in the world and having your heart broken a little less often isn't the worst thing either. In the end, whatever your weight, embrace it and simply love who you are.
