Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

In the last week….

I’ve received 15 emails from girls who suffer from eating disorders. Some are very thin. Some are not. All are suffering from a debilitating mental disorder and hate their bodies. 

I received one email from a woman who’s husband has been teasing her about her weight (she just had a baby). She thinks she’s so disgusting, she won’t even leave the house.

I received 2 emails from women who were bullied in high school because of their weight, and were deeply affected by it. Decades later. They thanked me for my body love posts, because it’s still hard for them to let go.

• 23 emails mentioned crying at some point, because of weight related stress.
• 18 emails mentioned or referred to binge eating, purging, starving or working out for over 2 hours a day.
• 9 emails mentioned people “freaking” out (not in a fun way: actually stressed) over gaining 3lbs or less.
• 2 emails mentioned past suicide attempts in regards to weight (more than just weight: rather, being overweight was considered so stressful and such a “bad” thing that suicide seemed a viable option).
• A staggering 43 emails mentioned people hating their bodies.

And that’s just from my Tumblr inbox. THIS week.

I don’t get a chance to respond to every message publicly or privately, though I wish I could. But I want you to know I read every single message. I hear you. You’re not alone, and I care so much about what you’re going through. I know where you’ve been, and I’m doing my best to help by posting reminders, thoughts, experiences and tips on how to love your body better. At any size. In any shape. 24/7.

For me, body love isn’t just about making people feel better. It’s about health. Saving lives. The thought that someone would rather be dead than considered “fat” BREAKS MY HEART.

So, yeah. Fuck the body image movement. It’s totally unnecessary. Ugh. #calledout #youvebeenblocked #yourepartoftheproblem