Why does everything around us need to be stereotyped? If a girl is fat, she eats a lot and does not care about her health. If a guy is fat, he is a lazy couch potato who eats only junk food and plays video games. If a girl is thin, she probably starves herself to death to match those size zero (or minus-hundred, whatever the trend is right now) supermodels. And if a dude is thin, he is probably a nerd who doesn’t even have time to eat. You can never know, really.
GIF courtesy of buzzfeed.com
I am thin and short, and I’m told about a hundred times a day, “You need to eat more.” I have practically grown up listening to these words. I wish I could go back in time and tell all those condescending know-it-all adults this–you cannot know how much I need to eat, okay?
My family and friends have seen me eating; they have seen how much I can eat, and how the amount of food I eat is enough for me. Maybe I just have a high metabolism. Or a small appetite. Whatever it is, you are not in a position to pass judgment.
But since you’re a judgmental prick, even today you would look at me and say, “That girl over there probably starves herself to stay thaaat thin.” Such comments are precisely why I love food even more; food doesn’t judge me like people do.
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People need to realize that this attitude is really harmful for those who are sensitive to such remarks. When I was growing up, I was one of them. I used to overindulge, try all kinds of “healthy foods,” protein shakes and what not (even junk food, because I thought that might help me bulk up) to put on weight and grow.
GIF courtesy of buzzfeed.com
And how did that work out for me? Well, guess what? I’ll be turning 20 in about a month, and I haven’t gained much weight in almost 6 years. I think that answers the question.
It did nothing to help me out except teach me a lesson I’m going to remember for the rest of my life: what food we eat does not decide how our body looks. There are many other contributing factors involved here–like our genetic build and our exercise routine, for example. So basically, one’s body type shouldn’t be a way to judge one’s eating habits, or vice versa.
GIF courtesy of thatscoop.com
With time I’ve learned how to tune out all the unwanted advice that keeps coming along. I’ve also realized that being a foodie has nothing to do with how much we eat. I can eat less and still call myself a foodie–because I LOVE food, and that is what matters.
But the problem is that sometimes people are not able to get over the immature and hurtful remarks others make, and that can lead to bulimia, anorexia, obesity, unhealthy dieting practices, and so many other eating disorders. All of which could be avoided if we stop the baseless body stereotyping and senseless judgment passing.
GIF courtesy of buzzfeed.com
And to all those who’ve been through or are going through something like this–don’t worry guys, you’re perfect! It doesn’t matter whether you weigh 40 kg or 140 kg, and whether you eat to live or live to eat; eat as much or as little as you like.
Eat for your appetite and not to shut others up. Because the truth is, those who comment will comment no matter what, and you’ll only end up hurting yourself by trying to please others and putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.
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What other people think is of least importance, and definitely not worth the torture of starving yourself or over-eating every day. Love yourself and love whatever that is on your plate–it is probably amazing. No, it is amazing.
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And to sum all this up…
Eat whatever you want,and if anyone tries to lecture you about your weight, eat them too..
— Zach Galifinakas (@ZachGalifinak) March 30, 2013