Member-only story
Surprised by Someone’s Weight Loss? Be Quiet About It
I received hundreds of compliments for my eating disorder.
I used to share a before and after photo every time I completed a new workout program and on the anniversary of the day I began my “weight loss journey.”
The Internet opened wide to pour out affection and accolades from my friends and admirers. They were so proud of my diligence, my tenacity, my commitment.
A comparison selfie regularly resulted in a thread of a hundred comments or more, wishing me heartfelt congratulations on my progress toward becoming the best version of myself.
“You look amazing! What’s your secret?” they asked, wanting to replicate my hundred pound weight loss in their own lives.
I told them my secret was making exercise a daily habit, following a healthy diet (but I wasn’t “on a diet”), and drinking a daily meal replacement shake.
The real secret was deeper, darker, and buried in shame: I had an eating disorder.
People tend to overlook fat people with eating disorders.
After all, we’re fat.
We need to lose weight. Being in a large body is unhealthy and sets us up for disease and shorter lives. It is in our best interest to eat less…
