As I began losing weight, one of the biggest changes I noticed with strangers was how men reacted to me. As a morbidly obese person, you’re not normally attractive to most of the general public. I know that some men found me beautiful regardless of my size. I’ve always been confident and considered myself pretty. Men, on rare occasion, would stare at me from across the room or open a door for me, but it was rare.
After losing the weight, men now look at me all the time. Men flirt with me in obvious ways, sometimes even in front of my husband. The point of this is not to brag but propose the question, wasn’t I just as beautiful before?
At times it actually made me mad to have men look at me. The same men wouldn’t have glanced at me in the past! I made the same amount of money, have the same hair, drive the same car and have the same personality. The only difference is how my body looks. However at the same time, doesn’t the problem lie in society not just these men? Society has taught them what is beautiful and attractive. These men are just following the social norm.
The absolute truth is: the world is made for healthy and active people to be successful. It is not made for morbidly obese people. This is a fundamental issue within our society that gawking men, although rude, can’t be blamed for. Physical beauty comes befor all else when we encounter a stranger. All of us judge based on image whether we want to admit it or not. Your outside physical appearance gives a ‘snapshot’ to strangers of who you are. While I don’t agree with this judgement, it’s built in to our society.
Today, challenge yourself to not judge based on first impression of physical appearance!