"Run Fatso Run!"

I had a dream last night where I weighed 260 pounds. I was running on the side walk in my town. People driving by were shouting mean things out their window like, “run fatso run!” I woke up in tears because that dream brought me back to my own reality. That was something that happened to me on a regular basis not long ago.

There are lots of reasons why a person may be overweight. It’s easier in the United States to eat unhealthy then in is healthy because it’s often cheaper and faster. Some of us eat as way to deal with stress and our painful past. A few have health problem that make it easier for them to gain weight. My point is that no matter what the reason is shaming a person or publicly humiliating them is wrong.

Since I have lost weight I have noticed that more people are willing to look me in the eyes. Men hold doors for me. I didn’t even know that men still held doors?! If I am at the grocery store only buying a few things people let me go ahead of them. It’s like I am being seen for the very first time and it pisses me off.

We are getting bigger and I am not saying that this is not a health crisis but the way we as a country are trying to fix it is shameful. Take a look at some of the Billboards going up across our nation.



They just give reason and voice to bullies everywhere to make fun of and pick on overweight people. And just so we are clear bullies do not only exist in the classroom. They are family members, co-workers, and strangers on the street.

The only honest answer I have here is that shame is not the path to recovery. That being said I think we need to look at our food that continues to loose nutritional value because of poor soil conditions and the unethical way we treat our animals. I think we need to look at our health care system and make mental health an important issue. I think we need to provide more afterschool programs for our children. Some parents can afford to take their children to softball and soccer practice, but those the children most at risk for being overweight come from families that don’t have the finical means or time.

If you are one of the lucky people that has never had to worry about your weight, good for you! If you don’t have something nice to say then keep your mouth shut.

If you are an overweight person and are running on the paths or show up at the gym you are instantly my hero. You are brave. You are standing up for yourself and making it possible for others. I know I would have never started this journey towards a healthier me without people like you.