As someone who has spent the first 25 years of my own life as a plus-sized person, and then losing over 125 pounds – I can tell you that there are many appalling things I figured out from living on both sides, but there are also certain positive truths that only a plus-sized person would really understand and appreciate about being heavier than the average person.
1. They don’t notice and aren’t generally bothered by a 5 pound weight loss or gain.
Sure, they think about going on a diet from time to time, but an unexpected five pound loss or gain does not physically show on the outside of a plus-sized person’s body. Unless they are constantly monitoring their weight on a bathroom scale, they usually have no idea and don’t care about a minimal loss or gain. Many body-image obsessed people are filled with anxiety every single day over any change in their weight, but plus-sized people generally aren’t troubled about it. They look in the mirror each day and see the same person every time. Five pounds is not a big deal that they freak over out and compulsively worry about.
2. They use their minds and hard work to earn the respect of others.
It’s no lie that having good looks has it’s advantages, but those of us who were not so fortunate had to work hard and use our brains to achieve any sort of success. This determination and sense of responsibility shaped us into stronger individuals. Successful plus-sized individuals are some of the most passionate, diligent people you will ever encounter. Despite popular believe, overweight people are not lazy just because they are a bigger size. Their bigger size only means that they often have to work twice as hard to get what their slimmer counterparts get at an easier price. This can be a good thing because it builds character that many average-sized folks probably lack.
3. They have a thick skin.
Let’s face it, if they grew-up overweight like I did, they got bullied and pick on by kids and adults alike. They grew used to the name calling and farm animal sounds being made in their direction. They learn early that not everyone is going to like them, and they accept it. It’s not that they expected to be insulted at any given moment – it’s just that when it happens, it is not a surprise that shocks and hurts them as much as an average-sized person might be hurt by it.
4. They have a great sense of humor.
For many plus-sized people, the only way to get positive attention and make people happy is to be the funny guy or gal. And they tend to be the funniest people that you’ll ever know. They are so incredibly talented with their skill to make others laugh, they should seriously have their own prime time comedy sitcom. Everyone loves someone who can make them laugh until they cry or pee their pants. Plus-sized people own this skill better than most normal sized people.
5. They aren’t bothered by going out to eat in public.
They can eat whatever they want and not be bother by what other people think. They are used to people frequently giving them looks of judgement anyways. If they make an attempt to eat healthfully, onlookers gawk; if they eat terribly, people continue to think they’re slowly killing themselves. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t – they may as well enjoy that all-you-can-eat buffet. They also aren’t looking at calorie counts on menus and doing math in their mind to determine if their meal is going to make them gain half of a pound or not. They simply just don’t care.
Featured photo credit: Abbie Drue via abbiedrue.files.wordpress.com
