I would like to begin this topic in light of the lockdown during COVID-19. We are all constrained to the four walls of our home and no limits to the food cravings too. Some of you may have put on weight while a fraction of you reading this may have cut down your weight. Some may have found this lockdown an opportunity to purposefully reduce the overweight as you have got enough time for the same.
Yes, I belong to this category who wish to be fit and reduce the excess weight because the understatement is you should feel confident in yourself. Some people prefer to be fat while some others wish to be fit. It's all personal choice and I believe both decisions should be appreciated. If one is comfortable with their body weight why should we worry about their weight? We are not the ones who should decide for them and we should stop judging.
Lockdown has limited our physical activities and without workouts, I found myself unhealthy and I started off with 15 minutes workouts and then gradually extended to 30 minutes and now I have enough energy to exercise for 45 minutes. So, when you start you cannot expect magic and you may need long breaks; but eventually, you go on par with the videos you refer to. The lockdown affected the gyms too and there is an endless number of YouTube videos you can refer to for home exercise.
I observed weight loss and changes in my physique and it boosted my confidence. I was a victim of body shaming and I empathize with anyone who shares this with me. So, along with us putting efforts to diminish the weight, there should be efforts made by the people surrounding us to stop mocking us based on our physical appearance.
Body shaming is consistent in several reality shows and several television programs. Honestly speaking, I don't get the joke when they tease a person because he/she is fat. I don't know if someone really laughs at this type of lame jokes but still, these are being telecasted. I have seen small children calling their friends ‘ Hey, fatty’. Now, who has set this model? Their parents/ siblings/ friends? Let's do a small exercise. Think if you have ever called anyone skinny or fatty and made them uncomfortable? If so, think, who taught you to use these words?
In my opinion, such an act affects the mental health of children. They get offended easily and I have seen children telling, they are dieting even though they really didn't know what it is. They started skipping meals but it went into vain as you know, it's children, and they never hide their feelings. They forgot it in few hours and started eating till they were satisfied, to suppress their hunger drive. Now, how do you think they got this idea of dieting and how did they get the idea that dieting is all about skipping food? Yes, we cannot underestimate children.
Some people may be comfortable with being teased while others just ignore the mockeries with a smile. But, deep inside they may be struggling with their self-esteem. Why do you want to hurt someone? Certainly, nobody likes to hurt anyone intentionally, but have you ever thought of issues, this small, would affect someone?
Now, if you wish to reduce your weight, start at a slow pace. Know your body, set realistic goals, and try to achieve it through healthy means like workouts and diets( I am not a big fan of those military diets). If you don't want to change your weight or appearance that too is okay unless you remain healthy. This is all up to you and not society.
Let's teach our younger generation to respect individuals and to never judge anyone based on their physical appearance. Let's be a model and start from this day. Wishing you success in being a good model! Finally, love yourself and love your body.
