Telling people to hate themselves? I can’t. I won’t.
Recently, a columnist wrote an opinion piece titled: “Can you really be fat and healthy?” They brought up those same stats I discussed in a previous column, from the Cancer Council. Essentially, the column concluded that it’s totally ok to shame and tell people to hate themselves in order to lose weight.
…what?
I have never heard something so utterly ridiculous in my life. I don’t believe, when I’ve been shamed and judged about my eating habits, that I’ve EVER thought, “Wow! That person is right! I will now lose weight and eat only fruit! What a revelation!” Instead, it’s been more along the lines of: “Wow! That person is right! I am a disgusting blob who doesn’t deserve anything! I’m going to go eat my feelings right now!”
How is that type of attitude helpful towards ANYONE? Even those with a pretty high sense of self-esteem (so, errr, obviously not me) might be tempted to question themselves and would probably think something along the lines of, “Wow, someone wants me to hate my body? Hmmm, should I?”
Hate is never the answer. Self-hate is incredibly damaging. Hate for someone’s “own good” seems to be even worse. For me, when I started giving myself permission to love my body, stretch marks and all, I started taking care of my body more. I started marveling at what it could do. “Taking care” is not a euphemism for losing weight, but is related to eating food that is good for my body, practicing intuitive eating and giving up my dangerous relationship with food for my emotional well-being. I am lucky that I have the privilege of being able-bodied, of having access to fresh food and having areas I can exercise in. Some people have none of these things. Do they deserve hate and ridicule? Does anyone?
