An Open Letter to the 'Get Fit' Bloggers
Hello!
Happy New Year! Have you set any resolutions? Has anyone assumed what they are for you? Same. I'm writing this from a place of anger really as I have been directly messaged by not just one but two bloggers over the past week urging me to "get fitter and look sexier" with their new work out regime or magical protein shake. They had obviously signed a deal in which they'd get paid commission to sell these things but I wanted to write to them because funnily enough, I think it's seriously problematic to just pop up to someone you don't know effectively saying "Hi hun, you're not good enough, let me improve you." Obviously not everyone is going to be in this situation but perhaps if you have a habit of calling people fat or commenting on the things someone might eat, what I'm about to say will be relevant too.
So there I was, minding my own business when I get a direct message from another blogger. I'm excited as nothing like that has ever happened to me before. I think they maybe want to connect with me because they might have taken the time to read my posts or enjoy my content but no, what I read knocked the wind out of my lungs. This random woman had decided to message me about weight loss, assuming that that would be my new year's resolution. The first time it happened, I blocked them and tried to carry on as though it didn't happen. The second time though, I was angry.
What irritates me the most is that they know nothing about me. They had no idea that I have been fighting my body dysmorphia like hell these past few weeks. They had no idea that I had purged to the point of injury just before Christmas and they had no idea that I had injured my shoulders by doing too many press ups and hand weight exercises in another desperate attempt to punish my body just a week ago. They had no idea of the struggles I have had with weight and food over the past 5 years. And yet, it's not as though these issues aren't common place so to make an assumption that to pop up to someone just to tell them their bodies could be improved would be a good idea astounds me.
You see, I have been dealing with versions of these women for the whole of my teenage life. I've been looking through pictures of myself from my teens and have finally realised the damage I was doing. I lost a huge amount of weight and I still thought I was fat and people still thought it was ok to tell me how my body could be improved. Well do you know what? I am perfectly capable of making myself feel rubbish about myself without anyone else's help, thank you very much and I am going to do my level best not to listen. I've put on a few pounds over Christmas which I do want to lose but I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to do it slowly because my flesh is not a sculpture to be honed and perfected - it is part of me. And actually, it isn't my new year's resolution to go on a diet - shocking, I know. But actually, to try and live healthily without punishing myself, and without hating myself.
So, I'm sorry ladies but I'm pretty happy to sit this one out.
Lots of Love,
Sarah xxx
