I was over 300 lbs at one time, it was horrible, I had to deal with people commenting on it all the time, I was fat, I was a whale, I pretty much have heard it all.

And then i decided enough was enough, I wanted to lose weight, not because I was sick of looking big, but I was sick of being tired, not having any energy and getting sick all the time.

So i changed my diet, and I worked out a couple hours a day, mostly walking, then running, and I do weights twice a week. I swim, I cycle, I hike, I have a very active lifestyle now.

This has caused me to lose an excessive amount of weight, and even though to me it feels like it took me forever to lose it all, I guess to some people it feels like it took no time at all.

So, now I have to battle rumors that I am anorexic, I apparently don’t eat even though I am consuming a healthy amount of calories, which for my size, is quite good. I’m a tiny person, only 5’1, and I maintain my body with a very good fitness regime.

I recently ripped up my ACL (it was stupid really, I was jogging and i stepped on a piece of loose pavement, and it caused some strain.) and the new rumors are that I’m over doing it in the gym.

I have realized now that no matter what size you are, no matter what your lifestyle is, people are going to judge. I am actually facing more criticism now that I’m smaller, than I did when I was large. When I was a size 22, I had people whispering behind my back and the odd person would say “fatty” to my face, but I find that people are more likely to say things to your face when you’re smaller, as if its okay.

The point is, negativity towards anyone’s body is just uncool, we are all shapes and sizes and I just hope that everyone realizes what I have, and that is that you can take care of yourself, you can be what society and the media says you should be, and still take heat for it.  For every one person that supports you in what you do, there are 3 people standing behind that one just waiting to tear you down.

-Elise