This morning I read a story that sounded all too familiar to me: researchers had just determined that, even after a woman lost weight, she would still face obesity stigma (also known as anti-fat prejudice). It's something that I've come across a couple times since losing 100 pounds thanks to hard work and a gastric bypass, but it does happen. To be honest, it's not something that is easy to deal with because, even after putting in a lot of hard work into losing the weight, I don't always have the best confidence. In fact, confidence is still a daily struggle. But that's exactly why I am so awed and inspired by a full-figured fashion blogger who hopes to defy the haters by showing off her (pretty darn good looking) body in a bikini.
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When I was overweight, I would rarely wear a bikini. Actually, make that never. I would absolutely, positive NEVER wear a bikini and rarely actually went to the beach. The few times that my friends convinced me to go as a teen, I remember wearing shorts and a t-shirt over my bathing suit because I was so embarrassed by my body. But Gabi Gregg, the girl behind full-figured fashion blog Gabi Fresh, is shattering all of my former shame by looking down-right bloody fantastic in her bikini. I mean, seriously the girl looks GOOD.
Yes, there are still a lot of issues she faces but, she tells The Today Show, but she assures them that she's not out to promote obesity. She believes that "people should be aware of what they're putting in their bodies and be more active" but she's still very happy with where her body is right now. I really admire her and am amazed that she hasn't faced much of what the research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, The University of Manchester and Monash University, call anti-fat prejudice. She set her goal for empowering women, and I truly think she has.
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I'm still a little sad by the revelation that, well, it wasn't all in my head that, as the study's lead author, Dr. Janet Latner put it, "currently thin women were viewed more differently depending on their weight history." But if Gabi's goal is to change stereotypes and bigger women looking food and feeling confident, then hopefully her message is heard loud and clear. Although I'm not technically a full-figured lady anymore, I think it's a confidence that we can all use sometimes—all of the thin, fat, formerly big and everyone in between.
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What do you think about the study that, even after you lose weight, you may still face obesity stigma? Are you inspired by the full-figured bikini body pride? Share with us in the comments below!
Image via NBC
