Can I be fat and happy?

I learnt the art of disguise when  I somehow managed to convince myself that even when I was fat, I was happy. But I was deceiving myself. I now know that, as well as hiding my weight, I was hiding how I truly felt. 

Sometimes you hear people refer to a woman who is overweight as having a bubbly personality. I suppose this has become a belief that rightly or wrongly we now associate  with larger ladies. But does the word "bubbly" really describe how some of these women feel? Are they good at putting on an act or are they genuinely happy? It's a tough one because only they  can answer that question.  Maybe they genuinely are the happiest people in the world, but having walked in those shoes, so to speak, I find it hard to believe that being overweight actually makes all women completely content. 

My memories of the years when I piled on the pounds are definitely filled with mixed emotions. Certain things in my life did seem perfect, but dee down , I did feel like I was carrying a burden when it came to my size. It was only when I made the decision to take control of my weight that I could see things clearly. 

Being bigger made me feel unhappy, but I found that out only when I began  to lose weight. Once the weight was off, I loved the feeling of being content with everything and knowing I was giving myself the best chance possible of living life to the fullest. It had a massive impact on the way I viewed things and, in many ways, it was like a new way of feeling. 

For many people, bubbly personality traits probably masked the weight issue. It's much easier to tell yourself that you're happy being the size you are, rather than admitting to yourself that your weight might be an issue. 

As I mentioned, I found ways to hide behind what I wore. But that can be so raining, and I think for some it can take its toll. Behind closed doors, the reality of being overweight can have a huge impact on your confidence and self-esteem.  This is often when people find comfort in food, which is probably the worst they can do. I think that if you are one of those people who have learnt  how to put on a good show for others, you should never use that as a safety net to stay the way you are. It could become a habit and  then you'll end up trying to convince yourself that being weight makes you happy. You owe it to yourself to be truly happy and to live the best possible life that you can. 

It may not be intentional, but sometimes those closest to us can be the worst supporters of change because they are  used to us being a certain way. They may not fully understand our motives for wanting to lose weight in the first place. If this is the case in your relationship, remind yourself that this decision is all about doing what is right for you.  If you're not sure how you feel, ask yourself the following questions

1. Do you like how you look? 
2. Does your weight make you feel good about yourself? 
3. Are you happy being fat?  

I suppose the last question is the most important one of all. Are you happy being fat?  If the answer is "no", there has never been a better time to change your life. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Grab the opportunity with both hands and make the decision to improve your situation now.