5 THINGS PLUS-SIZE WOMEN WON'T ADMIT BOTHERS THEM

There is a lot that the plus size community keeps to itself. Today, I want to be honest with those who aren't in the plus size community about things that others do that we never admit truly bothers us. Check out the end of this video for a link to an old YouTube video I made called "Why It's Hard Being Big."

1. DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT OUR LIFESTYLES

A lot of people assume that plus sized people are lazy, don't eat good food, and overall that they choose to be the size that they are. 

This is a photo of me when I was younger. Only a few short years later, I blew up and became pretty big for my age. Things stayed that way despite my being involved in some sports like softball and track and field (the field part) as well as marching band.

I loved fruits and veggies (still do) so much so that I actually remember getting carrot packs in my stocking!

My mom recently found her birth mother and we found out that she has struggled with her weight all her life as well. There are many people, women especially, with issues that cause them to be overweight. For example, PCOS is a fairly common problem many women deal with. It causes weight gain and makes it really hard to get pregnant. I don't struggle with that, but this is just an example!

2. DON'T DISCOUNT MY GREATNESS BECAUSE I'M PLUS SIZED

I recently went on a bit of a rant about this on my Instagram (go follow me!) because I faced a situation where I felt like someone with the same or fewer qualifications as I have was lifted above me and given recognition. The only difference was our size.

This seemingly happens to me all the time. Because I don't meet an expected standard of societal beauty, I'm completely discounted. I'm not smart enough or pretty enough to be recognized for my greatness.

This is one of the few -isms that still exist without a lot of people being angry about it.

Sizeism is a real thing! Don't misinterpret what I'm saying. Obviously I agree that physically demanding jobs might not be the best for someone who is plus size. My only problem is when my expertise is discounted because of my size.

3: CHARGING AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A SMALL SELECTION OF SEMI-STYLISH CLOTHING

68 percent of women in America are considered plus size. However, 16 percent of retailers actually sell plus size clothing. 

As someone who is plus size, I can tell you that I have very limited options for shopping for cute clothes, and most of those options are crazy expensive. I'm talking about stores like Lane Bryant and Torrid. Love their stuff, but it's really expensive.

You would think with the number of people who get upset at plus size women wearing clothes that are "too small for them," more would be done to provide better options. If you want us to wear clothes designed for our bodies, help up campaign for affordable clothing for our bodies. I personally feel that anyone should be able to wear whatever they want so long as their cash and prizes aren't hanging out (just for a bit of decency in public).

​But this is a major issue.

4: STOP MOVING THE GOAL POST

In an effort to skinny-fy the world, retail brands are moving the mark constantly. They are actually changing the sizing on their clothing. You can find a number of videos of women going to different shops and buying the size they usually wear only to find that some don't fit, some are perfect, and some are too large. 

Did you know that you are considered plus size if you wear a size 14? That's insane to me! It is also a major contributor to body image issues, of which more than half of all U.S. women say they struggle with. Do you get how hard it must be to lose weight and go into the store only to find that you're still wearing the same size at that store because of sizing changes?

​Why isn't there a standard? We need to make this happen!

5: DON'T TROLL PLUS SIZE HASHTAGS TO SELL YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS OR SERVICES

This legit happened to me yesterday. I had shared a photo with plus size hashtags. Didn't share any hashtags about health, weight loss, or fitness. 

I got a comment on my photo from a "health and weight loss" coach who wanted to know if I would be interested in her services. This is a big no-no.  

If you're doing this, that's probably why you have to troll hashtags to find clients in the first place.

As we've already covered, plus size people can have issues beyond being an unhealthy eater who lays on the couch all day. I'm not saying that doesn't exist, but that isn't everyone. I get that this might be a marketing tactic, but we will honestly just shut you down. Why not comment on weight loss hashtags or health and fitness hashtags?

As a complete stranger, you don't know what I have done or am doing to lose weight. Some plus size people have actually been told by doctors that they need to get surgery because nothing else seems to be working for them. Many plus size people are confident with their bodies and don't want to come on to Instagram to that. I personally am for losing weight for health reasons, not for vanity. But your assumptions about my lifestyle will not result in a sale!