Change How You See Weight Change

Here are just some of the factors related to weight fluctuations:

Metabolic changes , hormonal changes, side effects from medication , pregnancy, socio-economic class shifts, restricted & binge eating, grief & trauma, stress, returning to or away from intuitive eating, injury, changes in activity, depression, happiness, hydration, puberty, menopause, genetics…

Of these, only pregnancy in a thinner body can be seen with our eyes. I had a client who, over the past few years, had gained weight. I can tell you that at least five of the above factors were present in her life.

She came to our session stressed about running into an ex-boyfriend and wondering how she’d explain her weight gain to him. She doesn’t have to. She doesn’t have to justify the change in weight at all. And while people will assume to know why someone weighs what they weigh, you know what they say about that.

What really matters, for my client and for all of us is this: sovereignty. What matters is having a body and life that is our own. What matters is having the freedom to experience life’s inevitable shifts.

Weight changes. It changes daily, weekly, annually, and throughout our entire life. It’s normal. It’s human. Our society shames bodies for sure, but we shame bodies who change weight even more. Unless of course we idolize and worship the change (almost always a weight loss).

I want to make crystal clear: Weight changes. You don’t have to explain it. You don’t have to justify your weight or anything else about your body. Let your body finds it’s way. Oh, and try not to assume why someone else’s weight has changed. We really never know.