Quarantine Fat-shaming

There are worse things to come out of this unprecedented time than weight gain; it still doesn’t feel right though, does it?

I am conflicted on this topic of Quarantine fat-shaming and weight gain. As I researched for this blog, I came across the hashtag #quarantinebody and an exciting piece by Renee Cafaro in the HuffPost.

Renee Cafaro

Renee is a self-proclaimed plus size woman and an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association, really no better person to highlight the issues with meme fatphobia. I recommend this article to anyone struggling with an eating disorder or feeling triggered by these quarantine fat-shaming memes; it is certainly worth a read.

I have noticed many different types of fat-shaming memes doing the rounds on social media poking fun at being a particular shape and size. Most of the memes I have seen are of girls, or even carton figure girls depicted as a UK size 14/16 with some text indicating “me after quarantine”.

Are we saying these are the sizes we should not be? Who decided what silhouette, body measurements, 5km time was the target to beat during quarantine? Is it all for the end goal of emerging from isolation with abs? Is it sustainable?

Not likely unless you can maintain the amount of exercising you did during the quarantine. Then what are the side effects of not being able to train as much when quarantine ends, and we are back to our hectic schedules?

The list is endless for all the emotional triggers these simple memes can bring up. I was going to say in the most vulnerable, but then I wouldn’t class myself in this category as I live to promote body confidence and have researched and spoke to therapists on these types of topics. Yet they did hit a nerve with me and then came the black jeans.

Old Treasures

Before starting to write this blog on Quarantine fat-shaming today, I took my summer clothes box from last year out of the attic. Dug deep into the box to find my old treasures and my favourite cropped mom jeans I lived in last summer.

Instinctively I put them on thinking they would be nice to lounge about in for the evening. Oh, was I wrong, let’s say I would need an exact size up in the same jeans to wear them comfortably now? Upon realising the jeans I used to wear a belt with last year are now super tight, and my brain started to spit out these thoughts;

1. My gyms are closed, so I am exercising less (I was only going max twice a week from Christmas anyway)
2. I’m entirely out of my usual routine.
3. Then came the good old reliable injured foot excuse.

Next realisation came;

1. I’ve baked more the last two months then I have in years.
2. I’m eating more substantial meal portions.
3. I no longer have a set 8-10 hours of work a day that keeps me busy six days a week.
4. I’ve enjoyed this time off my usual routine after a busy two years.

Who knew not fitting into a pair of jeans could provoke such thought?

What have I learned from this blog after eight weeks in quarantine? Having made my cakes and ate them all – with pleasure and no regrets I may add. I will begin to implement doable and sustainable practices that will fit into my ‘normal’ life when isolation ends.

These are things I was doing anyway before it began. To sum it all up, I will go back to the reasonably balanced lifestyle I had before quarantine became the new normal.

To start with, I will cut back on the baking but probably won’t exercise anymore then I am because my body is enjoying the break. In fairness, we don’t know how long this is going to go on for, and I don’t want it to be tough to get back into my regular routine when it does end.

Also, can we all agree to beat this quarantine fat-shaming we must stop liking and sharing fat-shaming memes? It may not affect you personally, but I can guarantee someone you know and love is fighting their own battle with their body image right now.