What These Curves Won’t Tell You

A Ballad of Weight-Related Struggles

A.B. Dodge
4 min readMay 14, 2022

--

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

Body image — what a profitable industry! Everything we need to learn on how to fit in, literally. From gyms and exercise programs to body shapers, miracle shakes, supplements, and vitamins. They definitely have a lot to say to women (and to men as well)!

But wouldn’t it be amazing if women’s curves could also tell them their side of the story? Of course, curves can never speak. But what if they could?

This is a collection of weight-related experiences and stories I was able to share with wonderful women. They are stories of determination, grief, self-acceptance, and love.

What These Curves Won’t Tell You

These curves won’t tell you about how she binged right after having a meltdown. And she had indeed spent the day eating mindfully healthy.

They won’t tell you that she’d chosen workout plans, even bought equipment, but was so tired and drained that when she got home, she just sat in front of the TV.

Her curves won’t tell you how she blamed herself in the morning as she looked in the mirror.

Her curves won’t tell you of the days she deprived herself of a simple treat while her family feasted.

They won’t tell you that she went to sleep hungry, tired, and sad. Multiple times.

Her curves won’t tell you about the heavy exercise she’s done; all that lifting, running, and jumping, and how that hurt her knees, her hips, and her heart.

They won’t tell you about the words that supposedly had no intention to hurt: “You are beautiful, but just don’t put on any more weight.”

Her curves won’t tell you about her fear and anxiety to step on a scale, and the tears she shed right after she finally did.

They won’t tell you how she resented slim women for posting about their weight loss saga online. In her mind, these women were already perfect and she would give anything to have those bodies.

These curves won’t tell you how she also gets triggered when they tell her, “love your body” because she is still struggling to accept herself as she is.

--

--

A.B. Dodge

English Teacher, Meditation Enthusiast, Writer, Lover of Inspiring Stories and Flashfiction. Visit her blog at https://energyhealingandfriends.wordpress.com/