DEAR HARRIETTE: Over the previous yr, I’ve gained a big quantity of weight, and it’s been tough for me emotionally and mentally.
I’ve turn into extraordinarily self-conscious about how I look — to the purpose the place I generally keep away from social conditions altogether. I really feel like I’m always evaluating myself with the individual I was, and I don’t acknowledge my reflection anymore.
Lately, I ran right into a buddy I hadn’t seen since earlier than the burden acquire. At first, they didn’t even acknowledge me. They laughed it off as soon as they realized who I used to be, nevertheless it stung greater than I anticipated.
It confirmed the concern I’ve been carrying round: that folks see me as completely different, or worse, lower than, due to how my physique has modified. I do know I’m nonetheless me, nevertheless it looks like I’m being considered by a very completely different lens now.
I don’t need to really feel ashamed of myself, however I don’t know the best way to rebuild my confidence or the best way to cease letting my physique outline how I present up on the planet.
— Obese and Ashamed
DEAR OVERWEIGHT AND ASHAMED: Personal your actuality and the way you’re feeling about it. Look your self within the mirror and profess love for you as you’re. This will appear foolish or tough, however it’s going to assist you to are inclined to your personal wants if you’re being variety to your self.
Determine an accountability companion who will cheer you on and assist you in your journey to higher well being. Go to the physician. Get a full medical workup to search out out you probably have well being circumstances to handle. Interact a nutritionist that can assist you design wholesome meals.
Decide to placing your well being first and to do one thing good for your self day by day. Be pleased with small victories. When others see you, greet them warmly. Don’t shrink back from them.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister and I are in contrast always. From our clothes to our tutorial {and professional} careers — individuals even evaluate our faces.
I feel we every compete with the opposite quietly, and fairly frankly, it has made me really feel resentful.
It makes me skeptical of any compliments she offers me, and it makes me secretive. I hate telling her about new objectives, plans, concepts or pursuits I’ve. I’m at all times met with somber, barely envious replies like, “Geez, I want to be more like you.”
I’m by no means celebrated or honored for what I’m doing. It at all times turns into her speaking about herself.
How can I get my sister’s assist with out her self-centered perspective?
— Sister-Sister
DEAR SISTER-SISTER: It’s potential that you just two are in related conditions. Her remark means that she feels inferior to you and that she looks like she doesn’t measure up. Your feedback recommend that you just suppose she has an ulterior motive for complimenting you.
Name a truce. Speak to your sister overtly. Inform her how uncomfortable you’re feeling when different individuals evaluate the 2 of you. Add that it bothers you when it appears she doesn’t hearken to what you say.
Ask her to conform to carve out time once you each share overtly with one another and hear rigorously to what the opposite is saying. Promise to withstand falling into the entice of comparisons. Rejoice yourselves for who you’re and what’s distinctive about every of you.
