Stop body shaming

March 20, 2019

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  Dear DJ Chloe,

  All my life, I have been a victim of body shaming. I’m not that tall (barely 5’2) and I have a large bust kaya ang laki ko tingnan. “Gulong,” “buriko” and “pig” are just few of the nicknames I’ve been called over my 18 years of existence. I’ve heard worse pa. I have great features naman and I think okay naman personality ko. I can say I have a lot of talents but people look past these and focus on my body instead. “Maganda ka naman eh, mataba ka lang”, “Sayang ganda mo, magpapayat ka pa.” Comments like these are already a norm for me. But just because they come to constantly doesn’t mean I’m not hurt by these comments. I have a strong personality—kinakaya ko naman ‘yung comments and sometimes I brush it off as mere blabber. Sometimes I defend myself. Most of the time I don’t batt an eyelash. Pero then again, it hurts. Deep inside it does. What hurts most is that they came from people I keep close to my heart—my friends, my family. I’ve tried dieting, (I’m currently on intermittent and keto) and I’m trying to be more confident in my body. I think na may underlying scar deep inside me na hindi na matatanggal. Na every time I look at the mirror, I cringe at the sight of my body. DJ Chloe, what can I do for myself to make me more confident and overall happier in my life?

  –Andrea

  Dear Andrea!!

  Apir!!!! I feel you. Don’t worry, you are not alone. I also grew up being called “pakal” in Bicol that’s like baboy na Malaki, hahahaha. I cry. I get so angry. But well, it never stopped. Growing up, I was a chubby kid. When I had kids, syempre mas lalaki ka pa. Come middle age, I decided to lose weight and I lost a loooot. From 175 lbs. I went down to 116—pinakamababa kong timbang. And guess what people are saying?? “Hoy, ang pangit mo tingnan, ang payat mo mukha kang matanda. Mas maganda ka nu’ng malaman ka.” In short, wala kang patutunguhan. I was payat for like eight (8) years, and then ngayon tumaba na naman ako. And I’d get a lot of comments. Some officemates can be very rude, maraming bully eh, kahit saan. Minsan pinatulan ko, sabi sa’kin, “ang taba mo ngayon” sinagot ko ng “ANG PANGIT MO MATAGAL NA.” Oh, edi hindi na umulit, hahahaha! Andrea dear, katawan lang problema natin, and don’t worry, most men swear they’re not into skinny. Gusto lang nila tingnan mga skinny. But most of them go for meat, not bones. May mga tao na struggle ang magpataba no matter how much they eat. May mga tao na mag-extra rice lang, bukas nadagdagan na ng 10 lbs. You will never win. So start loving the body you’re in, dress accordingly. ‘Wag kang magbody fit magmumukha kang suman. And work on feeling and looking healthy and strong. If you can lose a bit of weight for HEALTH REASONS, then good. But never ever let your self-worth drop just because some people can’t accept you for who and what you are. You are wonderfully and beautifully created by God. Just look at Adele, ganda niya. ‘di ba? Ang katawan nagagawan ng paraan, ang mukha kailangan mong gastusan. Now if you can be brutally frank with those who give you comments that make you feel really bad, bigyan mo ng isa. Kapamilya mo naman eh. Minsan kailangan malaman din nila na may pakiramdam ka, kasi pag ‘di mo yan papatulan, hindi ka rin titigilan.

  

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