Listen you fat assed bitch.

[nolabear]

151. I'm late to this but thank you. Being "obese" is not at all what people assume. I know.

It’s funny how hesitant I am to post this. I’m afraid people will assume things about me, think less of me. And that’s the problem, isn’t it?

I have a not-so-unusual-but-massively-undiagnosed condition called lipedema. Lipoedema in some parts of the world. It’s real, it affects almost entirely women, and it causes the fat cells in the hips and legs to retain lymphatic fluid. People understand lymphedema but this is not quite the same. Ones legs can swell to the point of it being terribly painful and walking, when it gets as far as mine has, can be exhausting and painful. I work like a dog to try to at least keep it from not getting worse. But my hips and legs are quite big—there are things I cannot wear because of the fat on my lower legs—a place most people don’t have it at all. Hormones affect it. Puberty and pregnancy clearly had an effect but menopause and a hysterectomy made it go wild. Lots of people have liposuction to try to improve it but frankly we can’t all do that.

The judgment from people who think they know exactly what someone who’s overweight should do and why they’re not doing it keeps so many from getting what they/we need. Swimming is tremendously helpful for moving lymphatic fluid. You want to know how many times I go to a pool, and why? Guess.

I don’t care WHY your body carries more than the average weight. We’re people who suffer when disdained and thrive when loved and helped. You’re right; people die every damn day because they can’t face being looked down on by the very people who are supposed to help them.

Thanks for the post. It’s scary and incredibly important.