Are You an Invisible Plus Size Woman?
I don’t know about you, but when you’re plus sized - whether a plus size woman or man - it can feel like people look right past you and don’t really notice you. If they do notice you - they don’t make eye contact and keep on their merry way. I used to think it was my imagination, but as I’m losing weight - I can say for certain it was not.
I am who I am. I’m happy, upbeat person. I don’t cower in fear, avoid people, or give off negative vibes. I’m nice to people, and people are nice back. I’m not going to go on and on about people not being nice…generally- you get what you give, and I’m a true believer in that. Put out good energy, and you’ll get that in return.
What I’m talking about is going “unnoticed”. It’s a hard concept to explain to somebody - because they’ll find 100 different reasons as to why you “feel” that way. It must be this…or maybe your imagination, or that…or well, maybe….nope. It’s my size. People are uncomfortable around fat people - and avoidance is often just easier I think.
I’ve lost a good amount of weight, and still have quite a ways to go. What’s happened with dropping 35 pounds though is that I’m more narrow than I used to be. My shoulders, my hips, my body — it’s getting smaller.
As I get smaller - people look at me more. I see it happening. I feel it happening ….it feels weird. Suddenly I am visible. I went to the store yesterday and people (cough, more men than women) were noticing me. Hmmmm, a lot of them were noticing me. What a weird feeling. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not some beastly looking woman, so men have on occasion passed a glance my way - but this was different. Suddenly, I went from walking through a store almost completely unnoticed, to walking through a store and man after man was making eye contact with me, or glancing my way…hey, I’m human. I noticed…being noticed.
I’ve never had issues with dating or such, and am quite happily married. It’s just - well, it’s nice to be seen again. I’m still over 200 pounds and have a ways to go before reaching my goal, but I just wanted to say - it was like I crossed some unspoken line between visibility and invisibility. Not a clue what my magic number was - but it’s happened. Weird.
