Comments on: Fear and Loathing in Fat Town

By: BrianneVillano

BrianneVillano — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Hello my love! I’m so glad you related so well to my post. It was very personal and difficult to write but I’m so glad I did. It was a “coming out” of sorts.

It’s difficult sometimes to “not care” because not caring involves caring about something else instead, yourself. But when we learn to put ourselves before naysayers and ignorance, we learn to relax and just…float. It’s a daily struggle and I’ve often wondered whether an anxiety medication is any better than self-soothing with food or if it’s six of one and a half a dozen of the other with side-effects and health risks.

Wish I knew the answer but I don’t. No one does. When people say, “Everything in moderation.”, they’re not kidding!

YOU’RE WELCOME!
<3 Bri

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:51:00 +0000

I have no words. I relate to this post – and to you – SO much. You have no idea. To see you put in writing so many of the thoughts and feelings that I have myself brings me to tears. Like you, I have social anxiety (among other things, including fibromyalgia, IBS, PBS, and severe clinical depression) and like you, I frequently eat to numb the pain…They call it “comfort food” for a reason, right? But that doesn’t define who I am. My true friends know that. The ones who don’t…well, I’m finally getting to the point that I don’t care anymore (but believe me, I used to). Thank you for this post. THANK YOU.

By: Don’t you want to be as special as you always hoped you were? | Living Out Loud

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:39:15 +0000

[...] be numb. That’s not what I’m saying at all, although sometimes that does seem like the easier option. What I’m saying is enjoy the good stuff and accept that the bad does happen and it happens [...]

By: Brianne

Brianne — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:57:22 +0000

Aww sweetie! First of all I miss you!!

Second of all, I definitely know that how we feel about ourselves is mostly in our heads so I completely understand how you feel. I have loved every second of the time we got to spend together and I love you so much for being such a special part of my life. I’m glad you got to know me as a person too and vice versa. I was telling my friend Tammy that for as different as we all are, we all have so much in common in our minds and in our hearts and we need to be there for each other with respect and love. And I definitely respect and love you so much. You made me cry, lol.

Thank you sweetie!

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:45:11 +0000

Brianne,

I was so moved and touched by your post, you have no idea. Reading your post empowered me and made me feel better. I have been having a hard time with my self-esteem lately so thank you (and I know your thinking but Chris your skinny but sometimes our brains get the best of us too). You are an amazing person and knowing you has made me a better person. You have always been someone who could make me “snort your drink out of your nose” and have given me the best advice and I take it with me everyday of my life. I love you Brianne and I just want to say I am glad I never focused on the physical and got to know you as a person.

By: Brianne

Brianne — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:04:07 +0000

Hey Addy,

Thank you for commenting. It is a pleasure to have “met” you as well.

I guess the even broader lesson would be that we all have to realize that none of us really know the whole story about anyone else. Everyone has secrets and things they may be uncomfortable sharing. Everyone has facets to themselves that sometimes even they have trouble coming to terms with. Too much of life is wasted on stereotypes and generalizations.

By: Addy Drencheva

Addy Drencheva — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:09:18 +0000

I’ve been meaning to comment on this for the past few days and somehow never found time.

Anyways. First, I admire your courage to share something so personal and open your soul for us. It is a pleasure to have met you, even only on Twitter and Facebook.

Second, people need to understand that being “fat” is not always a personal choice. That is half of the story. The other half is what you have described here.

Thank you for writing this!

By: Brianne

Brianne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:07:52 +0000

I just got your tweet too. It was difficult to share but I’m so grateful for the response that I’ve gotten. If you want to continue to talk, my email address is briannevillano@gmail.com. Thank you!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:00:25 +0000

First, I think you and I are the same person (down to being a New Yorker, living in Raleigh and laughing too loudly). Second, it’s sad that so many people assume fat people are slovenly and don’t care about themselves. I have been overweight my whole life, and even AFTER gastric bypass surgery I’m still quite plus-size. I work hard to eat right and exercise but the fact of the matter is I am never going to be thin, especially not “thin” as it is defined by insurance companies graphs. Thanks for sharing a part of you that I’m sure can be difficult to discuss. I know it often is for me.

By: Brianne

Brianne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:46:06 +0000

Keep reminding me. I tend to forget. Thank you.