chapter 1

You were the only child of fatphobic, fitness-loving parents. At first, you were punished for being greedy by your vain mother who feared you’d grow too fat to be pretty and get married. On the other hand, your father always snuck you little snacks here and there. He knew how much you loved to eat, and he just wanted to see you happy. As the years went on, your narcissistic mother realized that if you stayed fat, you’d never be prettier than her. So she joined your father in fattening you, leaving your favorite snacks by the couch and preparing 3rd and 4th helpings of dinner for you. By the time you graduated high school, you were just over 400 lbs.

Somehow, you managed to lose some weight in college. Maybe it was just being away from your parents, but whatever it was, you were suddenly getting attention from boys. The positive attention made you committed to weight loss, and you met your first boyfriend - a fitness coach. When you broke up at age 25, you had lost around 220 lbs.

That’s when we started dating. We met at the gym; I noticed you for months before working up the courage to offer to buy you a post-workout smoothie. We had an instant connection, and immediately started spending every night together. As we got closer, you revealed that you were a former fatty. You worried that you might gain the weight back and I wouldn’t like you anymore. I assured you that you could relax on the diet and exercise; I promised that I loved you and your body.

When I proposed a year later, you had gained around 40 lbs. You were still exercising and eating relatively healthy; you had just given up on a few strict diet rules. It looked great on you, and you seemed confident in your new body. In fact, you didn’t even try to lose weight for the wedding day. You actually gained around 10 lbs.

“Sorry,” you would say as you pulled your workout leggings over your small belly, “I just eat a lot when I’m happy, and I’ve been so happy lately.”

“Don’t be sorry, baby. I love your body. You look so good in those leggings. Don’t go to the gym - stay home, and I’ll give you a workout.”