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[18M] Being bodyshamed

Hey guys, anyone else get negative comments for skipping a meal or being skinny? I mean, I could name countless instances of negative comments over not eating a meal in the day and only eating dinner as well as being bodyshamed for being skinny. For instance, this one aunt who has bodyshamed me tons of times, one time her and my mom were sitting in the living room and as I was walking by, she was like: "Doesn't he eat anything, why doesn't he take care of his health?." Just now I also got bodyshamed by my cousin (from India). She said something like: "Why don't you eat anything all day? You look you're dying." For context, I'm North Indian and the idea my aunts and uncles have of being fit is being overweight, having a belly, a dad belly. I hate it, like I go for regular deficiency checks and I'm all good. Also, my aunt is always posting images on Facebook of pictures that have like kindness quotes yet she sees nothing wrong with bodyshaming. EDIT: I posted on r/teenagers and people are commenting against eating once a day. Is this sub atleast accepting towards eating once a day or no?

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As long as you are not restricting calories, you should be OK. At your age your brain and body are still growing and you need to make sure you are eating enough calories for your height and weight and are eating plenty of protein and fat.

As far as other people body shaming you, you need to come up with a few things to say back to them. Smile and say “But I feel so good and healthy!” or “I’m eating right for my body, everyone has different needs.” If they persist, just walk away from the conversation.

Body shaming people who are naturally thin is as bad as body shaming overweight people.

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Yeah as a fellow indian other indians do NOT get it lol. If I mention it to anyone they keep trying to feed me it gets irritating lol. I just avoid mentioning to them much as I can. I understand their concerns but I go out of my way to make sure I’m getting all necessary nutrients

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Hi, I don’t have an opinion on eating once a day, I eat in an 8 hr window, and still, people can give me weird looks. It ain’t cool you’re being body shamed. But if you are of age I think you can manage your food intake as long as it’s working for ya and you feel good. Do you workout? I know some guys like packing some muscle to feel not too skinny, if that is something that interests you, otherwise don’t mind me.

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A few people have commented that it’s a cultural thing and I agree. It doesn’t come from a bad place. Just like your mom and aunties will push you to have more rotis and second servings until you say no three or four times. They don’t need to understand intermittent fasting. They just have to respect that you are not eating right now. Maybe it would be easier for them if you tell them when you are breaking your fast. As in: “I’m doing a fast so I cannot eat but I’ll be able to eat at X time”. You can even explain that it’s a spiritual fast to help them understand better. :)

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This did not go well for me when I was younger. I stopped eating at family meals, and would binge around midnight, after I was sure everyone was asleep. I’d wear noise canceling headphone to tune out any sounds when i would eat. Eating became something I’d do when I was alone in complete silence.
When I got older I stopped caring what other people’s opinions were of me and my actions, because it was just an opinion. My thoughts and opinions about myself are more important to me.

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I eat once a day and have never been healthier. Assuming adequate nutrients in that meal that hits all the check marks I wouldn’t worry about it. If you’re eating garbage in your one time a day I’d recommend reconsidering

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Sorry you are dealing with this difficulty from your family. Do you have other family or friends that are more supportive? I would try to spend more time around them and less around the people who are upsetting you.

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Okay so I hate to say this, but if you choose to not have a dad belly, you’ll have to grow a thicker skin about comments like this. If you got fat, it’d go in the other direction, and they’d be telling you not to have dessert. Such is life with family. Just smile and nod and do what you want. Aunties and cousins will talk if you’re skinny, they’ll talk if you’re fat, they’ll talk if you’re anything but the world’s blandest person. It’s family. They’re annoying sometimes.