We’ve all been told that being part of the group is what matters. But there is a massive difference between being surrounded by people and actually being seen. When you give up on your goals just to fit in, your self-worth takes a hit. You start to dislike the person in the mirror because you are betraying yourself.
That is the true definition of loneliness: sitting in a room full of people, staying small because of fear, and knowing you are capable of so much more.
"The Fat Friend" Trap: Why They Want You to Play Small (& LOOK big)
When I first started my journey, I was working at McDonald's. My coworkers were my circle—the only friends I really had at the time. I thought we were close, but I eventually realized a gut-wrenching truth: they only wanted me around because I was "the fat friend".
In their minds, having me around made them feel better about themselves.
I was the safe bet, the one who wasn't a threat to their ego.
The hardest part was not knowing why things felt off.
Nobody would tell me the truth; I had to figure it out on my own.
But as soon as I put in the work, found my discipline, and lost the weight, everything changed.
Suddenly, I wasn't "the fat friend" anymore.
I had confidence. I valued myself. And because I started looking and feeling better than the version of me they were comfortable with, they disappeared.
The Silence of the Support System
It wasn’t just the coworkers. Except for my grandmother, almost every relationship in my life gave up on me. They almost never contacted me. If we spoke, it was only because I reached out first.
When I was hitting my weight loss goals, there was no applause. When I was struggling to figure out how to eat and work out without the internet, there was no encouragement. I only had my grandma. She was amazing, but even then, I wondered why she was the only one in my corner when she had been in shape her whole life and didn't know what it felt like to be obese.
I Am Priceless
People-pleasing is a form of self-betrayal. When you stay small just to keep unsupportive people comfortable, your self-worth dies. You might be surrounded by people, but you are truly lonely because you've abandoned yourself.
I’ve learned that those friends were worthless, but I am priceless. Having myself back is worth more than anything or anybody in this world. I can live all alone as long as I have me—and once you love yourself and enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll realize you were never actually alone to begin with.
The Power of Having Someone in Your Corner
While you are enough on your own, it is a scientific fact that the right support changes the game. Research from the American Society of Training and Development found that simply committing your goal to someone else makes you 65% more likely to succeed. But here is the real kicker: when you have a specific accountability appointment with someone, your chance of success jumps to 95%.
I had to figure this out the hard way, without the internet or a community. I had to be my own cheerleader while my friends walked away. You don't have to do that. You can have the support I didn't have.
Don't Do This Alone.
When you join the Eat to Heal program—it includes the Food for Fuel Journal
You have me in your corner to make sure you stay on track and realize your own worth.
Let's stop playing small! TOGETHER we can win BIG! Love, Liberty! Buy here: https://payhip.com/b/32pOh
Watch my YouTube Episode "Food Peer Pressure"