Chubby
– A personal journey towards making peace with my body
Chubby: 2 definitions =
‘fat in a pleasant and attractive way’ (Cambridge Dictionary )
‘slightly overweight, somewhat fat, plump, rounded, and soft.’ (Wiktionary)
For most of my adult life I have been a bit chubby. In fact, the only time I can remember not carrying some extra weight was when I was regularly taking drugs in my 20’s. There’s nothing like a cheeky bit of cocaine to help one shed the pounds. It was the Ozempic of the 1990’s, with almost everyone on it, Wolf of Wall Street style. There’s a photograph of me somewhere around that time and I am way too thin, making my head appear enormous, (not helped by the huge hairstyle fashion at the time). Not my best look.
I know the term ‘chubby’ can be triggering for some people, (except when referring to a baby), but I have always loved this word. For me, it evokes images of womanly curves and softness, cuddles and warmth. Big boobs and soft bellies. I mean who doesn’t like to snuggle up with a chubby woman? I’m sure my grandson Theo would happily live clinging to my body like a little koala, with his head nuzzling into my bosom (great word). He calls it his happy place, and rightfully so.
Clarity
Now I want to be very clear here, it is obviously not my intention to offend or upset any of you lovely Substackers, in sharing this piece about my own weight journey and relationship with my body. I know it’s often a tender and painful subject for many, and some of you may well be wrestling with your own issues around these topics. Hopefully though, we can all recognise as awakening people, that bodies come in all shapes and sizes (thank goodness), and I’m merely sharing with you my own perspective, and experience of waking up from this global obsession with needing to be thin.