Suffering from PFS

PFS (Pretty Face Syndrome) 

PFS has affected many curvy girls out there and unfortunately it’s spreading at a rapid pace.  I, too, have suffered from this awful disease and I am trying very hard to find a cure.  As a matter of fact, over 60% of our nations women are suffering from PFS and all I know is that the spread of this must STOP. 

When reminiscing about my personal struggle with body image and self esteem I realize that my issues started very early.  A little too early if you ask me.  It seems as though my PFS kicked in around Junior High.  I wasn’t the most attractive thing in the bunch but in my defense I was pre-pubescent and finding my way!  There was no need for anyone to tell me in the 7th grade that I was fat when I was nowhere near being overweight.  I just had hips in my early years and wished someone would have told me that having hips were ok.  The ironic thing about my PFS is that it was inflicted by my own family members who kept telling me in that I had to watch what I ate and that I needed to exercise.  There is nothing bad with keeping your kids active but my family would constantly tell me that I was too chubby and that I would never find love being at my size. 

By the time I hit high school I was a size 12 and 5″7, which is pretty darn normal and perfect if you ask me.  I think that if it wasn’t for the constant pressure to be super thin at such a young age my overall mentality towards my weight would have been totally different.  If only at a size 12 my family and friends would have encouraged me and given me positive reinforcement I would have never felt the need to rebel. 

At my heaviest, I was tipping the scales at 270 pounds and my PFS had reached its highest numbers.  My PFS ended up being my crutch and I actually found comfort in people telling me that I had such a beautiful face for a big girl.  I thought that it was ok to be nearly 300 pounds because my cute face would carry me through life.  I ignored everyone’s warnings and kept the pounds on and felt pretty confident. 

Unfortunately, I am 45 pounds lighter now and my PFS is still in effect and decided to not be comfortable with hearing about my pretty face any longer.  “If only you lost 20 more pounds you would be THE most beautiful girl in the world, not just one of them. ” “You are really so pretty for a big girl.”  “It’s such a shame to have such a pretty face when the rest of you is so big.” Yes, I have heard it all. 

As a survivor of PFS, do me a favor and let the thick chick in front of you know that not only does she have a gorgeous face but everything else that goes a long with it is amazing just the same.  “You have a gorgeous face AND you carry those curves so damn well.” Thank you for helping me win the fight against PFS.  

*I wrote this an online lifestyle magazine