The speaker shares their personal experience of growing up as an overweight child, struggling with body image and low self-esteem. They recall being bullied by themselves and others, and how a comment from a friend in high school triggered them to make a change. The speaker started exercising and learning about nutrition, eventually losing weight and gaining confidence. However, they acknowledge that weight loss is a ongoing process and they've had periods of regaining weight. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and doing what makes one happy, regardless of their weight. They also highlight the benefits of learning about health and nutrition at a young age.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker attended a Super Smash Brothers tournament where they met a childhood friend.
2. The childhood friend said "once a fat kid, always a fat kid" during their conversation.
3. The speaker was once a popular, skinny boy until the fifth grade.
4. The speaker became overweight in the fifth grade.
5. The speaker's mom, who is Asian, would often make white rice for meals.
6. The speaker's family had limited knowledge about nutrition when they were growing up.
7. TV commercials would often promote sugary foods and drinks as healthy options.
8. The speaker would often feel self-conscious about their weight and would pull down their shirt to hide their stomach.
9. The speaker changed in the stalls during PE class because they were embarrassed about their weight.
10. The speaker's mom bought them whitey tighties underwear, which they felt were embarrassing.
11. A friend told the speaker they were getting fatter during their sophomore year of high school.
12. The speaker started running on the treadmill for 45 minutes a day and learned about healthy eating to lose weight.
13. The speaker lost weight by the end of their junior year of high school.
14. The speaker has since gained and lost weight multiple times throughout their life.
15. The speaker believes that everyone's body is different and unique, and that diets work differently for different people.