"Abby please stop eating all the chocolate, it will go straight to your hips." Said Joanne, her Mum.
She rolled her eyes fed up of her Mum constantly trying to control her. Abby had always been a healthy size however she wanted to be more like her Mother. A perfectly trim figure, no wobbly bits like those doll like women on America's Next Top Model. The girls who could get away flaunting it around because they haven't got to worry about embarrassing parts of their bodies, unwanted cellulite or insecurities that burden them every day. Abby had imagined life would be ever so much easier if she was a size 8. From all the glossy articles from 'how my life changed at size 8' or 'tips on how to lose unwanted weight'as if any kind of extra weight was seen as unwanted or not acceptable. Abby was too young and naive to know this was not the case. No matter where Becky went if it was school, home or online to friends she was influenced to the idea that being skinny is the way to be, especially for teenage girls like herself.
It was time for P.E the part where Abby always dreaded. While the popular girls in her year paraded their half naked bodies in the changing rooms Abby couldn't bare people seeing her pudgy stomach. She couldn't stand the way the fat droops from her stomach. It was okay for girls like Sasha and Alesha who had perfectly flat stomachs and prominent hip bones that Abby thought were completely flawless, she just didn't like how these girls were shoving it down everyone's throat. Abby stepped into her baggy jogging bottoms to hide her frumpy legs, covered in cellulite.
"Abby it's the middle of June you shouldn't be still wearing jogging bottoms. Where are your shorts?" Said Mr Mathews.
"Er ... I couldn't find them this morning sir, sorry." Abby said, quietly.
"Make sure you have them next time." Said Mr Mathews.
Abby felt annoyed. Why shouldn't she be able to wear jogging bottoms? Does Mr Mathews want people to make fun of my fatness? she asked herself. The sad thing Abby doesn't realise is that she isn't fat, she's a normal weight for her age yet society doesn't agree. Abby loved sport, immediatly after the situation with Mr Mathews all she was thinking about was the game of football. After a hard game of football Abby was covered in sweat, putting all her energy into getting oxygen back into her lungs. A groups of girls were laughing from afar, Abby looked behind.
"Maybe if you didn't eat so much you wouldn't be panting like a dog." Alesha said maliciously.
"Fat Dog." Sasha shouted.
Abby was still panting. Tears poured down her face, their words hit her ht where it hurt as if someone printed these words into Abby's mind because there was no way words like these could be forgotten, not in a lifetime. Abby went to the toilets still shaking from these vile, disgusting, powerful words. She then burst into tears collapsing onto the floor. After crying she felt sick not just emotionally but also physically so she forced her fingers down her throat. Abby gasped violently but nothing came out, she repeated it till something came out.
When Abby got home from school she decided to research different diets. She didn't want to live in this body any more. Jo was totally supportive of Abby introducing a 'healthy' diet into her life although she doesn't know the real reason why Abby was going on this diet. Jo and Abby went food shopping together.
"What do you want for this healthy diet hunnie?" Jo said.
"Anything like salad and tuna." Abby said.
They both smiled at each other, Jo thought this might help Abby's confidence and mood swings. Abby had never felt so determined to lose weight especially with her Mum's support. To help with Abby's diet her Mum said she could choose what they had for dinner each night. When they sat down for dinner Jo was watching her daughter carefully while she was eating hoping she was enjoying the salad.
"Good job Mum, didn't realise salad could taste this good." Abby said enthusiastically.
Abby really appreciated her Mum's talents at cooking because she knew that if anyone else had made that she wouldn't have liked it. This was it for Abby she was sick to death of people constantly being negative of her weight. With the help from Jo Abby wrote a diary for her new diet. No one in the family seemed to think it was weird how supportive her Mum was being towards this dramatic diet change. The fact that Abby was not making this diet change for health reasons but because of bullies, society and pressures into being perfect when perfect does not exist.
It had been two weeks now since Abby had started her diet. She was looking extremely healthier and her teachers couldn't stop complimenting her. Abby felt she was finally being noticed for something good. One person out of everyone was concerned due to Abby's sudden change of behaviour.
"You were beautiful before all this diet crap Abby, i hope you know that." Said Lexi, one of Abby's closest friends.
Abby ignored her knowing deep down she was right because Lexi is the only person who truly knows her. Abby kept thinking about all the compliments she was getting, even Luke one of the most popular guys in her year complimented her. This was what kept Abby going and encouraging her to keep on the diet. Abby looked in the mirror examining her body and seeing how much weight she needs to lose, not seeing how much weight she has lost and what an achievement that is. It was like she was getting addicted to losing weight and needed to reassure herself that she can become society's idea of perfection. Abby decided to reach new levels for her diet by limiting her portions and making sure she doesn't eat between meals. She was scared that the weight would climb back on and the bullying would start all over again. Abby's Dad was worried about her, he always told her she was perfect just the way she is. He blamed his wife for encouraging her on this stupid diet. He hated how everyone was complimenting her as if she looked like a monster beforehand.
Abby started searching for different diets on the internet, diets she could never tell her Mum about or anyone for that matter. She then came across a site that sells diet pills, Abby thought this would be a brilliant idea so she ordered some thinking this would be a great way to lose weight without all the effort. Jack, Abby's Dad had been so busy at work these past few weeks that he didn't seem to realise how much weight his daughter has lost.
"Abby this diet is getting silly now, you are perfect whatever size you are." Said John.
Abby looked guilty because she could tell how concerned he was.
"Dad i like eating healthy now, don't worry about it." Abby said.
Was this really healthy though, losing so much weight in a short space of time? Her dad thought. John felt angry because Jo probably had a lot to do with this.
"Why don't you go and meet up with Lisa and Danielle, you haven't seen them in a while." Said John, concerned about his daughter.
"Dad i saw them at school today, i thought i would try out this new workout dvd Mum got me." Abby said.
"I thought you would have liked to go to the cinema or something, you normally do on a Friday." Said John.
Abby could see how concerned her Dad was but she didn't understand why he hasn't pleased for her like her Mum was, why couldn't he appreciate the fact she was doing something about her weight. John couldn't help but feel that this new obsession with losing weight was taking over Abby's life and ironically making her more unhealthy than before.
