Know that I have overcome this barrier, I could finally be better, I could finally do better. Every time I look around, every time I listen to conversations, someone is being shamed and made fun of for the way they look. I feel obligated and committed to standing up for these people, especially those I can relate to. When I see someone down or angry it's right to help them understand that they are better and worth so much more than anything negative someone else has to say. Being overweight has helped me with other people. I am now educated on what I am talking about when it comes to obesity and how and why I lost so much. Since I walked in those shoes, I can understand what someone is going through and help them through their problems even if I had absolutely no one to help me through mine. This has been one of the biggest battles of my life and I can't believe I won through it. To this day I wonder how I could do it all on my own and how that made me such a different person. I've learned to ignore the haters and just be who I really am. Being “fat” made me stronger and wiser. I am healthier now, I am confident in myself and I am now a better human being. I will never listen to anyone again when they try to break my trust. Many years ago I was told, “What doesn't kill you, makes you”.