Mother loses 77lbs after being fat-shamed by flight attendant
A young mother has revealed how she lost over five stone after being fat-shamed by a flight attended while travelling from Auckland to Queensland, Australia.
Kayla Martin spoke about the experience in a candid Instagram post, where she revealed that the distressing event inspired her to turn over a new leaf when it came to her diet and exercise routine.
When Kayla got on the plane, she struggled to find her seat belt, which prompted an air hostess to suggest that she purchase two seats next time to accommodate her, and to ensure that she and her fellow passengers had a comfortable journey.
"The feeling of pure embarrassment and shame is something I'll never forget," the mother-of-three wrote.
"I was so self conscious and had this huge ass jacket on ready to fly to SUNNY QLD of all places," Kayla wrote on Instagram. "I thought maybe if I covered my body, people wouldn't see what was blatantly obvious. To make matters worse when I went onto the airplane I couldn't fit the seat belt. The airline hostess found it appropriate to announce in the middle of a quiet plane that due to my size, i would need to use the seat belt extension that mums travelling w babies needed and maybe next time I should consider booking 2 seats to accommodate for my size to ensure a more "comfterble" flight for myself and other passengers [sic]."
"The feeling of pure embarrassment and shame is something I'll never forget," she went on. "I loved myself so little back then that I let that airline hostess treat me that way. I belived I wasn't deserving of the same respect that she was showing the rest of the passengers because in my head, I was worth less than every skinny person on that plane [sic]."
This humiliating experience did change Kayla's mindset, however: "The day I started LOVING myself enough to start taking care of ME and nourishing my body was the day I turned a new page."
"Both my physical and mental health have transformed so much since then and I am so PROUD. The girl on the right side is alot healthier, a whole lot happier and has so much confidence now (maybe a lil too much) [sic]. More importantly she LOVES HERSELF! Don't forget babes, no matter your size or shape, colour or culture, you are worth just as much as everyone else. Love yourself enough to take a stand for yourself and doing things for YOU. The rest will start to fall into place from there. I am a walking testament to that."
A lot of this is also thanks to the birth of her daughter, who was born several months after the incident.
"From there I started my journey of self-love and inner healing and that’s where I started wanting to nourish my body with what it needed so that my body could be healthy," she explained.
Kayla didn't just see physical results either, adding that her mental health has been completely transformed. "Don't forget babes, no matter your size or shape, colour or culture, you are worth just as much as everyone else, she urged her followers.
“Love yourself enough to take a stand for yourself and doing things for YOU. The rest will start to fall into place from there. I am a walking testament to that.”
Amen to that, Kayla.