Cfs/me and weight gain

[Littlepinkstarsbyradish]

am I being a terrible feminist and horrible person to feel more shame about my weight gain from cfs/me than any of the other symptoms?

I hate being adequate at my job when I used to be excellent, I hate not volunteering for as many things but if I'm really absolutely honest the thing I hate most is not being able to exercise and so being "podgy" and not fitting into my clothes

I'm a terrible person right? 😕

CFS/ME is a terrible illness which steals everything from you. For me, the weight gain from lack of exercise and comfort eating was just yet another example of how my body was my enemy and hiw little I had control over it's functionality.
It's not anti feminist to hate the fact that your body has changed. This choice has been taken away from you, by illness. Just as I struggle with my body and weight post pregnancy - because whilst I chose to get pregnant, the hormonal etc changes are behind my new body shape - you're allowed ro be mad about what ME has stolen.

Saying that, it's important to keep moving. I know at times it can seem (and can be) impossible. But the less you use your muscles and joints the weaker they are, and the weaker you are. That's nott o say follow the graded exercise regime the NHS used to spout and has been proven damaging go sufferers, but even a small amount of movement if you're able to walk, or bobbing in some water etc, rotating your arms- whatever level you can cope with, to just keep yourself moving. It helped me a lot mentally too.
Good luck with it. I suffered badly from 14-mid twenties. I'm not 'free' of it, but now mid thirties I have a full time job, a child and socialise at the weekend. I have to be sensible, but I'm not "ill" any more.

Thats very reassuring, thank you

You're not a terrible person at all. Society’s pressure on body image, especially with how we’re bombarded by things like the McDonald's menu, can really mess with our minds.

It’s totally okay to feel frustrated, but try to focus on self-compassion. Your health and well-being are what truly matter.

Totally not a terrible feminist. I also have ME and am 2 stone heavier than I was - it's a visible reminder of what the disease has stolen from us. Not to mention that I get treated by strangers (men!) less respectfully than I did when I was 3 dress sizes smaller, which is depressing for all sort of reasons.

You're not terrible. Society's pressure on body image, amplified by constant exposure to things like the McDonald's menu, can be overwhelming. Focus on self-compassion; your health and well-being are what matter most.

I think I'm realising how much I took "being thin" for granted, and I'm confronting a lot of my own hidden/unconscious judgement about being overweight, its a valuable learning curve but its brutal. You're totally right about how differently people treat you!