Proof that shaming WORKS I'm sick of fatties saying that they don't need to be shamed and that they instead need to be coddled and rewarded for baby steps. That simply isn't the truth. warning: this post is about to get really me-me-me. forgive me, beetus lords. I have never been fat. I plan to never get fat. (If I ever get fat, please throw me into a ring with some starving bears for your entertainment) I have, however, needed shame and shaming tactics in order to make the changes I needed to make. I am living proof, like many of you are, that shame works. Here's why: When a fatty wants to lose weight, they might add veggies to their lunch. They have not subtracted any calories from their diet, but they added a green thing to it. They think this is good work, and they deserve to be rewarded. They get praise, they get congratulations, they feel great about themselves. Well doesn't that sound lovely? Well it isn't. It is detrimental, because to reward yourself is to tell yourself "I won." When you tell yourself "I won." Then you feel like you did it. You accomplished the task. You did great! The race is over and you came in first. Time to relax and enjoy your success. Celebrate with a twinkie, you earned it. After all, you won. Well no you fucking didn't, fatass. Because you tell yourself that this meagre act is you winning, you have no more motivation to continue. You have no reason to continue eating the green stuff, or even subtracting sugary drinks. Why would you run a race when you already crossed the finish line, right? Shame works by reinforcing the idea that no, you did not win. You did not finish the race, you did not accomplish the task. You took a single step forward in the marathon and if you don't continue taking step after step, over and over, for a damn long time, with no steps backwards, then you will never win. You will be the loser. Forever. Shame tells you that you have NOT won by eating a salad, you have NOT won by taking the stairs one time this week. You are still a loser because you have not won.... yet. You CAN win, someday, but only if you commit for a long time. Until then, you do not deserve to celebrate with a gold medal. You have not earned it yet. I have always been underweight and for years have been trying to build up my strength and muscle. For years I have tried to pack on muscle but have fallen off the wagon over and over again. I know, after finding and participating in this community, why that is. I was a celebrator. I thought, "Hey, I worked out for four days in a row, I deserve a rest day!" then, "I feel bad taking an extra rest day, but at least I am working out at all and that is what is important. Yay me!" then, "I am too tired to work out today. I did really good for a while, I can get away with slacking off." Then I quit. Over and over this cycle repeated itself for years because I was celebrating. I lifted a weight over my head a few times, therefore, I won. I did it! Yay me! Look at my effort. My effort, was fuck all. Over and over again. Fatties' "efforts" are fuck all. Adding a salad to your burger is not effort. It does not deserve reward. You didn't win. I will not encourage you when you do that shit. I will shame you to remind you that you are not winning.... yet. You're still a loser, and you will always be a loser unless you make a real effort every single day for the rest of your life. My strength has improved incredibly since realizing this, thanks to you guys and thanks to shame. I can lift twice as much today as I could when I first began. I can see my body taking on a fresh, toned shape. I feel amazing. I have been going to the gym literally every day. I have not taken a single day off because I know that if I "earn a cheat day" or a "rest day" then I am taking steps backwards. If I allow myself to walk backwards then I will have that much more to re-do to finish the marathon. I am still losing, I am not a winner, I can feel happy about the changes but I will not celebrate a win because I have not yet won. I shame myself, and as a result, I feel awesome. I am proud, but I am not a winner, and I refuse to celebrate until I am a winner. Lurking fatties, take note: You're a fucking loser. You do not deserve to celebrate and we will not celebrate you, until you finish the goddamn race. So you took a few steps off the start line? Who gives a shit, call us when you're at the finish. There is no participation award for life. You either win or you lose and it is up to you to put in the effort to win. Acknowledge that you're a loser, or there is no hope for you to become a winner. If you are fat, you have NEVER earned a rest day. If you are fat, you have NEVER earned a cheat day. If you are fat, you have NEVER earned a treat. If you are fat, shame on you. And shame on you until there's nothing left to shame, until you actually, truly, genuinely, win. Fuck you. TL;DR: there is no participation award for life. Acknowledge that you're a loser, or there is no hope for you to become a winner.