The F Word—And No, Not That One

Hey there! Welcome back to Unbothered. We're diving into episode 9 today, and I've got a big topic for you—the F word. No, not that F word (though you know I say it sometimes). I’m talking about the word fat.

Just hearing that word might have made you feel something, right? That’s because it’s been used as a weapon for so long—as a punchline, an insult, and something we’re taught to fear. But here’s the truth: it’s not that serious.

In this episode, I’m unpacking what it means to become unbothered by the word fat—how that shift can transform your relationship with yourself, your body, and even how you see other people’s bodies.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The Weight of the Word "Fat": How society has turned it into an insult and why it shouldn’t hold that power.
• My Personal Story: The struggle with weight gain during pregnancy and unlearning the fear of being fat.
• Thin Privilege and Body Diversity: Recognizing the privilege I have and understanding the systemic dehumanization of fat people.
• Neutralizing the Word: Why becoming unbothered by the word fat can create change—for yourself and for the collective.
• Teaching Body Neutrality to Kids: How I handle conversations about bodies with my children in a healthy, neutral way.
• Getting Curious About Your Own Beliefs: Practical steps to explore what fat means to you and why it might trigger certain feelings.
• The Danger of Tying Worth to Beauty: How our fear of being fat is often rooted in a fear of rejection and a need to belong.

The goal here isn’t just about changing how you see yourself—it’s about shifting the collective narrative. What if fat was just a descriptor, like tall or short? What if we accepted body diversity as natural and stopped attaching shame to it?

If this conversation resonates with you, or if it challenges you, take a moment to reflect. Grab a journal, ask yourself what you’re making fat mean about you, and start unlearning those beliefs.

And if you want to dig even deeper, I highly recommend the book Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings. It’s a powerful read that really breaks down the historical and systemic roots of anti-fatness and diet culture.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. Stay unbothered, and I’ll see you next time!

Are you ready to join the movement and become unbothered? Visit https://stan.store/theerikaz and subscribe to Unbothered and follow me on TikTok and on Facebook to stay connected. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message and let’s spread the revolution together.

Thank you for listening!