Leey’s Story: Seeing Truth.
“At one point in high school, I would spend most of my time counting calories, exercising twice a day and avoiding food as much as possible...”
Hi everyone! My name is Leey and I am a senior at Brandeis University.
Here’s my story:
I was raised in Malaysia where being skinny and pale is the ideal beauty standard. While I had the most loving family, I was always considered too big and too masculine to fit into their mold. My cousins were always half my weight and size and whenever i stood beside them, I hated my body even more. Because of this, I developed a strong hatred towards my body at a young age.
I started exercising and dieting for a chance to fit into their beauty standards, but every time a relative would comment on my body either jokingly or not, it would fuel my obsession and cause me to go on an even more restrictive diet. At one point in high school, I would spend most of my time counting calories, exercising twice a day and avoiding food as much as possible. It was so bad that I would lift up my shirt and look in the mirror after every meal to see if i gained weight and cry at night if thought I ate too much.
Outside, I was this fit, athletic girl who did track and cheer every day of the week who seemed happy and outgoing, taking life as a challenge. Inside, I was falling apart. Day in and day out, I lost myself to an impossible ideal, set by the society I lived in. I was tired of being someone I am not and pleasing everyone but myself.
I saw other girls who were suffering the same way and instead of suffering with them, I wanted to inspire them. I learned slowly to love food and nourish my body the right way by eating bigger portions in a healthier way. I opened up to my family about my body issue and told them to stop commenting on my body. I learned how to be human again and to live life as it is without anybody telling me what I needed to do. Now wellness is a big part of my life. I feel better, healthier and more awake. I’m happier and so much less judgmental of myself. I hope that my story will help other people know that they are beautiful inside and out no matter their size or weight. I want everyone to love themselves and to understand the importance of listening to your own body.
This is why I joined Daybreaker FIT. To inspire other people to look inside themselves , to celebrate the positivity in life and be surrounded by a community of empowering individuals who supports one another to be the best version of themselves.
Join me in building this community by taking our survey Here

