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So, at least 100,000 people have seen me in my bathing suit.

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I wanted to let everyone know that the photo that accompanies the Huffington Post article was taken by Bronwyn Green. I feel super bad that I didn’t mention it before.

The Facebook “likes” on my Huffington Post essay, “I Wore A Bikini And Nothing Happened” have reached 100k. I don’t know how I feel about that. On the one hand, I knew I was putting my bikini picture on the Huffington Post and the internet in general. On the other hand, my most popular piece there was my Jennifer Lawrence body-shaming article, and that has something like 49k likes. So I didn’t expect for much to happen with it.

WOW. Did I vastly underestimate women’s need to see “imperfect” bodies just doing regular, human stuff. There are so many comments there, and I’ve gotten so many tweets and emails, where women will say things like they’re going to wear shorts, or go sleeveless, or try a two-piece or any bathing suit at all, now that they’ve seen that article. A lot of you have said really sweet things to me over the years about my writing affecting your lives (especially during my 50 Shades of Grey recaps), but it stuns me every time.

Not only am I getting messages going, “You’re helping me with my personal stuff,” but the support I’m getting is overwhelming. People saying, “You look fantastic,” and “my husband approves,” and “you’re wearing it well.” Obviously, that’s not why I posted the article, it’s a broader social commentary (the point of which was that it doesn’t matter how you look, you’re still entitled to wear whatever you want and be comfortable doing it), but the fact that I’ve received more of those messages than negative ones makes me really hopeful for the future of fat people. I’d braced myself against losing my faith in humanity when I scrolled through the comments section, but it was actually restored. Bolstered, even.

Yeah, there have been a few people who’ve missed the point and launched into the very same health lecture I lampooned in the article. And there have been some shitty comments too.  The current record holder is the guy who left simply, “No thanks.” No thanks? Are women just on offer to you, and you deem them worthy of humanity based on whether or not you’d grace them with a fuck? It should come as no surprise to anyone that the accompanying photo was of a dorky middle-aged white guy.

I’ve digressed into Angryland.

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that the support and positivity around this has overwhelmed me, and I’ll leave you with these lovely drawings made for me by Plunderpuss:

140704jennyanime 140704belugaconversation 140704jennychillin Hmmm… on a scale of one to Steve-O, how douchey would I be to get a tattoo of a cartoon of myself?

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154 Comments

  1. Ros
    Ros

    Those are fabulous! You should totally get a tattoo of one.

    My ‘favourite’ comment was the one blaming fat people for the failing economy. HUH?

    July 5, 2014
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    • imc
      imc

      A couple of years ago, a guy I didn’t date very long after that spent a whole lunch trying to explain to me why the Pill destroyed society and the Western economy.
      It must all be connected. After all, the Pill makes you fat, right??

      July 5, 2014
      |Reply
    • Liz
      Liz

      Enjoyed this. What I’d like to know is when it became reasonable to suggest that larger women ( in a complete size range) shouldn’t wear swimwear of their choice? Little girls too of course. And who gave out the ‘right’ to do that? Surely, based on the fabulous women who wore the first bikinis, they weren’t actually designed for skinny folk. Perhaps they’re the ones that should be reluctant to don a two piece on the beach!

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • Liz
      Liz

      Enjoyed this. What I’d like to know is when it became reasonable to suggest that larger women ( in a complete size range) shouldn’t wear swimwear of their choice? Little girls too of course. And who gave out the ‘right’ to do that? Surely, based on the fabulous women who wore the first bikinis, they weren’t actually designed for skinny folk. Perhaps they’re the ones that should be reluctant to don a two piece on the beach!

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • Steve
      Steve

      My intent was to comment on Jenny Trout’s post of her bikini pics —
      The gall and audacity of Jenny!!! — I love it! To he11 with all those skinny chicks that feel they are god’s gift to mankind. This shows a woman who is able to have enough self-confidence not to fall into the marketing hype of fashion-istas and be herself.
      Thank you Jenny!!!

      July 10, 2014
      |Reply
  2. anisa
    anisa

    Yep. Your article was the first I read in the blogosphere written with the same attitude that I think. As a chubby girl with a ton of self-confidence, I was so pleased to read, laugh, and cheer you on as a mirror to my own world. “What? You’re wearing that?” Oh yes. And if you don’t like it, look away. Because I look hot. (And my husband says so too.) THANK YOU for telling it like it is. You have a new fan and follower in me.

    P.S. I shared the huffpost link on Facebook and my friends list went nuts for it.

    July 5, 2014
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  3. Mwahahahaargh! Douchy but kind of cool. It’s so true. Size shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t even occur to anyone that it’s an issue. No wonder everyone is stoked.mit needed saying. 🙂 thank you.

    Cheers

    MTM

    July 5, 2014
    |Reply
  4. Karen
    Karen

    I loved the bikini and thought you looked fabulous in it!!!! I haven’t quite worked up that kind of bravery yet, and we’re not planning any trips soon to the swimming hole. All of these brave women wearing their bikinis no matter what their size are so inspiring to people like me still hiding behind my baggy clothes. Perhaps next year I’ll find my strength and not give a crap what others think.

    July 5, 2014
    |Reply
    • Kelly
      Kelly

      I so needed to see that piece today. So badly. Thank you so much.

      July 8, 2014
      |Reply
  5. Robin
    Robin

    When I shared the article on Facebook, it started a wonderful discussion among my friends about body shaming, and ended with us discussing how pregnant bellies are NOT actually public property for the grabbing. I don’t remember how we got there, but it was good.

    I have a friend who, sick of being told her “bikini days were over” after giving birth to her beautiful daughter, rocked a bikini with baby pooch and all. Another plus sized friend happily shared a picture of her first bikini. It was an incredibly wonderful discussion. So thank you for sharing, opening dialogue, and inspiring women to wear what they want, no matter whose delicate eyeballs may shrivel into dust at the mere sight of a belly.

    July 5, 2014
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  6. Robin
    Robin

    Also holy damn those drawings are ridiculously wonderful!

    July 5, 2014
    |Reply
  7. Rei Scar
    Rei Scar

    I checked out some of the comments on that article, and I think what actually baffled me the most were the ones saying that the title was misleading because you were wearing a TWO-PIECE, not a BIKINI. That big picture, guys, way to see it.

    July 5, 2014
    |Reply
    • Naomi
      Naomi

      There’s a difference? Shows how much I know!

      July 6, 2014
      |Reply
  8. Megan M.
    Megan M.

    I think it would be rad to get a cartoon tattoo of yourself! Of course, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a tattoo of my husband and myself as M&Ms for years (both of our initials are “M.M.”)

    July 5, 2014
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  9. Amber
    Amber

    I like the first one as a tattoo. But there’s something to be said for chatting normally with dolphins as well. 😀

    In hindsight though, even if I wanted a bikini I could never buy online. I have no idea how to size myself for a bathing suit. And my two piece is actually two different sizes, from two different sets. 😛

    July 5, 2014
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  10. Joe Echevarria
    Joe Echevarria

    Love, love, love this.
    I think I am going to wear one of them euro slings next year… Look out world

    July 5, 2014
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  11. Petra Newman
    Petra Newman

    I thought you looked ace in your bikini Jen! You go girl!

    Having done a quick scan of the comments following your Huffington Post article – with special attention to the douchbaggery of guys (like what I did there) who posted negatively or completely missed the point of your article – one of the things that it bought to mind was the vast difference between the body shape being peddled by these men in their comments to you, as ideal and what most women look like these days. Here in the UK the average size for a woman is 16 (take off two sizes for the US I think so in the UK a size 10 equals US size 6). That means the a large proportion of women aren’t stick figures and do have curves, butts and boobs. So it follows that most men are with women with all those attributes yet we continue to see ‘thin’ (for whatever that actually means) as the gold standard of womanhood – reflected in magazines, movies etc AD nauseum and endorsed by some of the men who responded to your article. This is the core of a double standard that I keep hoping we will see start to change. While women’s self image and the negative feedback loop that seems to exits in today’s media has a hell of a lot to do with this (that’s a whole other post) it would be nice to see men acknowledge that whatever their ‘ideal’ women may look like the women they live with, love and are related to, generally don’t look like Lara Croft and that that is great and sexy too. Thankfully it was nice to see guys also responding positively to your words – I especially liked the guy who commented that confidence is sexy – you said it my friend, you said it!

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  12. Glorificus
    Glorificus

    you know how I said that you inspired me to buy shorts? Wearing them right now. They are purple and really comfy. Thank you for the nudge. I also felt like a trendsetter because I shared your blog post on facebook before the huffpo article came out. The reactions on my facebook share were overwhelmingly positive. (possibly because I explicitly stated that anyone wanting to body/fat shame could STFU, and possibly because I have awesome friends)

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  13. Marvel
    Marvel

    Dear god, I want to punch 90% of the men commenting on that post. SHOCKINGLY, EVERYTHING IS NOT ACTUALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE.

    I’m a trans guy with severe social anxiety who suffers from a lot of debilitating body-consciousness, and I just want to say that you rock. You’re seriously inspirational, and both you and your ‘kini are gorgeous. I’ve been paling at the thought of baring my chest to go swimming after my upcoming surgery–I love the beach, but I’m on the hefty side and very self-conscious, plus I will have scars. However, I’m definitely going to remember this post next summer, and even if I don’t manage to go topless I think I will go feeling better about myself in general.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  14. I just spent the past year training for a bikini competition. I got in the best shape of my life, did the competition, and then my trainer posted my before/after picture on her Facebook. One reader blasted her for setting a bad example for young girls by posting a picture of my “clearly starved, stripped down version of my former self,” among a long stream of other insulting comments about how I have no muscle and look emaciated.

    My point is, put a picture of yourself in a bikini on the internet, and somebody’s going to tell you you’re unhealthy/the wrong body type/something generally mean. This isn’t indicative of any actual issues with your body, it’s just that there are a bunch of assholes out there!

    Luckily there are also people like you, congratulations on so effectively spreading such a positive message! Articles like your bikini post give me warm fuzzies.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  15. Get the tattoo! I read the huff article with interest after a conversation with someone about whether women “over a certain age” should wear shorts. I wondered if she was indirectly talking about me (41 & wear shorts when its hot) & I got a bit alarmed. Having read your article it’s just made me think “sod it” & today I’m going to wear extra short shorts, because it’s hot, and I am a 41 year old human who is not put on this earth to be approved of or otherwise for the state of my cellulite or the shape of my legs that (strangely) do not look like they belong to an 18 year old.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  16. Flo
    Flo

    The cartoons are great! I can see why you are thinking of a tatt of one.

    I think it’s ridiculous how people felt that your photos gave them just cause to give you health advice. Skinny does not always equate healthy, nor does heavy always equate unhealthy. I’ve gained quite a bit of weight over the years due to a serious knee injury, but you know what? My doctor doesn’t get on my case about it or does he want to stick me on a bunch of medications for this, that and the other thing. I figure he should know. My blood pressure is still good, and all of my other “numbers” are where they should be. I stay as active as I can without excruciating pain. My husband worked with a guy who ate healthy, exercised, ran marathons-and guess who got cancer? My mother-in-law was TOO skinny, was always making snide remarks about losing weight, etc, yet she smoked like a chimney. Guess who isn’t around anymore? For some people, yes, being heavy can be an issue in regards to health issues. Skinny isn’t any guarantee of good health either. But that’s nobody’s business but yours.

    July 6, 2014
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  17. Mandy
    Mandy

    Two Words…Thank You 🙂

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  18. Jessica
    Jessica

    Its crazy how warped our relationships with our bodies are, as women. I really think its hard for men to understand how much negative messaging affects us, which makes most men apathetic and sometimes, even cruel, about these types of discussions. Most men have never experienced any level of commoditization of their bodies (I may have made that word up).

    I’m pretty slender but am starting to get older and am probably 20% less fit then I was at my peak fitness 10 – 15 years ago. By most people’s standards, I have a traditionally “nice” body. And yet I still struggled to find a bikini I felt comfortable in for my vacation last year, even wondering if I should still be wearing one. Than I got to the beach, and saw miles of men flaunting their bare beer bellies, some even happily rocking speedos, and I had to give my head a shake as to what the hell was wrong with me. But I can’t really blame myself, this is the sad result of a society that judges women against some pretty harsh standards. When my healthy 7 yr old cousin was complaining that she was fat, you know we have a problem.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
    • Jessica
      Jessica

      “…starting to get older…” that makes no sense! I really have to start thinking more critically about my choice of words!

      July 6, 2014
      |Reply
    • The worst thing I’ve ever had happen body-wise is when a little girl in my son’s first grade class, a delightful, smart, funny, wonderful little girl, told me she wished she could be thin like me. First off, I was actually underweight at the time, and had health issues as a result of it. Secondly, the child was six years old, and, as six year olds are wont to be, beautiful. And while I know children of all weights get horrible messages about who we are meant to be, this little girl was likely getting them in much bigger doses of concern trolling because she was chubby. Thirdly, what six year old should be comparing her body to that of a grown woman in her twenties? Even if she was a relatively thin child, her body was not going to look like mine because she was a child and I’m an adult. The ideal for a child should be a child’s body.

      That same year, I remember my kid coming home from school after a nutrition unit and stating that he was glad to be thin (WTF) and then worrying obsessively about fat content in food. I was livid.

      July 6, 2014
      |Reply
    • Bryan
      Bryan

      I believe the same shoe fits for large men. They (the men you refer to) should also be seeking to stay healthy and fit not only for themselves but their loved ones so they can have a long life of health and happiness.

      July 6, 2014
      |Reply
  19. Rhi
    Rhi

    Where did you get the bikini?

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
    • Stella
      Stella

      If I remember rightly Jenny mentioned that it came from Forever 21 online. 🙂

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
  20. Sierra
    Sierra

    Loved the article and your writing. Your attitude and style reminded me of, well, me! High praise indeed. But seriously, there’s not many humans I relate to do that is a compliment. Keep on truckin’ as the tee shirts said in the 70’s.

    July 6, 2014
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  21. Jen
    Jen

    Gorgeous woman! Thank you for this – I’m ordering a bikini today!

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  22. Jenny, your post was wonderful and I am so grateful for the day someone sent me a link to your blog. Thank you.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  23. Lindsey
    Lindsey

    It’s about a 3 on the douche scale. And e is a good amount of douche. It just means you have confidence, which you totes do. I’ll be actively upset if you DON’T get one of these as a tattoo. Because I am very invested in the life of a person I don’t actually know.

    Also, congratulations! It’s a wonderful article and you look so goddamn happy in the pictures! It warms my cold black heart.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  24. Ange
    Ange

    Loved your bikini pics, and they inspired me to buy a shorter skirt for summer. Would have worn it yesterday, except that it has now decided to start raining here! 🙁 ….guess I’ll have to wait till the weather improves.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  25. Linda Morris
    Linda Morris

    I can actually say I read the entire article and love the way you emphasize every detail. One thing for sure, regardless of how others felt the day you wore your bikini, the sky didn’t fall, the lake didn’t dry up….and no human fatalities were recorded that day at the beach. All in all the world proceeded as usual. 🙂 Kudos to you!!

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  26. Ronald Pottol
    Ronald Pottol

    I’ll just argue for recursive tattoos, the tattoo you should have a recognizable tattoo of the tattoo you are getting (probably cannot take it farther than that).

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  27. Saw your HuffPo piece – well done! I debated a guy friend just the other day about this type of thing. A girl walked by and he immediately told me “she should not wear that dress, it’s not flattering.” I informed him that maybe she’s not wearing it to attract men, maybe she just likes the dress and should be able to wear what she wants on the body she has…
    That “No thanks” guy, though….wow….

    July 6, 2014
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  28. Marie
    Marie

    My younger kids looked over my shoulder while I was reading your post, which a friend had linked to. Their comments – they love your purple hair. Not one commented on the bikini.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  29. I lost about forty pounds, now I’m sorry. I would have been rocking bad ass in a bikini. But I am old, wrinkled and not skinny, I think that counts. Going shopping tomorrow. I dearly love you. Perhaps you could run for President?

    hibernationnow.wordpress.com

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  30. Amanda
    Amanda

    I really liked your article. I wish I was that brave! As a former fat girl/current chubby girl, I’ve struggled my whole life with feelings about my body and the clothes I put on it. I’ve only just, at age 26, started to warm up to the idea of going sleeveless. So many summers I’ve sweated in silent misery but your article helped give me the oomph to really say fuck it. I’ve got chubby arms – anyone who looks at me can see that. Does it really matter? Why should I sweat like a pig just to try and ‘hide it’. And the sad part is that most people wouldn’t even notice or care, at least not people that matter.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  31. Chrissy
    Chrissy

    I shared it and made my own resolution to wear a bikini next summer! I’ve got two little girls who need to see their Mommy as someone with confidence and self-esteem. Thanks for the boost in courage to be that person for them.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  32. Selly
    Selly

    You are so fucking spot on! That article was the first transparent body run-down I had read. You verbalized what I didn’t really understand and you are so right! You wore a bikini and what the fuck happened? NOTHING! Actually you impacted thousands of conflicted women so blessing to you for that! You’re incredible. And like she said, you can be the juiciest fucking peach and someone still won’t like peaches. Much love to you girl!

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  33. RK Faulhaber
    RK Faulhaber

    May I say, you look totally hot in your bikini. I’m going to convince my wife to do the same.
    Please, don’t forget your sunscreen. 😉

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  34. Justin Headrick
    Justin Headrick

    I wish I were more surprised by comments left…honestly I think its our differences that make us interesting and beautiful. I’m so very tired of the Barbie image being force fed down our throats. You look great in the photo and I hope more people stop paying attention to outside expectations. Be true to yourself and share who you are.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
  35. Bryan
    Bryan

    While I applaud your article I have to say I still think that being to overweight is not a good thing. To teach young girls that its ok to be “fat” is basically saying that exercise and healthy eating has no place in their lives. Its proven that being over weight reduces health and life expectancy. Im not talking about the people that are only a few poundsvover weight here. Im talking about 20 pounds or more here. I think by telling people that its ok to be so big that you are creating a false sense of hope in them. Sure they might feel better about themselves but what good is that when they die of heart disease at 40 yrs old? Ive known many women that have taken the bull by the horns and brought their bodies to a healthy weight so there is no excuse why others cant do it. They only ones that should have any excuse to be and stay that large are the women that suffer from medical conditions. IE: hyper obesity or physical disability that prevents a cardio workout. I think th he reason put are so put off by the fat men and women of the world is because a number of them are seen filling their faces with junk food. I saw a girl at a bus stop one day literally shoveling 3 bigmacs in her face and she easily weighed over 450lbs. Im sorry to say ths t I dont blame people for thinking its gross. If someone doesnt enough about themselves to stay healthy why would anyone else? Ok…ive said my piece..let the booing and hissing at me begin.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
    • Darci
      Darci

      We know. Honey badger don’t care, because that’s not the important part here.

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
    • ScarlettP
      ScarlettP

      You’re new here, aren’t you?

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
      • Pam
        Pam

        Would it be too direct to ask anyone who so blatantly misses the point (and clearly can’t see and/or understand anything related to root cause) to re-read ALL of Trout Nation blogs and comments as an assignment? It really is just a request to end ignorance and dare I say shear stupidity.

        July 7, 2014
        |Reply
        • ScarlettP
          ScarlettP

          I’m hoping that was directed at Bryan and not at me. For what it’s worth, I agree.

          July 8, 2014
          |Reply
    • Califia
      Califia

      I have to say I’m super impressed by Bryan’s ability to guess the weight of a stranger just by looking. I bet that can make you money in those “guess my weight” contests.

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
    • Flo
      Flo

      Try having a blown out knee, a fucked up ankle, arthritis since you were a teen and multiple food allergies–and lose weight too. (a side note–gluten free does not help you lose weight either! MYTH) When you can accomplish that, then you can make a snide remark. I wasn’t always heavy, didn’t really get this way until my mid thirties after the knee injury, nor do I prefer being heavy, but sometimes there just isn’t much you can do about it. And she never said she was advocating being fat, she was simply pointing out that we need to quit worrying about obsessing over what we think other people perceive. Wear what makes you happy and that you are comfortable in. You’re probably friends with the jerk who made a comment to me when I was 19 and weighed all of 113 pounds about how big my legs were.

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
    • I don’t think you know what “literally” means.

      I also wonder why you and so many men I’ve met seem to think that women are looking for “an excuse” to get/be fat. When I was pregnant with my first child, I had dinner with my dad, who mused, “Just don’t get fat. So many women use pregnancy as an excuse to get fat,” as though growing a literal other human being inside my body was all part of a dastardly plan to be less sexually appealing to men, who are of course owed the pleasure of looking at me and wanting to do me.

      If you’re so worried about health, maybe you should consider that telling people that they’re bad the way they are tends to be bad for mental and physical health. (Same goes for the “really skinny” people you mention elsewhere.) You have no fucking idea why anyone is the weight they are, but moreover, it’s none of your business.

      Or, as you’ll probably read this: “Hiss.”

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
    • Kimberly
      Kimberly

      Is this comment supposed to be satirical? If so, good job! Way to hit every bad argument in every discussion about women’s bodies ever. And in one short paragraph!

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
    • Katy Newton
      Katy Newton

      Yes! I WOULD like to contribute some booing and hissing. Thank you. Basic point, missed by you: regardless of how you feel about fat people, making them feel ashamed of wearing a bikini will not make them less fat. It will only make them miserable.

      Jen: I’ve heard men say “no thanks” to all sorts of women of all sorts of shape and size. Go on the Daily Mail website (no! don’t go on the Daily Mail website) and you’ll see smug male commenters saying “no thanks” from their sofas to everyone from Angelina Jolie to Cameron Diaz. It’s nothing to do with size and everything to do with being a certain kind of deeply unpleasant person who needs to make themselves feel better by saying “no thanks” anonymously to fabulous women who wouldn’t look twice at them in a bar.

      PS I like your bikini and also your hair.

      July 8, 2014
      |Reply
    • Califia
      Califia

      Normally I never read the comments but I’m a bit enthralled by Bryan’s. I’ve sort of been mulling it over for a couple of days and in addition to my intense admiration of Bryan’s ability to guess a stranger’s weight I’m also impressed that he stood and watched a woman at a bus stop literally (!) shoveling 3 Big Macs in her face.

      Like, did you not get arrested? Were you hiding behind a bush? What? I mean, the social contract decrees (quite rightly) behavior like that is some serious Peeping Tom shit. Who the fuck stares at someone that long?

      Unless it was like Kobayashi vs. Bear? I, for one, can definitely hoover up Big Macs without chewing or swallowing before someone can look away. Kobayashi is a world champion competitive eater but he’s thin so he has nothing on us fatties (or a bear) when it comes to the speed at which we can inhale food.

      For reference: a video of me eating some hot dogs.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgqbCq_sxmo

      I don’t want to believe that Bryan’s story about that fatty eating fast food is a lie. What kind of world would that be if strangers lied about fat people on the internet? NO KIND OF WORLD AT ALL, I TELL YOU!

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • jo
      jo

      Boo. Hiss.

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • Jen
      Jen

      I’m not going to boo and hiss, but your example of the girl at the bus stop, you have no idea what her story is. So many different factors go into something like this. Emotional, physical, past traumas. It’s rarely quite so simple as someone just not caring what they weigh and not wanting to be healthy so they’ll stuff food in their face so everyone else can judge them. It would be easier on the rest of the world if it was that simple, since they’re just assuming they really like food and like being overweight.

      As to the teaching girls self esteem, it’s teaching them to be okay with who they are, that it’s not about what other people think of them. In my own personal experience, I was being told I was fat when I wasn’t. It depressed me, made me feel fat, and I dealt with this by eating more. It didn’t make me want to lose weight, eat healthily and develop good habits, it led me into a cycle of over eating, depression and very low self worth. As I’ve gotten older and got people in my life who told me I was beautiful just as I was, I developed better self esteem and started taking care of myself better because I loved myself more. So teaching someone to love themselves no matter what doesn’t mean you’re teaching them “it’s okay to be fat”. You’re teaching them to give themselves the approval that the rest of the world is so very stingy with and from that, the better habits can happen, because maybe they’ll fee they deserve to actually be taken care of.

      July 11, 2014
      |Reply
      • L
        L

        I totally agree with the self confidence thing. If you believe you worth something you may want to do something good about yourself. What I do not understand is how exposing oneself to negative judgment will increase self confidence. The world is unfortunately very critical, no matter what’s your preference in body type. It’s a matter of taste. Some people like bigger people some don’t. Some people like lots of clothing on some people like belly shirt, no bra with skirts so short you can see the lips. It’s not a matter of should you or should you not be allowed to wear this or that piece of clothe. It’s a matter of wearing something that fits you well and makes you look good. No matter your size. Again a matter of taste. Do you like a bikini on a big person or on a small person. Or do you prefer a lady with a swim suit under a shirt and short no matter her size. Different people different taste. I believe you ladies are inadvertently a bit superficial yourself to believe that if you wear a bikini you will feel better. Because this would mean that you bought the idea that every body loves a bikini better than other things. Which puts you in the same category as the “modelish” girl that thinks she has to wear sexy clothes to be loved. You base your self confidence on a taste issue which makes you buy this society bullshit that you should look like this or that. If your self confidence is based on what you dare to wear than maybe Brian is right and you won’t take care or your health like we all should no matter our size. I just hope (without having read any of the whole blog but this comment section) that you are actually less superficial than this looks. Self confidence doesn’t lie in what you wear but what you are as a person. If what you wear makes you feel more confident than maybe you are just as superficial as the people whom you feel judge by. Lots of bigger people were successful in life, like lots of smaller or mid size or people with various health issues.

        I personally dislike to see a big person in a bikini. It’s not attractive. However it doesn’t mean a slim person in a bikini will attract me more. I like someone that, like that older lady who posted below (Indyrae I believe), highlight their strength and show confidence. Everybody has strength, and showing confidence is as simple sometimes as daring staring at a man and to smile at him.

        If you judge Brian for daring posting his opinion on a ladies site than you’re just as guilty as what you are reproaching him for. Having an opinion, a taste.

        Love, respect, accept and live to the fullest with no regrets.

        July 15, 2014
        |Reply
  36. Bryan
    Bryan

    Btw…I think that being really skinny is just as bad. Not sure why there people that over do it to that extreme either. Its just as unhealthy if not more. Id like to see more people get out and get healthy and achieve the happy medium that will allow us a happy and healthy life.

    July 6, 2014
    |Reply
    • Jo
      Jo

      Dude, you’re missing the point big time. Come here, let me tell you a story. I promise I won’t hiss at you.

      I am 22 and the happy medium you are talking about. I have never been obese, nor what you would call thin. Yet, I can’t remember one moment or my life when my mom, my dad and even my doctor hadn’t bully me to lose weight with your same excuse “It’s for your health.”

      Well, guess what? My health is and has always been just fine. I just happen to have a pear shaped body that makes all my fat go to my waist and my booty, therefore making me look overweight without really being overweight.

      What I’m trying to tell you is that health issues aren’t always related to your weight, and that the infinity of body types that exists out there can’t be classified as simply as “obese”, “thin” or “medium”, because that’s just not realistic and forces a bunch of self-steem issues on us who fit neither of them.

      So instead of using the trite “for your health” excuse, just admit that you have a personal preference when it comes to body types. That’s alright. We’re all allowed to have preferences. Just don’t expect that everyone can/will conform to them.

      And for God’s sake, don’t come talking about people who are “allowed” not to exercise at the blog of a woman who actually fights chronic pain to go running marathons.

      July 7, 2014
      |Reply
      • JennyTrout
        JennyTrout

        Quick correction, I don’t run marathons, because I would die. I run 5ks. Everything else is right.

        July 11, 2014
        |Reply
    • Katy Newton
      Katy Newton

      I’m going to go ahead and boo and hiss this too. Who made you the arbiter of the perfect female size?

      July 8, 2014
      |Reply
    • Trish
      Trish

      Well, Bryan, where’s your speedo pic? I would like to see the perfect model of health and fitness you must obviously be in order to so harshly judge everyone around you! Why don’t you stop staring at strangers on a bus (which, if noticed, most likely creeped that poor woman out), & realize that attitudes such as yours are the entire reason why the problems addressed by this article exist today.

      July 10, 2014
      |Reply
  37. Sarah
    Sarah

    Just read your Huff Post essay. Awesome. You rock, and you are beautiful. As a fellow chubby pasty Michigander, I am proud. Self esteem is not and should not be something we have to earn. We ALL deserve it. Size 2 or size 22.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  38. Darci
    Darci

    I have a different problem – I’m very susceptible to bruising (not a medical problem, just thin skin and YA-heroine clumsiness). But it’s also a similar problem – shame of exposing oneself for fear of judgment. It sucks to wear long sleeves in the summer to avoid answering questions. And a bikini? I wish I could manage that.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  39. Kat
    Kat

    I guess I see the point more Bryan that a healthy accepting relationship with our bodies and our selves is more likely to positively impact on someone’s health than body-shaming is. That’s what I that I took from Jenny’s post anyway. The pressure on women to conform to some particular size is crazy- we’re all different and size doesn’t really equate to health and fitness. I’m slimmer than most of my friends but they are way fitter than me. I do feel that I’ve come to a place where I accept my body and it’s quirks but more to do with the fact that I try not to let other peoples opinions impact as it’s these comments and beliefs that are more likely to cause me to feel negative about myself. It’s usually based on completely unrealistic expectations of what people really look like. We’re not really waif thin with no body hair and tiny vaginas- we’re all different and that’s ok. Being ashamed of your body helps no-one. And I don’t think being overweight is a goal that people generally subscribe too so the idea that talking about this is going to encourage people to get ‘fat’ seems silly. I think the discussion should be more around what shaming people around their bodies really does which I find creates unhealthier emotional states where people are less likely to feel positive about themselves. Rather than seeing weight loss as a goal ( which can create problems) focusing on acceptance and self- love is more likely to create happy healthier people. Just my two cents.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  40. Califia
    Califia

    I totally have a tattoo of myself. Go for it!

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  41. Pam
    Pam

    After reading the Huff Post article I sought out this blog and LOVE it. I have a ten year old daughter and have found myself saying IN FRONT of her that I “shouldn’t wear” this or that. I catch myself and work to do what I can to correct this, but I must say your article inspires me to lead by example. You know the jump-into-the-pool challenge that goes around Facebook all the time? Well, this whale is jumping into the pool…& in a bikini! I could never be so brave to share my pics online as you did, but wanted to let you know that you’ve inspired me and I’ve taken the challenge. Changing lives one little girl at a time! You should be proud. I don’t even know you and I’m proud of you.
    So to the man who said “No thanks” I say “Words can not express my gratitude”….(and maybe a choice four letter word or two as I’m working on that example setting too). Ha!

    PS – get the tattoo!!!

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  42. Indyrae16
    Indyrae16

    Well this is very well written, very funny. I applaud your courage. However, one thing I want to add is that you don’t have to wear a bikini as a chubby girl to empower yourself. I am admittedly a bit of a chubbo, and I feel much more empowered wearing my cute “old lady” 50s style swimsuit than I ever would wearing a bikini. I think wearing something that is flattering to my figure and shows of my attributes makes me feel good about myself. The bottom line is, I just don’t look good in a bikini. I don’t want people to focus on my stomach when they could be looking at my face, my legs, and maybe even my mhmm breasts (any girl who pretends she doesn’t like to show off a little boob sometimes is lying, especially if they’re a good pair.) I guess my point is that, while wearing a bikini makes you feel good about yourself, that may not be the case for everyone (and that’s okay too!)

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  43. MT
    MT

    I aplaude you!!!!!
    I love the Ide of Chubby Chicks wearing bikinis , I love the fact that they don’t care about others. Why should we base our happiness and ideas in other people ideas.
    We must do what we believe on, regardless what

    Good Job

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  44. Jenny, you’re my hero! Thank you for posting your beautiful bikini picture all over the internet for the world to see!! I wrote about how much your post meant to me and also helped me to check in with my own body issues! (I am not nearly as well written as you but if you’d like to check it out I’ll include the link. I sincerely hope I credited you correctly in my post). You’re amazing and I want to give you a BIG high-five. Thank you for being such a wonderful voice for the fat community. Also, I love your hair! And where can I find a bikini like yours?!

    PS, I vote YES on the tattoo of yourself! FABULOUS!

    http://heresthethingblogblog.wordpress.com

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  45. Donna
    Donna

    Idk maybe because people cover up in the north. There seems to be a different attitude in Arizona re body weight issues. No matter what their weight is. Girls and women wear skimpy dresses, short shorts, spaghetti straps and bikinis. They let it all hang out even the older women in their 60s and 70s. And they don’t care what anyone thinks they just wear whatever they want. So when its over 100 degrees wear whatever you want!

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  46. The bikini article was the first one I’d read, and now I’m hooked. I don’t have a one-hundredth of the confidence that you exude, and I’m so buoyed by your spirit. I wish I were as together at age 45 as you are at (whatever age you are, but I suspect younger than me). Be well, be strong and know that you’ve helped people you’ve never met. I am one of them.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  47. carla
    carla

    I wanted to say to Bryan, that healthy people come in all sizes, and “health” is all relative. What is considered a healthy body today is actually quite different than in the past. You can not look at a person and judge their health by what their body looks like. A few examples: my SIL and her cousin both got the same cancer at the same time. My SIL was about 60-70 pounds overweight, her cousin was our “modelistic” society’s idea of normal weight (a little underweight IMO). My SIL survived and is doing well, her cousin died.

    My mother was not too thin, but not overweight and she had Quad bypass surgery. My aunt, who is very large is healthier than my mom.

    I know many people on the normal side of thin who eat fast food, drink soda, and don’t exercise…IMO they can’t be healthy. They don’t have energy, they aren’t very positive/happy people. I on the other hand, do not eat fast food, eat very healthy, mainly vegetables, don’t eat meat about three times per week, eat mainly organic, spend a lot of time outdoors and was very athletic when I was younger. I had advanced arthritis and had two hip replacement surgeries and have dealt with chronic pain and Celiac Disease. I am tall, 5’10 before surgeries and a little over 5’9 now. I weigh 215 pounds, am between a size 16/18, but I am healthy, despite my chronic pain issues, which are all mechanical. My cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure are all normal. And I am at a huge risk for Type 2 diabetes since I had gestational diabetes. However, I am doing fine blood sugar wise. My friend who is an all organic 6vegetarian is “over weight” too, but very healthy. In fact I have many friends who eat very healthy and are overweight.

    So Bryan, don’t make an argument about body size and health. You can’t tell if someone is healthy by their size. You also can’t tell what they eat or do as far as exercise either. I had an ex- friend who went to the gym every day, ate healthy, judged others about their weight, and she was over weight herself.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  48. carla
    carla

    I wanted to add that I loved your bikini picture, and your beautifully colored hair. I love wearing swimsuits, and feel more beautiful now at age 44 and 215 pounds than I did at age 16 and 150 pounds.

    I also wanted to say I am a size 16/18 now, and I was a size 14, 160 pounds when I was 18, and I was gorgeous at 18, but I didn’t know it. I was tall and thin, but I was Sexy curvy, and I didn’t know it. I thought I had to be at least a size 9 to be considered thin. I look at pictures of me up until my mid 30s, I was thin! I don’t really look fat now even, just “chunky”. Models are about as tall as I am and they weigh about 110 pounds! They are size 1 or even 0! That means when I was 16, thin, and very athletic, I weighed about 40-50 pounds more than a model! That is ridiculously unhealthy.

    Thank you for helping to uplift women’s images of themselves. We need more positive role models like yourself.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  49. Tim
    Tim

    I saw your article and photo today on Huffpost and you look stunning. I would gladly spend more time at the beach if I knew you would be there in a bikini like that. 🙂

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  50. Teresa
    Teresa

    Love those drawings! Awesome inspires more awesome…or something like that 🙂

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  51. Anne
    Anne

    I know this isn’t really the point, but i love the bikini you wore SO. MUCH. I think you looked great and I appreciated your article. It’s a shame that anyone has to be “brave” to wear what they want to wear. Thank you for spreading an anti-shaming and accepting message. Your article made my day.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  52. I love your article and I think that your writing is brilliant.

    July 7, 2014
    |Reply
  53. lilloo
    lilloo

    hi Jenny! my english is bad but i want to say you “thank you” about your article in a french paper, it’s smart, it’s fun and you are so beautiful on the picture! thank you for all “unperfect” women

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  54. Je suis admirative par ton obstination ! Tu as bien raison de ne pas te soucier des réactions des autres ! Les gens qui arrivent à vivre sereinement sans s inquiéter sans cesse du regard des autres ont le monde à leurs pieds !! BRAVO ! Reste comme tu es !

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  55. moi j’ai vu sur cette photo une femme épanouie, vous reflétez le bonheur de vivre continuez ainsi, je n’ai rien trouvé de choquant , je n’ai vu qu’une belle femme en bikini avec des formes avantageuses bonne journée

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  56. Pam
    Pam

    It totally was directed at Bryan. 🙂

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  57. Karim from France
    Karim from France

    thank you for your post about your wonderfull bikini. I did’nt read something so normal about people like us (normal and maybe fat). Have a good day, pretty woman and sorry for my english. Bye.

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  58. Denise
    Denise

    I just read your text (translated in french) about your bikini and what people think about you wearing it and I like it so much that I’ll follow you on twitter. Take care and keep the good writing: you are an inspiration to me!

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  59. I loved the article on Huffington Post and what I really like are women in awesome bikinis. I think it is sad when someone is ashamed and wears a terrible bathing suit that just makes them even more ashamed or sad. So seeing you in your beautiful gorgeous awesome bikini makes my day!!

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  60. Mayah
    Mayah

    I honestly don’t get what you’re trying to do with this. Give people the confidence to wear unflattering clothes because they’re trendy and in style? I mean, wear what you want obviously. You asked for honesty in these discussions in your article, so that’s my honest opinion. Obviously a conservative two piece like that doesn’t show much more than a one piece, so to me there’s no real difference aside from the knowledge that you’re in “a bikini” but I really don’t get the point of this. Congratulations, you achieved your resolution of putting on clothes? If your friends misinterpreted your resolution it was probably because resolutions usually involve more effort than getting dressed.

    I guess it probably took a lot to feel like you were exposing yourself in public. It’s not something I’d personally do. The world doesn’t need to see my stretch marks any more than it needs to see my husband’s yellow toenails. Maybe that will be the next body acceptance trend – scaly feet and overgrown yellow toenails. No shame lol.

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  61. Rocky
    Rocky

    You are very inspirational!

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  62. Christi G.
    Christi G.

    First of all, I live on the Keweenaw, and I have to say you have GUTS wearing any swim suit to any beach up here this summer. It is so freaking cold this year, and your standing in the lake!

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  63. Javi
    Javi

    I loved your article! It was very inpiring and so was your bikini! Where did you buy it:)??

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  64. Tori
    Tori

    Ok a) you are killing me with your hair and that suit together. And your sunglasses. All of it. I am completely in love with the colors. And maybe also a little conceited because my hair is currently purple, so I think it’s a truly excellent hair color.

    B) Super buzzkill time. I’m 5’3″ and 125lbs. That’s about 10lbs heavier than I’m comfortable with, but still well within the “socially acceptable” range. And I never, ever wear a bikini if I can avoid it. Hell, I don’t wear shorts, even when it’s 100 degrees. My current fashion sense is, “Does this hide my stomach/not show too much boob?” which means that about 70% of my clothes are out. I simultaneously never want to eat and always want to eat, and I had to stop using the “fitness” app I was using because I was starting to see food as my enemy and calories as its little foot soldiers. OVER 10 FUCKING POUNDS.

    I know the obvious solution seems like lose 10lbs but then shouldn’t the solution really be to stop obsessing over my physical appearance and do something useful instead? All this self-loathing seems really conceited, in a way. I don’t know, there’s no point here, really, just that I can’t really say any of this to most people I know because they either tell me about the much larger amount of weight they want to lose, tell me I’m crazy/stupid and my body is fine, or think I’m just saying it because that’s what women are supposed to do, right? (And how fucked up is that?) So instead I just quietly hate myself and cover up as much as I can and wish I had a fraction of your confidence. But at least I have the hair, right?

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  65. Katy Newton
    Katy Newton

    I broke my leg recently, quite badly, and after half a lifetime of resenting the fact that no matter what I do in the short term I always seem to end up fat, I’m now in awe of my body simply because of its ability to heal itself. Basically, my leg is fixing itself, all on its own (well, with a little help). And my other leg, which has never had to take half my weight, is now just getting on with taking nearly all of my weight, despite the fact that it was quite badly sprained itself when I fell. Well done, legs. You are miraculous. You can be as fat as you like.

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  66. Beth Gordon
    Beth Gordon

    Girl, you rock! Courage I don’t have — First, wearing the bikini. Second, wearing the bikini and swimming in Lake Superior at Copper Harbor. Dang, that’s cold!

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  67. Lynnette Haggerty
    Lynnette Haggerty

    YOU ROCK! Not only are you straight up adorable in your bikini, but I LOVE what you had to say both in the huffpost article and the follow-up here. Thank you.

    July 8, 2014
    |Reply
  68. Scott Douglas
    Scott Douglas

    I applaud you for having the wherewithal to ignore what they said and do your thing. That being said the only part I take issue with is the statement that fat woman in bikinis goes against what society tells us is pretty. This is completely untrue. It’s not fat people perse but larger (or smaller) people that refuse to wear appropriate sizes. I walked past a very large girl in Brussels the other day whose jeans made her waist line look like an ice cream scoop. That’s not society that telling me that is disgusting.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  69. melanie yelle
    melanie yelle

    Je suis petite et mince. J ai 33 ans. Je porte un one pièce depuis 7 ans parce que je trouve ça beau. Les gens se demandent pourquoi. Parce que je suis pas obligé de porter un bikini !!!!
    Bref. Je te trouve magnifique dans ton bikini ! Si c’est mon amie qui avait voulue ça, je l’aurais aidé a le faire.
    PS: Tu sais quoi, je suis meme pas en santé!

    ** Je milite pour la diversité des standards de beauté.

    Merci et bravo

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  70. tu
    tu

    You look great in that bikini. I stopped wearing one after having my babies, because my stomach is scarred. Articles like this give me pause for thought, because I loved my bikini. Maybe the only thing stopping me is my own attitude.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  71. JMP
    JMP

    Keep wearing your bikini and dont change your attitude. We love you as you are.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  72. Rowan
    Rowan

    I was reading the article… and right next to the part on glorifying obesity was a link to another article with a photo of frying bacon. And that is pretty bloody awesome!

    I have a gazillion and one body image issues right now. Don’t like stripping off cos of my size and condition, but also scars. So positive body stuff is like a hug of reassurance, y’know.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  73. Holly
    Holly

    I applaud you! Not enough full size aka normal women take this risk. I must also say you did it in a very classy way. I think a lot of people judge (what society calls) overweight women because of how they dress sometimes. If you would have worn a small little triangle top and french cut bottom, things might have been different, but you look very classy in this suit. It fits you well, it is modest, but still revealing. It isn’t fair that so many people feel the need to criticize and judge when they have never been through the struggle. Keep it up and never be scared to be yourself! 😉

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  74. k
    k

    You go girl. Thank God for you. Great to see your courage. God bless you and your family.
    !

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  75. Alvery
    Alvery

    As a huge cow myself, I have been lovingly singing “Jenny Trout The Sea Cow” to myself in the tune of Baby Beluga while trying to force my 1001 folds into a swim suit. I thought you might like to know. Good job hitting Yahoo. Post some of the dumbass comments in another blog for us so we can laugh at’em.

    Btw, love your hair in those pictures. It’s such a pretty color and so very well done.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  76. Nick Stull
    Nick Stull

    You go Girl!!! I have been fat all my life and I have accepted my “fatness”, and so has everyone around me. Glad to see that you are comfortable with your own body. If I could get away with it, I’d wear a Borat style suit every time I went out on a hot summer day, unfortunately it won’t keep the fella’s in place and they want to enjoy the warm days as much as me. For now, regular suit is what I wear. I believe it comes more natural for men than women to let the fat out in the sunlight, I could be wrong. Thanks for bringing me some cheer today.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  77. Kathy
    Kathy

    YOU ARE AWESOME. Go Bold!

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  78. May
    May

    I almost threw up when I opened Yahoo and saw a morbidly obese woman in a bikini….and being praised for being fat!! There are so many things wrong with this picture. Please stop writing about how it’s ok to be fat. Being fat has serious health risks. Get off the Facebook and Twitter and go exercise. I feel bad for the other people on the beach who had to look at you. Put some clothes on.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
    • jo
      jo

      There are so many things wrong with your comment. Why would you feel bad for anyone looking? Did their eyes burn out of their head? I really suggest reading articles before commenting on them. Otherwise you just look like a dumbass. She’s not being praised for being fat, but for having confidence to live her life like everybody else despite judgemental cretins like you. Your attitude is what’s offensive and disgusting.

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • jo
      jo

      This isn’t even the article on Yahoo. You had to click another link to get here. Why bother if you’re so disgusted? Just move along and find something that actually interests you. Or try opening your mind to a new idea. It’s not that painful.

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • Ami
      Ami

      Oh, sheesh. No, honey, fat does not equal unhealthy. Skinny does not equal healthy. Mmmkay? Also-your comment says so much about you and none of it is good. Really, what kind of person slams another like that?

      Jenny, you look fab. Love the suit! What actually impressed me the most was you are standing in Lake Superior! In early June! When it still had ice!

      Both articles and most of the comments have been awesome. Im struggling with myself in a huge way. Most of it is stupid, I know, but it is damn hard to shed the self-loathing. All of you are helping me take steps to start. So, thanks.

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
    • Gloria
      Gloria

      May, you wrote: “I almost threw up when I opened Yahoo and saw a morbidly obese woman in a bikini….and being praised for being fat!!”

      Besides the fact that you completely missed the point of the article and misunderstood why it was written, the comments about almost throwing up, etc. speaks volumes about YOU–just you.

      Giving “voice” to such thoughts also has nothing to do with Jenny’s or anyone else’s choices in how to live life. So you can be confident that ugly comments like those will be ignored by their intended recipient(s)–as they well should be.

      Hope you are able to get over yourself soon. Life can become much happier for you.

      July 11, 2014
      |Reply
  79. Nu Trout Phan
    Nu Trout Phan

    Hi Jenny! Just saw your bikini pic on Yahoo today. You look cute!
    Remember your sunscreen too, cause it’s summatime. K?

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  80. Jay
    Jay

    Jenny;

    You look great in a bikini, and-I suspect-even greater out if it. Beauty comes in all shapes, and sizes. More women need to begin feeling more confident of themselves, regardless of their dress size. Thanks for helping them to do so. Post some more photos soon, please. Thanks.

    An Enlightened Male.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  81. Loved the article of you in the bikini! It’s refreshing to see a NORMAL woman in a bikini!! And I’d rather see that than a woman in a thong any day!! As for the old man that said ‘no thanks’, who cares what he thinks! He’s a loser who sits on the computer all day and doesn’t have anybody. We DON’T have to wonder why!

    Jenny, the article said you have fibro. I own a private informational support group on Facebook for women with fibro and/or chronic pain. We’d love to have you join us. Just find us at this link and submit a request to join. Our group name is Fibro Girls In Vibrant Pearls. Hope to see you there!! Take care, Pamela https://www.facebook.com/groups/FibroGirlsInVibrantPearls/

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
  82. Lisa Ann Krutzik
    Lisa Ann Krutzik

    So Bryan – where is your photo? Not confident enough in yourself to have a professional portrait taken or coy enough to take your phone into the bathroom to do a ‘selfie’ so that we can see the man behind the words?

    I was told by a ‘friend’ just the other day that he is concerned that I don’t get enough exercise. This is funny since I’m the one who has a project to raise money for foster care kids by walking 61 miles this month called ’61 Miles 4 Mary ‘ and yet the friend who has had yet another bout with pneumonia in the month of June is telling me that he is ‘concerned that I don’t get enough exercise because he is worried about my health.’ I just have to laugh.

    Women – young and older – we need to stop worrying about what other people think about our bodies. Figure out what clothing looks good on you, wear clothing that fits, and live life out loud. This life is too short to be covered up just because some people think that everyone should look like a workout model.

    July 9, 2014
    |Reply
    • Joe
      Joe

      Walking 61 miles in a month is not much. I run over 70 miles a week and even that isn’t that impressive. Increase your aerobic excercise and your friend will stop worrying so much.

      July 9, 2014
      |Reply
  83. Les
    Les

    Have to say, you’ve got Moxy. Healthy? Nope. And neither am I by the ‘laws of society’. But thank GOD you’re not ‘Twiggy’, who, contrary to our cultures belief, also wasn’t healthy! You’re giving it your best shot though, and that’s all any of us can do. ♥
    You did what you had to do for you, and I am incredibly impressed. I see no rules that say you shouldn’t be able to step out in that bikini (cute one, too) and do what everyone else does…enjoy a day at the beach!
    Our heads can turn for a reason. To those haters…turn your damn head! Click to the next page. Do whatever you have to do cuz guess what!? No one’s going to take your nasty ass for a ride (to Mr. No Thanks) anytime soon. No one cares what any of you self absorbed assholes think!
    I bet if YOUR wife/mother/sister/daughter were weighty, you would love them, respect them, and encourage them. Why step off now? Cuz she’s not yours?
    The HELL with you.
    Jenny……Keep Rockin’ It! You are an inspiration to all women (and even men) who hide behind robes, to shed them and LIVE!
    (Said while still hiding my 40 over behind a one piece and a cover up)
    You make ME proud. I will print your photo…and remind myself daily…I can do it and the world wont end. 🙂

    July 9, 2014
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    • Coyote
      Coyote

      Hey, Les, I met Twiggy, years ago. She was a lovely person. I liked her, and feel priviliged to have had the chance to meet and speak to her. She is not her appearance.

      July 10, 2014
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      • Les
        Les

        She is a great person, that’s for sure! And you’re right, she’s nothing like we think. She’s also the only ‘uber-thin’ person I knew to use as our current stereotyping body image example. Sadly, our US culture thinks thin is the big thing and what makes each of us beautiful. It’s incredibly sad. Im happy you met Twiggy. You’re lucky there.

        July 10, 2014
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  84. Lisa Ann Krutzik
    Lisa Ann Krutzik

    Hey May – you know there is help out there for your bulimia problems- I am sure that you can google a help line. Oh I noticed that you don’t have a photo of yourself up there either – you can comment in a nasty way about someone else’s photo but you don’t have the confidence to put your face to your words?

    July 9, 2014
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  85. Craig Calvert
    Craig Calvert

    I think you are beautiful, and your article gave me a great way to discuss beauty with my young son.

    July 9, 2014
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  86. Jim
    Jim

    Here is my post on your Yahoo story Jenny:

    LOL, A lot of guys here whine about how fat and disgusting Jenny is. Then they see someone like her with a couple of her hot friends and they want to get to those friends. Next thing that happens is they strike out and wonder what they did wrong. LOL, seriously this is why so many dumb a _ z haters cant get any woman, let alone a big one, to go out with them. Thank God Ive learned a woman is a great thing to be with at any size. So all haters can go wack off because its all there ever going to do.

    July 9, 2014
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  87. California Fan
    California Fan

    Jenny, you are BEAUTIFUL! What a bright spirit! Fantastic smile! And lady, your body rocks!

    I wish I had a neighbor like you. I wish I had had a friend like you growing up. Is so good to know that I share this world with great people like you! Warmest wishes!

    July 9, 2014
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  88. Jen Darling
    Jen Darling

    I absolutely loved reading your article! I myself am a “fat” girl in the eyes of society, but that doesn’t stop me from wearing what I want, but what I need to know where did you get your bathing suit from I want one like that lol. You are beautiful and as long as your happy on the way you look so be it and the hell with what other people think.

    July 9, 2014
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  89. AndiNZ
    AndiNZ

    “At least 100,000…” – ha, and the rest! 🙂

    Your article (with byline and photo) was even re-posted on the most-visited news website down here in little ol’ Noo Zeeland, so it sounds like this one’s gone completely viral, Jenny – as it should!

    I didn’t bother to read the comments on the post. Lots of trolls everywhere, some particularly strident on that site, and I didn’t want to see the ugliness – though I’m sure the majority were as positive as the ones on here.

    I was just happy to see that your words were taking the world by storm, and to see your smiling face on the homepage.

    You rock, as ever. 🙂

    July 10, 2014
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    • Shauna
      Shauna

      I totally think you looked great in your bikini. Ha! Ha! Take that skinny girls. I don’t have daughters but if I did, I would teach them the importance of loving themselves.

      July 10, 2014
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  90. Jodi Gerbi
    Jodi Gerbi

    you look beautiful!

    July 10, 2014
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  91. Sherie Anderson
    Sherie Anderson

    OMG – I read an article on Yahoo, click the link to read more, and find out that YOU are THE Jennifer Armintrout who wrote the bloodties novels!! And you even live in my state! You’re one of the best authors ever, I love LOVE the bloodties books! Please write another one, please?? Four is just not enough, they’re too good to end there!

    July 10, 2014
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  92. Christina
    Christina

    Well done! It’s so crazy that even though I’m not in the overweight camp I still am way to insecure to wear a bikini or even short shorts without first entering into some sort of boot camp first! Time to get over myself! Thanks.

    Oh and BTW just my opinion, get a T-Shirt of the cartoons of you and skip the tat.

    July 10, 2014
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  93. Lori Carr
    Lori Carr

    I just wish us women could be more like men and not give a rats about how we look and love life to the fullest like the good Lord intended. You don’t see this type of dialog from men…sigh. You are beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with the world.

    July 10, 2014
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  94. Kelly
    Kelly

    I think you look fabulous darling!! I grew up being much too skinny and being made fun of and called anorexic. I couldn’t gain weight no matter what I tried. Our bodies are gifts from God and our genetics are what they are. I think having confidence and a great sense of humor are what makes a person beautiful! You are gorgeous!! You have a lovely twinkle in your eye too. Keep up the blogging and writing and telling all those haters where they can stick it! Love the cartoons! I think they should go in a comic book.

    July 10, 2014
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  95. Coyote
    Coyote

    Thank you for sending such a positive message. What struck me most about the image was not the bathing suit (though it is very nice, and looks good on you) or your body, but the brilliant and confident smile you wore.

    As human beings, we come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Beauty comes not in conforming, but in celebrating who we are.

    July 10, 2014
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  96. Erica
    Erica

    What I REALLY like about the bikini picture is that it FITS you. I see women, and men, of all shapes and sizes in clothes (especially swim clothes) that don’t fit them. They are too tight, too small, too… to help them be their best. Swim clothes are the hardest. I saw your picture and thought ‘she looks like she’s having fun’ before I even saw the article’s title. I hope you’re having as much fun as I thought you were.

    July 10, 2014
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  97. Christine
    Christine

    I haven’t worn a bikini since my eldest was a year old and I wore a giant t-shirt over it. I am now inspired to wear one again. Thank you.

    July 10, 2014
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  98. theresa
    theresa

    a long time ago I decided not to cover up my fatness, its not like it conceals anything anyways right?
    thank you jenny

    July 10, 2014
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  99. Jason
    Jason

    Hi jenny,
    You may not remember me but we went to highschool together. I saw the article via yahoo concerning the bikini. I recognized your face right away.

    Congrats on your accomplishments over the years.

    July 10, 2014
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  100. Tim
    Tim

    I have not read all the comments, but wanted to ‘weigh in’. Life is so much more enjoyable when you do what you want to do, and stop worrying about what someone else thinks. They are not paying your bills, so who cares? The people that matter don’t care, and the people that care don’t matter. If they don’t love who the person is regardless of the type of clothes the person wears, or the job they have, or what the number on the scale says, then screw ’em.

    Now as far as weight and fitness, I am finally working out and trying to get in much better shape. This is due to the fact that I have two little girls and a wonderful wife and I would like to live as many years as possible with them. It isn’t about what people think of me. I have also learn through this process a couple important things that I hope people trying to ‘lose weight’ can take the time to really learn.

    One, stop trying to ‘lose weight’!! Go get your body fat percentage taken and try to lose body fat percentage. Losing weight by starving or long cardio usually means losing muscle along with fat. So say you lose 30 lbs. If you lose 15 fat, but 15 lbs muscle too, then your metabolism slows down!! Then you might eat the same as you were, but start putting fat back on. If you gain the 30 back, but it’s all fat, then you are the same weight, but worse off physically.

    Two, ‘killer abs’ are made in the kitchen, not the gym. Not by starving yourself either. Eat clean, veggies, meats, dairy, try to limits carbs and starches as much as you can (don’t have to go without) and try to make everything as organic / free range / grass fed / hormone free as you can. Non-processed food. If you do that, you can actually get to the point that you realize you don’t want to eat more, but are probably under your calorie intake for the day. Fat free, sugar free, blah blah blah….all that is a sales tool and all is processed.

    I guess there is a third thing. You have to indulge sometimes. You can’t eat perfect forever. If you want cake, have a piece. A small piece. small bites, savor the flavor, really enjoy it. I used to have ‘cheat days’ on my diet. And would eat a whole pizza, garlic knots, well…. just too much food. I was thinking volume rather than smaller portions of what I love and eating it slowly and enjoying it. I am really trying to wrap my head around the fact that diets don’t work. Changing my habits might get me there slower, but since it is a permanent change, I won’t yo-yo anymore.

    Results? Weight is going down slow. But changes in the scale and body fat is really big (and in the mirror). And I don’t have an ending point, as it isn’t a diet. I love my girls and wife, and this is only about me feeling better, and more years of a life with them. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I (this is kinda important!) am the same great person at 250 as I was at 320. Ladies, if you are 350 lbs, you won’t be a better person at 160 than 350. Learn how to slowly change habits forever, and do it because you love your body, not because you hate it.

    There is a book called ‘Think and grow rich’. Basic principle is that you can’t have everyone tell you what to do….. that is employee mentality. Think….and figure out what works for you, what doesn’t. Don’t make excuses, and know what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. It’s your life, figure out what you want, and how to achieve what you want to do. It’s not easy, but it is worth it, and empowering. For once, focus on you, and be a bit selfish. You are worth it. You deserve it. Go out and fight for what you want. And if you don’t want to lose body fat or get fit, then accept that and have peace with it. You should be comfortable with who you are. Own up to that you are where you are due to choices you made. Want to be somewhere else? Make a plan and execute it. Ok with were you are but people want you to change? Ignore them. It’s ok to be happy with where you are even if someone else is not happy. You only control YOU.

    I love you all, and wish you all blessings and persistence and tenacity. Most of all……. long lives lived the way you dream of. Peace.

    July 10, 2014
    |Reply
  101. Patty
    Patty

    Good for you 🙂 Being over weight myself and getting rude comments and looks by some makes me not want to even go out of the house. When I do go out I never wear shorts or anything above the knee and no tank tops no matter how hot it is. We are who we are and not everone was ment to be a size 12 and bitter. People I know with extra pounds on them are friendly and over all more happy soles. There is room in heaven for all of us.

    July 10, 2014
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  102. Amanda
    Amanda

    Hey there, first time reader, now compulsive commentator.

    You are a vision. Man, even if I’d had the confidence to rock a bikini, I would’ve still stuck to a cowardly black number, still would’ve hoped to blend in a little more with the shadows around me. You went bold, bright, and utterly fabulous.

    But it IS pretty darn douchey to get your fabulousness tattooed on yourself. It is not the least bit douchey, however, to mark up your man with your fabulousness…

    July 10, 2014
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  103. Jeanne
    Jeanne

    You look like a dish, Jen. And as for that guy who commented “No thanks?” Buddy, she wouldn’t give you the time of day in any galaxy anyway. So piss off.

    July 11, 2014
    |Reply
  104. darrell coon
    darrell coon

    Lady you are so super beautiful and looked hot in your bikini! I hate that our society makes bbw feel bad. I love a lady with lots of curves.

    July 11, 2014
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  105. Katharine
    Katharine

    I’m so glad to hear you’re getting such a (primarily) positive response. Because it was an awesome article, and you deserve it!

    Also, to be honest, the first thing I noticed about those pictures is how HAPPY you look in them. And that makes me happy with you!

    July 11, 2014
    |Reply
  106. I loved this post. It was well-written and thought-provoking. I was so encouraged by it. You’ve done a wonderful thing here, and I know women everywhere are going to be inspired by you.

    Btw, you fucking rocked that suit. You looked amazing!

    July 12, 2014
    |Reply
  107. stacey
    stacey

    I wish I had your strength. Regardless of how little care I give to other peoples’ opinions with other aspects of my life, when it comes to my appearance, and as an overweight woman I still feel like the awkard teenager left out of gym class. Or the woman who gets pointed at while someone comments behind her back “What is she WEARING?!” The front part of my brain knows what utter BS this is, but the rest of me, not so much. I dont know if I can handle a bikini, but because of you Iam going to try to love the whole of me more.

    July 12, 2014
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  108. Tabby
    Tabby

    I think my favourite comment was the one from the guy saying “stop the discussion about beauty. Start the discussion about health.” As if comments saying “BUT THEY MIGHT NOT BE IN PERFECT HEALTH HOW DARE THEY SHOW THEMSELVES” all over every single depiction of a fat person looking anything other than miserable and ashamed is an unheard-of occurance. The “discussion about health” is unfortunately well underway, my friend.

    July 12, 2014
    |Reply
  109. […] women’s need to see ‘imperfect’ bodies just doing regular, human stuff,” Trout wrote in a follow-up to her original piece, which ran in longer form on the Huffington Post over the holiday weekend. […]

    July 13, 2014
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  110. Cat
    Cat

    The cartoons are cute and well drawn. However, if I drew you, I’d put in your lovely long legs. <3

    July 19, 2014
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  111. “It’s not men who care if fat women wear bikinis or not. We’re not horrified, for the most part, we think it’s funny. It’s other women who make a big deal of it anyhow. I hope the future of fat people is fat, dumb, and happy, that’s certainly to be preferred to seeing them weeping pathetically over their extra-large bags of Doritos.”

    July 20, 2014
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  112. Jsnow
    Jsnow

    This is great. When my husband met me I was 95 lbs soaking wet. His mission was to put some meat on me. I now am 175 lbs! Health wise I do need to loose some but I NEVER want to be at 95 again. 135 seems to be my ideal weight for my height, bone structure, existing health issues and the way I mentally see myself. I have never been comfortable with my boob size but always liked the fact that I had big hips and a big butt not matter my weight. I see weight as being healthy for the person. I was no more healthy at 95 then I am at 175. Each person is different and BMI done at the Dr.s offices are jokes. I have a friend that has always been big but her family was never supportive, luckily she has friends and a great hubby that is. My hubby’s family are all tall big woman and it suits them beautifully. I hope my children have a better view of themselves and others then I do and am working to see to it.

    August 6, 2014
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  113. Anon123
    Anon123

    I hope sometime between when you did this post and now (a year later), that tattoo did happen, because those cartoons are the sweetest thing!

    June 4, 2015
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