Mum said I looked like a beached whale in holiday photos – she was right, parents should tell their kids if they’re fat

WHEN Gemma Hall, 28, showed off her holiday snaps to her mum Jayne, she received a dose of love she didn’t expect.

But Gemma is happy her mum didn’t mince her words, while Jayne insists other parents should follow her straight-talking book…

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Sitting in the living room, I proudly scrolled through my vacation photos on my phone, showing them to my mom, Jayne.

Glowing with a golden tan after a week in Spain with two friends, I was eager to recount all the fun I had during a break from my job as a job consultant.

“What do you think of my new green bikini?” I asked.

I thought I looked really good in it.

But the expression on her face worried me – she looked strange.

“The bikini is a nice color,” she said. “But Gemma. . . You look like a beached whale in it!”

It wasn’t the reaction I expected from my 59-year-old mother.

“Oh, best wishes, Mom,” I gasped, shocked.

I knew she was speaking straight, but her comment came completely out of the blue.

At a size 16 I realized I had gained weight, but hearing my mum be so open about it in our home in Manchester was a bombshell.

For a second I was thinking, “My mom just told me I’m fat.”

My instinctive response was to cry. Then I wondered if she was just laughing.

Turns out she wasn’t. My mother thought I was overweight.

Now, a year later, I’m so pleased she had the courage and strength to be so direct.

Your honesty has led me to lose weight, become healthier and happier.

People’s size and weight is something we all tiptoe around. But maybe we shouldn’t.

Mom showed me that it’s okay to take a sledgehammer approach. In fact, sometimes it’s the only way.

And it is increasingly necessary.

Government figures from May revealed that between 2022 and 2023, 64 per cent of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or obese.

This was an increase from 2020 to 2021 (63.3 percent).

Obesity is generally defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is classified as overweight and, at my highest, mine ranged between 28 and 31.

‘UNHEALTHY HABITS’

So instead of crying and eating a burger, I went to my room and looked at myself in the mirror.

There, I realized that Mom, a travel executive, was being kind, not insensitive.

It was the first time in my life that I had gained so much weight and the fact that I had to buy size 14-16 clothes was proof of that.

It was the kick I needed to get back into shape.

Since she made her comment last June, I’ve swapped my size 16 bikini for a size eight, going from a 12th to a 9th.

I picked up unhealthy eating habits during lockdown.

I would eat sausage for breakfast, a burger or melted cream cheese for lunch, and pizza for dinner.

I was treating myself to Deliveroos during Zoom calls with my friends – it was our way of “hanging out” while we were at home.

If mom prepared healthy meals, I would eat chocolates or snacks in my room.

When I started my “get fit” plan, I switched to fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean meats and used the Couch To 5k app to help me move more.

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I started walking and cycling and I really started to enjoy it.

My “fat” clothes became baggy as gradually, over the course of eight months, the weight began to come off.

It was then that I had an idea: sell them on Vinted.

Surprisingly, my old big bikinis meant a lot of money.

Previously, when I sold my size eight clothes on eBay or Vinted, they took a while to change.

But when I posted my bigger looks, it was exactly the opposite.

They sold immediately, showing that larger sizes are much more sought after.

I also posted photos of myself in them so buyers could see what they looked like in real life.

I made £600 in two months, which goes towards a house deposit.

‘EMPOWERING’

I never thought that Mom telling me I looked like a beached whale could have such a positive impact.

Losing weight has improved my confidence – I bought a new wardrobe, I get compliments when I go out and I’ve started dating again.

Getting back to my old size is empowering.

His words may have initially felt like a dagger to the heart, but they were a miraculous healing.

It may not be “woke” to tell someone they’re fat, but it’s what I needed.

I’M NOT A FAT-SHAMER… I WANT HER TO BE HAPPY

Jayne’s MUM, married to Geoff, 65, gas engineer, says:
“SOME people will probably be shocked by what I said to Gemma and label me shameful, but they would be wrong.

I’m just a mother who loves her daughter.

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Gemma and I are incredibly close and as she still lives at home I can be very frank.

The photo of her in the green bikini was a shock and I didn’t mean to express my surprise like I did.

My laugh when I said this was masking my concern – Gemma noticed that immediately.

I also knew that if I didn’t say something, I would later be wiping away Gemma’s frustrated tears because her favorite clothes didn’t fit or she couldn’t wear fashionable clothes.

She would probably also come up to me and ask, “Why didn’t you say something?”

I also wasn’t forcing her to lose weight.

My love for her doesn’t change depending on her size. I just want her to be happy and healthy.

I’ve always been a size 12 and maintained that by eating healthy, having a busy job and running after my daughter.

Some topics – like weight – are becoming taboo, which doesn’t help anyone.

People need to know they are gaining weight so they can deal with it.

Luckily, Gemma and I told each other everything.

When she got spots, I offered advice.

After the breakup, I’m there to wipe away the tears.

But it works both ways.

She will tell me if my clothes don’t match or if my gray roots are showing.

And my approach got results. Gemma worked hard to lose weight. Now she looks like a million dollars and is much healthier.

I’m proud of her and this will stand her in good stead for the rest of her life.

Obesity is associated with many diseases, such as heart disease, vascular dementia and stroke, and I fear the idea of ​​getting them.

It is important to know how to receive criticism directly.

She’s my girl and I love every inch of her. But I’d be lying if she said I wasn’t happy because there are fewer things to love now.”