The “Girl on the Right” Exposes Chilling Secret Behind the Pic Instagram Fell in Love With

By Amanda Tarlton

If you knew nothing about me, you’d probably look at that picture and think “wow she looks great!” You’d congratulate me, tell me how awesome I am, say you envied my dedication. I’ve been told my body is “goals” and received comments on how tiny I am. People ask me how I did it, in hopes I’ll reveal some great secret they can copy.

Because unfortunately in our society, weight loss and thinness is a sign of health. We assume if someone lost weight, they must be healthier. That it’s always something to be celebrated. An achievement, a mark of success.

But for me (and for many other women), a thinner body does not mean a healthier body. In fact, it means the exact opposite.

My “perfect body” came from starving day after day, from slowly destroying myself. It’s a body without a regular menstrual cycle, with osteopenia in its bones, with a weak heart and all sorts of other damage I’m not even aware of.

I finally have the body I always dreamed of when I was younger and watched all the popular girls get asked out on dates. I have the body I thought I could never have. I surpassed the weight I had written at the top of my life goals list (sad that was the number one thing I wanted right??).

I finally have the one thing I thought would make my life perfect. And guess what. It did the opposite. Instead of giving me everything I wanted, it took it away.

And while my #transformationtuesday picture might get hundreds of likes on Instagram, while I’m hit on a lot more at bars now, while I’ve achieved what many people dream of, I’m not proud. I don’t want to be the girl on the right anymore. I don’t want to be starving and miserable and lifeless all to be the hot girl.