"Fatty Patty 2 x 4..."

This is me in 3rd grade

“Fatty Patty 2 x 4, can’t fit through the classroom door”. 

 Simon, the meanest boy in school, decided that I would be his target that week. He made fun of my hair, outfits, shoes, anything. None of it bothered me. Until he landed on my soft, vulnerable spot. I hated the nickname Patty. But he zeroed in on what rhymed with Fatty, and so it began. 

 Yes, that is me in 3rd grade. I loved that outfit. My mom made it for me and I remember carefully picking out the butterfly fabric and the Simplicity pattern. Every morning I would ask my mom, “Is it done yet?” Finally, the night before picture day I tried it on and it was perfection! I felt like Cheryl Tiegs (a 1970’s supermodel). “Thank you, Mom, I LOVE it! I’m wearing it tomorrow!”

 I thought 3rd grade was off to a great start. Then, on picture day, Simon started singing, “Fatty Patty 2 x 4, can’t fit through the classroom door!”. I heard this at least 100 times that week and then he moved onto his next victim.

But the damage was done. That one comment, sung 100 times became indelibly imprinted in my brain. My inner critic latched onto “Fatty Patty” and I forever became the fat girl. I went on a diet that year, 3rd grade, and lost five pounds. This started of a life of yoyo weight loss and gain. 

 I’ve lost and gained hundreds of pounds in my life and I never lost the internal stamp of "Fatty Patty". Look at my picture, I was far from fat. But that comment, from a mean boy, when I was eight became my identity.

 I was letting my inner critic navigate my life. “Fatty Patty 2 x 4” was one of the strongest messages for my inner critic. The day in coaching school that I uncovered my inner critic, giving him a name and an image was powerful. His name is “The Colonel” and the image is a finger pointing in judgement. This was the day that I started dealing with “Fatty Patty”. 

It takes a LONG time to quiet those messages. In my case, “Fatty Patty” has taken me 6 years to quiet. I have to keep on top of it because the thought continues, albeit less often and not as loud. I have to say “no thank you, not today” and go on with my day without “Fatty Patty” playing over and over in my mind.   

 Hard work? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!

What messages does your inner critic consistently play in your mind? Have you been able to quiet that negative voice? If you’d like help uncovering your inner critic and meeting your inner champion, let’s talk. It was truly life changing for me!