A short story. | by Chiomauzoekwe | Nov, 2025

Sometimes,when people ask me “Why do you go to the gym? Why are you always trying to keep fit?” And honestly, the answer is deeper than people think. 💭
Growing up, I was bullied a lot about my body. I was always “the big one” in every group of friends. Not in a cute way — in a condescending, embarrassing way. Adults don’t even know the damage their words can do. So I grew up with this fear of being fat… it became personal for me. That’s really where my whole fitness mindset started.
And then something happened about two years ago that sealed it for me.😭😂
I was invited to an album listening party. I had this corset dress I’d never worn before, and I was excited because I love that snatched look. I wanted my hard work to show. So I wore it — and girl, I looked GOOD. Snatched. Covered. Everything was sitting the way it should.
Until about an hour into the event.
I don’t know what happened, but suddenly it felt like warm spikes were stabbing my stomach. Like something was fighting for its life inside me. I couldn’t breathe. I excused myself to the restroom, and by the time I got there, I was on the floor. Literally on the floor, reeling. I thought I was going to pass out. Two nice girls even came to check on me — bless them.
It wasn’t until I loosened the dress that I realized: I tied that corset way too tight. WAY too tight. And in that moment I was like… “So this is what people go through just to look snatched? To breathe small?”
I nearly died. No exaggeration.😂
Right there, I made up my mind: instead of almost dying in a corset, I’d rather feel the pain of working out. The burn of reducing sugar. The discipline of keeping fit. If I want a snatched body, let it be because of my effort — not because a piece of clothing is trying to choke me to death.😣
And that’s why I stay consistent at the gym😮💨

