Amelia Davis
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57Amelia Davis had never considered herself a "plus-size" person. At 27, she lived in Chicago, worked as a junior software developer at a tech company, and her life revolved around deadlines, late-night coding sessions, and sporadic outings with friends. For most of her twenties, her physique had been slim, almost wiry.
?The weight gain hadn't arrived like a sudden flash, but like a slow, relentless tide.
?It all started with the promotion she had desired. The increased responsibilities meant longer hours and more stress. Her healthy habits—the morning run in the park, the lunch prepped the night before—were the first casualties. The 6:00 AM alarm became 7:30 AM. Fresh salad lunches were replaced by takeout ordered at her desk: a greasy burrito, pizza, or the infamous meal deals from the Mexican spot downstairs.
?"Just for tonight," she would tell herself while scrolling through delivery apps, her finger hovering over the menu of cheese-laden burgers.
?The first clue was her belt. The one that used to close comfortably on the third hole now strained at the last one. Then, her favorite jeans, a pair of Levi's 501s, started to feel like a prison after an hour of sitting. Initially, she dismissed it as "bloating" or a washing machine that had accidentally shrunk her clothes.
?In nine months, Amelia had put on 25 pounds (about 11-12 kg).
?Now, at 27 and 165 pounds (about 75 kg), her body was noticeably different. Her cheeks were fuller, her arms rounded, and there was a soft belly that hung over the elastic of her pants. The clothes she wore had changed: her tailored suits were shelved in favor of A-line dresses and loose sweaters that hid her new curves. It wasn't just about the clothes; it was a change in how she perceived herself.
?One Saturday morning, it hit her hard. She needed to buy a new dress for a colleague's wedding. Stepping into a fitting room, she tried on a size 10 (a European 42) elegant dress. She s
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