"I'm Big and I'm Strong"

These guys have dealt with fatphobia, body shaming, and the pressure to lose weight their entire lives. Here's how they developed a mentally healthy approach to the number on the scale.

- By Keith Nelson Jr.

MARK HENRY

POWERLIFTER AND FORMER PRO WRESTLER

FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, I was in a grocery store, and this little kid said, "Mama, he's fat." I told the kid, "No, I'm big and I'm strong." The embarrassment on the mother's face was undeniable. But my response to the kid was healing, because when I told the kid that, the kid said, "I'm strong, too."

I've been judged about my weight since the first or second grade. But in my childhood photos, I was always flexing and posing like a bodybuilder because I felt strong and I was confident in my strength. I used to tell people, "You can hit me in the stomach." I would flex my stomach and let people punch me as hard as they could, and all they would do was hurt their hand. I was meant to be who I am.

From 1997 to 2002, at 402 pounds, I squatted 1,000 pounds, benchpressed 600 pounds, and deadlifted 900-plus pounds. During that time, I also ran a 5.1 40-yard dash. After 1 retired from wrestling in 2017, I felt like there was no reason to be as big as I was if I wasn't going to compete anymore. Now I'm 330-100 pounds lighter than I was when I was wrestling last. I feel pretty good other than the injuries I've sustained wrestling.