Behind the Body

I saw my old friend Brandon yesterday. I’ve known Brandon since I was 14 and he was 17. I hadn’t seen him in several years.

For those of you who know my story, you can imagine the changes people who’ve known me my whole life (or nearly my whole life) have seen—especially those I only see once a year or less. I see myself in the mirror everyday where for those who don’t, the physical changes are drastic. Brandon joked, when I saw him, that I needed to become an Instagram fitness model/influencer.

I don’t post many full body photos of myself on social media. As I reminded Brandon, my work is “The Mind of Amy Frank”, not “The Body of Amy Frank.” And, it’s nice to feel fit and strong when I go out. It’s hard earned. I’ve been weightlifting for several years now, though my main form of exercise continues to be power walking.

I started my health journey in 2018 because I couldn’t keep living the way I was. I’m grateful I veered off the mainstream path, finding a different way forward. I have my ex-fiancé to thank for that (thank you to him 🙏). The exercises I do and foods I eat aren’t for my physical appearance, they’re to support my emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. For me, feeling well has been a better driving force than “looking good”.

I don’t really understand how my health journey has impacted how others view me. I mean I do but I don’t. At one point I was 100lbs when I was on hard drugs. I was a chaotic whirlwind of huge emotions that I couldn’t contain. Then I was over 200lbs at another point—when I was medicated. I was so big I looked like I was going to pop. It was hard to move. People have stared at me my whole life so I’ve learned to ignore them.

Thank you, Brandon, for the complimentary visit. I’ll see you in another year or so. Stay out of trouble, old friend (I mean it—Stay out of trouble). 🖖🫂🕷️

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Photograph of Brandon and I in front of the BC Legislature (August 2026)

Victoria, BC, Canada