--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason I gained so much weight in the…" description: "\"The reason I gained so much weight in the first place and the reason I had such a sorry history of abusive relationships with men was I just needed app..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/oprah-winfrey-186_abusive_the-reason-i-gained-so-much-weight-in-th_2141550.png" --- # The reason I gained so much weight in the first place and… ![“The reason I gained so much weight in the first place and the reason I had such a sorry history of abusive relationships with men was I just needed approval so much. I needed everyone to like me, because I didn't like myself much.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/oprah-winfrey-186_abusive_the-reason-i-gained-so-much-weight-in-th_2141550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/oprah-winfrey-186_abusive_the-reason-i-gained-so-much-weight-in-th_2141550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/oprah-winfrey-186_abusive_the-reason-i-gained-so-much-weight-in-th_2141550.png) > “The reason I gained so much weight in the first place and the reason I had such a sorry history of abusive relationships with men was I just needed approval so much. I needed everyone to like me, because I didn't like myself much.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking external approval stems from low self‑esteem, leading to unhealthy patterns; self‑acceptance is essential. **In simple terms:** Approval seeking shows low self‑worth. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑love. Themes self‑esteem approval abuse growth Mood empathetic inspirational Type personal psychological When to use this quote - therapy - support groups - mindfulness Key Concepts psychology relationships personal development Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take toward self‑acceptance? - How does external validation affect your choices? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated approval habits is hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/) [Abusive relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive-relationship/) [Abusive Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive-relationships-2/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gained/) [Gained Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gained-weight-829621/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Like me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-me/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-approval-902774/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [“People pleasing does make it easier to ignore the red flags of abusive relationships at the very early stages especially with covert manipulators. 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You know it's bad for you but you have a really hard time escaping from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abusive-relationships-are-like-being-addicted-a-bad-drug-you-know-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any relationships that would reject you for being true to yourself are - by definition - abusive relationships. You'll be much better off when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/any-relationships-that-would-reject-you-for-being-true-to-yourself/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [The No. 1 reason women stay in abusive relationships - because they're not able to take care of themselves financially. It's also the No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/the-no-1-reason-women-stay-in-abusive-relationships-because-they-re/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I was a young feminist in the '70s. Feminism saved my life. It gave me a life. But I saw how so much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-was-a-young-feminist-in-the-70s-feminism-saved-my-life-it-gave-me-a/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [There's people who think what they need and what they deserve in their lives is a lot worse than what they actually do, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/there-s-people-who-think-what-they-need-and-what-they-deserve-in/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) > [Well, I went through some emotionally abusive relationships and allowed myself to not be properly respected as a lady, as a human being even,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/well-i-went-through-some-emotionally-abusive-relationships-and/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [“Unlike men who needed approval, he didn’t speak loudly or use hyperbole. He simply was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/unlike-men-who-needed-approval-he-didn-t-speak-loudly-or-use/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) > [“The woman who left abusive husbands in the 60's and 70's improved the institution of marriage because men now know that women can leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-woman-who-left-abusive-husbands-in-the-60-s-and-70-s-improved-the/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [I get so busy that I forget to eat, and that's really hurt me in the past. I gained weight from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/i-get-so-busy-that-i-forget-to-eat-and-that-s-really-hurt-me-in-the/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) > [No, I gained weight while playing the role of Rodney Mckay on Stargate Atlantis... breakfast burritos and a near endless supply of donuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hewlett/no-i-gained-weight-while-playing-the-role-of-rodney-mckay-on-stargate/) [David Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hewlett/) > [I gained the weight on purpose for 'Little Nicky,' and it was one of those cases where I'd done a few roles where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-covert/i-gained-the-weight-on-purpose-for-little-nicky-and-it-was-one-of/) [Allen Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-covert/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More Abusive quotes > [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/) [Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/) > [What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [One of the things we're all going to have to discover, establishment is just an abusive term for institutions. It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [An abusive relationship? A cheating Ex Partner? Family who constantly disrespect you? Those are just a few examples of bridges that should rightly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-abusive-relationship-a-cheating-ex-partner-family-who-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-have-a-temper-but-i-wouldn-t-call-me-abusive/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [I wouldn't mind being in an abusive relationship with you babes only if you would punch me with her tits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-you-babes-only/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/the-woman-knows-from-living-with-the-abusive-man-that-there-are-no/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Intolerance has always been one of the cornerstones of Christianity - the glorious heritage of the Inquisition. 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"It doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/just-start-somewhere-dr-marshall-had-said-to-me-as-i-ground-a-banana/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Browse all 311 Abusive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason I gained so much weight in the first place and the reason I had such a sorry history of abusive relationships with men was I just needed approval so much. 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