Fat Acceptance & HAES~Support for the Large and InCharge

[The Real Ryu Hi]

Adversative

rizuhbull

Vampyre_Angel_Kiss

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One last note: Who the hell died and gave you the right to say someone else should be ashamed?! 'Shut up and get on a treadmill'? Yeah, take that comment and shove it through where the sun don't shine, and there are two places keep in mind.

I got that right when the OP compared overweights to people who can't pick who they are. You don't compare yourself to legitimately discriminated social classes and expect to not get told off.

Actually, one of the things that drew me to FA/HAES in the first place was the acknowledgement that weight & social classes are often connected. If you're poor, you don't have time to cook; you don't have the luxury of fresh fruit/veggies/hippie products, because it's more expensive. You eat what's cheap, what's filling, and what's easy -- ie, McDonald's. You don't have the luxury of a gym membership, either.

Now, that doesn't make it impossible for poor people to be thin, or to lose weight -- but it makes it more DIFFICULT. Not acknowledging that society screws these people over, and blaming it all on their lack of will-power, is an issue of discrimination.

Just out of curiosity: how do you define health?

I ask because, well, I'm not fat. In terms of weight, I'm totally average. But I eat a LOT of junk food, especially if it involves chocolate, and I don't get a lot of exercise. I can't run a mile. I can't do more than 4 pushups. I'm not about to die or anything, but I'm definitely not a poster child for taking good care of yourself.

My best friend, on the other hand, IS fat. He eats mostly vegan, mostly no-carbs. He regularly works out on the elliptical, did trapeze/blacksmithing when he was in college. His calf muscles are LIKE ROCKS. He just had a physical, and he is in perfect health.

So ... from my perspective, it doesn't look like weight and health are connected. You can be thin and unhealthy. You can be fat and healthy. You can be thin and healthy. You can be fat and unhealthy.

And so I'd rather focus on *everyone* eating healthfully, and *everyone* exercising, rather than assume that fat people are the only ones who need to be doing it.

Must depend on how poor you are....I work at a Family Dollar and have found that Healthy Request Campbell's Soup and water is cheaper than McDonalds and that riding my bicycle to work is less expensive than driving. Thus I'm not very big...I eat somewhat healthier at home....kinda....I try to take vitamins to make up the difference.

[Anonymous_agent]

LadyEladrin

Anonymous_agent

im large 320 + but i would like to lose weight just for my health. m not un healthy, i dont get out of breath going up stairs but im only 24 so going to get harder.
problem is im pregnant at the moment which also isnt a nice thing while being over weight.

Hi there, I think you'll love the blog Well-Rounded Mama; she's a fat blogger who's also a birth advocate for large women. Be informed and make the choices that feel right for you during your labour and delivery. Don't let anyone scare you into interventions or care just because of your size! Good luck.

Wow, where were all you awesome folks back when this thread was started? wink Happy to have more people on board who actually a) read the front page and b) understand the concepts therein.

ive already read alot of what shes had to say and its true that just becasue your large doesnt mean your more prone to unhealthy baby and birth.
i do miss the fact that people cant tell your pregnant so i will be standing on a bus and someone will give up there seat for someone who is just starting to show at 15 weeks where as im 25 haha.
just the little things

[Adversative]

The Real Ryu Hi

Adversative

Now, that doesn't make it impossible for poor people to be thin, or to lose weight -- but it makes it more DIFFICULT. Not acknowledging that society screws these people over, and blaming it all on their lack of will-power, is an issue of discrimination.
.

Must depend on how poor you are....I work at a Family Dollar and have found that Healthy Request Campbell's Soup and water is cheaper than McDonalds and that riding my bicycle to work is less expensive than driving. Thus I'm not very big...I eat somewhat healthier at home....kinda....I try to take vitamins to make up the difference.

I recommend this essay (and the links inside it), since it's considerably more eloquent than I am:

http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/if-only-poor-people-understood-nutrition/

[Abdul Salaam]

Do you ever worry that enforcing this idea of "Fat and proud" could enforce the concept that weight should not be lost in any circumstance even when your weight is detrimental to your health.

[The Real Ryu Hi]

Adversative

The Real Ryu Hi

Adversative

Now, that doesn't make it impossible for poor people to be thin, or to lose weight -- but it makes it more DIFFICULT. Not acknowledging that society screws these people over, and blaming it all on their lack of will-power, is an issue of discrimination.
.

Must depend on how poor you are....I work at a Family Dollar and have found that Healthy Request Campbell's Soup and water is cheaper than McDonalds and that riding my bicycle to work is less expensive than driving. Thus I'm not very big...I eat somewhat healthier at home....kinda....I try to take vitamins to make up the difference.

I recommend this essay (and the links inside it), since it's considerably more eloquent than I am:

http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/if-only-poor-people-understood-nutrition/

Okay, I read it. My point still stands, unless of course your homeless. In which case I could see that being applicable. Being that most of the people here have access to the internet and this web-site. I'm going to have to assume that people who are saying they are big because they make bad eating decisions, because they are poor, are still not budgeting correctly. An ensure beverage, like the ones suggested in your article, still costs more than what I regularly eat for meals. Now granted, I'm sure those probably are loaded with more vitamins and whatnot than I probably get....but still...people aren't going to get fat living off those either if they are meeting their daily calorie needs. Fat comes from either not getting enough, so your body stores what it does get. Or (and this is more often the case in America) eating too much, or the wrong things and not exercising.

[LadyEladrin]

The Real Ryu Hi

. Fat comes from either not getting enough, so your body stores what it does get. Or (and this is more often the case in America) eating too much, or the wrong things and not exercising.

You need to go back and explore the links on the front page and get rid of your assumptions. Fat is a 70% inherited genetic trait, is influenced yes by what we do and don't eat, how active or not we are and/or can be, our medications, and our living environment like neighbourhoods and schools. Being fat can also be influenced by how well, or not, a mother to be takes care of her body during pregnacy. Moms who go through lean times can have bigger babies, or babies who gain weight easily, because the baby's body has been conditioned that way thanks to evolutionary programming.

Losing weight doesn't make a person healthy and neither does being naturally slim. And the opposite is true for fat; it doesnt' automatically make someone unhealthy or sick. Health is determined by a lot more than my pants size.

[LadyEladrin]

I posted a lot over at the blog this week, gushing over Adele's Grammy sweep, pondering being fat AND pregnant, and there's a 3 parter on what brought me to body acceptance. Trigger warnings on that series for depression, suicide ideation, and medical procedures.

[Ravyn457]

I gained a lot of weight since high school (I just graduated college in May), and I'm struggling with it. I try to lose weight, but I can't follow through with it. I try to accept myself, but society has it ingrained in my head that I can't be pretty and fat. I hate my stretch marks, I hate myself. I can't believe my boyfriend when he tells me he's pretty. How sad is that.

[LadyEladrin]

Ravyn457

I gained a lot of weight since high school (I just graduated college in May), and I'm struggling with it. I try to lose weight, but I can't follow through with it. I try to accept myself, but society has it ingrained in my head that I can't be pretty and fat. I hate my stretch marks, I hate myself. I can't believe my boyfriend when he tells me he's pretty. How sad is that.

It's hard to overcome a lifetime of negative body messages about fat. It's a long road but it's worth walking. You CAN be pretty and fat, and healthy and fat. It's up to you, but the first thing that has to change is how you see yourself.

[Ravyn457]

LadyEladrin

It's hard to overcome a lifetime of negative body messages about fat. It's a long road but it's worth walking. You CAN be pretty and fat, and healthy and fat. It's up to you, but the first thing that has to change is how you see yourself.

I have been trying, but it won't stick. I don't know how to accept myself.

[LadyEladrin]

Ravyn457

LadyEladrin

It's hard to overcome a lifetime of negative body messages about fat. It's a long road but it's worth walking. You CAN be pretty and fat, and healthy and fat. It's up to you, but the first thing that has to change is how you see yourself.

I have been trying, but it won't stick. I don't know how to accept myself.

I started by reading articles and blogs by people who were already accepting themselves. If you head over to TheRotund.com or Big Liberty (just google them) those are two good places to start. I have my own as well. It's a process, a little thing one day at a time. You'll get there because anything is better than hating yourself.

[Nariera]

LadyEladrin

Um, no, some people are natually fat, some are naturally thin. Even if a fat person diets or excercises, they wont lose the weight for good. It's there to stay (or will come back) because of their body's natural set point.

That's a really bad excuse. It's like saying that if I'm mediocre at playing the piano. I must accept that. Just cause some people are natural born genius at the piano doesn't mean I can't practice and get better. Getting better doesn't take 1 day. It takes years. Losing weight does to. There are so many people who went through amazing transformation who previously were deemed "genetically fat." Fat people and skinnier people are STILL HUMAN. It may be harder for some then others but it is physically doable.

To make the extreme, If I sent every fat person to a concentration camp and force them into slave labor and only feed them the bare minimum to stay alive. I will guarantee that by the end they will all be nothing but bone and skin.

[LadyEladrin]

And that's exactly what it might take to get some fat people to be thin enough for society to stop poking fun at them. 95% of diets, and so called 'lifestyle' changes fail within five years. They fail and then they bring back all the pounds with friends. Please read the front page and explore the links. Thanks.

[Nariera]

LadyEladrin

And that's exactly what it might take to get some fat people to be thin enough for society to stop poking fun at them. 95% of diets, and so called 'lifestyle' changes fail within five years. They fail and then they bring back all the pounds with friends. Please read the front page and explore the links. Thanks.

I honestly those link are poison to the mind. Yes, I have looked through them. Instead of striving for whatever goals whether it is losing weight, getting that promotion, or whatever you want, those articles just sets a sense of accepting mediocrity or that you can't get any different so you should just "give up" and accept that this is who you are. Instead of brooding over your "problems" and procede to promote acceptance of your current nature, why not strive for something grander or different?

Myself included, it been 3 years now...from fat to abs. Does it mean in 2 years I'm going to be fat again? HELL NO.

If 95% of diets and "lifestyles" fail...why not go for those 5%? Ever thought of that? There are a lot of people that went through amazing transformations. In fact one of my biggest motivation was this girl who was 230 lbs in 2003 and guess what? She's a fitness model competing in bodybuilding competition to this day. 2012...That's 9 years already.

[Onigetoe]

Nariera

]I honestly those link are poison to the mind. Yes, I have looked through them. Instead of striving for whatever goals whether it is losing weight, getting that promotion, or whatever you want, those articles just sets a sense of accepting mediocrity or that you can't get any different so you should just "give up" and accept that this is who you are. Instead of brooding over your "problems" and procede to promote acceptance of your current nature, why not strive for something grander or different?

Myself included, it been 3 years now...from fat to abs. Does it mean in 2 years I'm going to be fat again? HELL NO.

If 95% of diets and "lifestyles" fail...why not go for those 5%? Ever thought of that? There are a lot of people that went through amazing transformations. In fact one of my biggest motivation was this girl who was 230 lbs in 2003 and guess what? She's a fitness model competing in bodybuilding competition to this day. 2012...That's 9 years already.

Actually those links have helped me start to accept myself as I am. I will never be smaller then a size 14. I can't magicly change the size of my hips or rib cage. Sure I could have a breast reduction and lipo to change my boobs and waist line but I am still going to have my huge hips and big rib cage, broad shoulders and huge boned arms for a woman. Does that mean I should kill myself with fad diets and exersizing until I pass out? HELL NO! Why? because I can't change my bone structure.

And I can tell you it is people like you who make me hate getting up in the morning, are the reason I almost killed myself because all I have been called since I hit puberty in grade 2 (and I am 23 now) is fatty, ugly, worthless, nasty, undateable, unloveble, unneeded, unwanted. Not only by the kids at school but my own ******** family. And because of this all I see is an ugly blob when in truth I'm not. I am actually a very pretty person and a very nice person but is that what people see when they first look at me? No what they see is a fat nasty blob who should die.

Please explain to me why weight and size has to be such a big deal, also please explain to me why I should be decriminated against just because I am naturally plus size?