Fat The Power: Fat Acceptance, Rights and Thoughts

http://news.aol.com/article/700-pound-woman/438923?icid=main|main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2F700-pound-woman%2F438923
While reading about a 700 lb woman in Texas who "pleaded for help" finding insurance I came across this disgusting aol poll:

"Oh, yeah there was that one day when I ate like six cheeseburgers...I definitely suffered from obesity then!" NOT!
I hate how the media throws the word obesity around like a trendy tech accessory. While I personally don't mind the word in it's proper usage (medically) it bugs the shit out of me when it's used in such poor context. The way it is described above you'd think they were talking about something as common and curable as athlete's foot or the stomach flu. Why do I expect more from a media that claimed the other day that anyone considered obese (by the infinitely flawed BMI) is actually contributing to global warming and should lose weight instantly in order to save the planet! Their "science" was basically that fat/obese people eat tons of food and don't exercise. In other words, they drive everywhere and eat enough to feed a family of four. "FUCKING HELL!" I half shouted to myself. I mean, I know plenty of lazy/indulgent skinny people. Unhealthy, sure, but contributing to global warming? Well, aren't we all?! I don't see masses of people giving up their gas guzzlers and throwing out anything deemed unhealthy in their fridge & pantry. No, it's so much easier to blame the fucking fatties. The people who get picked on, mocked, yelled at, cat called, discriminated against and are basically blamed for all of the maladies of this country. Home of the free? No dice! Home of the brave? Well, you'd have to be pretty damned brave to walk out of the house these days with a fat ass! 

What is one thing you wish people would stop assuming about the Fat?

How can we change this?

What is one thing you do each day/week to be your best self in the face of prejudice?


For myself, I think mobility and Diabetes are often what I wish people would stop assuming about the Fat/Me. Even my husband was surprised to see that I can touch my toes without issue (he cannot). And just because someone is fat/obese doesn't mean that they are destined for diabetes or heart disease. Also, I was a vegetarian for 3 years (I am back on meat now, though I doubt for much longer) and could not stand people's disbelief. They assume that because I'm fat/obese I must eat nothing but ice cream, Mc Donald's and I don't even know what else. Even in an online Vegan community I used to rely on for advice/recipes/humor I no longer felt welcome because of fat jokes or inuendos or just general, "Isn't it great to be healthy, thin and vegan!" type comments. 

I suppose the way I try to change this is by being myself and not keeping quiet about it. I try to stay active and eat well. I educate myself on what foods do and how the body processes them. I inform friends or interested strangers on how things are for me. I certainly can't speak for everyone, but I do think that if you are conscious of what we do/eat/feel/think/etc...we can live better lives.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080317/ap_on_he_me/zoo_diets;_ylt=Aug0UTK.p39w6L_60G8JCjis0NUE

Who ever allowed people to throw/feed the zoo animals Marshmallows? Disgusting! Those things shouldn't even be called Marchsmallows as they contain none of the original plant in their ingredients! Gross!

Why would Jell-O even be allowed in a Polar Bear's diet??? Anyone? Bueller? Exactly! WTF?! 

Sometimes I don't feel so confident. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I don't want to get out of bed. You know what I mean, you just don't want to face the day ahead. For me it's worse when I have an interview that morning. An interview in the morning means I have to get up, shower, dry off, moisturize (like crazy), deodorant, bare minerals makeup application process (I do love it!), perfume (light), blow dry hair, jewelry (pearls), suit, heels, rush, rush, rush, drive to the place (hopefully don't get lost)...all with a smile and a hope in my heart, "Please let this go well, I want this job!" Or something like that. 
I tell myself while getting out of the car (usually), "Calm. Charm. Grace. Humor." I feel like if I just say those things in my head I can slowly become them and act them so that by the time I reach the door I will be "ready." Whatver that means. I try not to be fak or lie or schmooze (because I just think it's wrong). I try to be me, just me and nothing but me. =0)
But doing all of this and being fat (obese, whatever) is even more difficult and I'm not talking physically! I mean, I think I look fabulous (sometimes) but how the outside world sees me, let along corporate America? Well, who knows?! I have no control over that and so I have to let it go as soon as it enters my mind. I try to stay in the present and focus on the task at hand. Today though, I looked in the mirror one last time before I left (case of teh frizzies) and I thought I looked good, but BIG! Like BIG-BIG! 
I haven't had that enter my mind in awhile. This time it took me awhile to push those thoughts out of my head, "They will see you as an insurace risk. They will think you're lazy. They will think you're dumb. They will think you're a pig." Etc... This is not like me. This isn't me! Not knowing shit about the company I was interviewing with today I simply repeated my mantra, "Calm. Charm. Grace. Humor." I laughed out loud at this this time though. Somehow my egoic/negative/critical mind was louder than usual today. I was tired, too. I wasn't fresh and ready and vibrant. I wasn't ME! 
By the time I got to the car and looked at my watch I had convinced myself I would be late and shouldn't even bother with the interview. But then a tiny ray of hope made itself known, "HEY! YOU! You can do this! This is easy! This is YOU! Get to it!" This was the real me in there speaking out, hopefully after kicking my egoic mind's ass! So I did. That was all it took. I got there, I wasn't late, lip glossed and ready! No one looked at me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable and I smiled at everyone I passed and gave the hardy handshake and enthusiastic nod. I did everything by the book...my book!
I don't know what came over me this morning, but once I got out of the car and into that office the real me was present and aware and ready. By the time I got back into my car I felt a little bit of accomplishment because I knew I almost quit. I knew that that would have been the easy thing to do, but I didn't take it. I pushed on. I feel like I won the battle...today!

What do you do to put the kibosh on your egoing/negative/critical mind (little voice in your head)?

 

 http://www.thebigballet.co.uk/index.php?pid=home
Check out the images and video sections.
I love how they don't try to oversexualize or desexualize their dancers (okay, except for the hot young guys).
I love the image above. To me it is a strong powerful image of self-acceptance and pride.
Hell, if I could get on toe-points I fucking would everyday! And shove it in people's faces!
But that's just me. Ha!
I would pay to see this. I would love to see something like it in the U.S.
With the whole "Obesity Epidemic" is that even possible?
Would it somehow be seen as glamorizing fat? Rad!