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Fat Acceptance Movement

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  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    tmoneyag99 wrote: »
    I haven't read the whole thread and I want to say this. At the base of it all is the thought that a fat person doesn't deserve love or respect because they are fat.

    I used to be in the same category as many of you that it was silly. And then... I got fat. (rough pregnancy and some stressful times)

    They way people treat me now is horrible. Many of the people now in my department didn't know me from my "skinny" days. So I'm not allowed to join in conversations about nutrition or exercise. Nevermind that I have run a half-marathon and used to run 4miles daily. Instead I get recommendations on how to lose the weight and how to exercise. When I want to say "Erm yeah, when I'm done I'll be able to kick your butt at the gym" but this experience has made me FAR more empathetic. I'm actually very thankful for it.


    And @Christine_72 My weight is not the center of my focus. I have a family and a son that is 2.5 and he is the center of my world. I am VERY happy with my life. While I am trying to lose weight for the sake of my health my weight has no bearing on my happiness. Infact, I can tell you that while life is full of peaks and vallies I am currently experiencing a peak. I am 70lbs overweight but I am very happy with my life.

    I don't GAF about the fatness. It's just something that for the sake of health needs to change. Kind of like taking antibiotics. I don't get forlorn because I have a sinus infection. I go to the doctor, get on the meds and get rid of the damn thing. The same thing about fat. I'm not depressed or ashamed when I look in the mirror. I have never been a binge eater. The weight came on due to some crazy life events. WHICH is often the story of many obese people. BUT obesity isn't as easy to fix as a sinus infection. THAT is what gets some people forlorn. When they bust their butts and the scale barely budges.


    The Fat acceptance movement isn't about thinking obesity is okay. It's about recognizing that a fat person is more than just that extra weight they have. The person you are looking at might have a good sense of humor. They actually might have more self confidence, better self image, better self worth than you.

    I mean imagine for one minute a fat person being PROUD that they are a good parent, a great engineer, have discovered an important protein that might help fight cancer, or even has saved a child from a life of physical and sexual abuse. Imagine it because those people exist. I know them personally. For these people, the things they do WITH their life is far more important to them than what they look like to others. These people deserve to be loved and respected. They may be shortening their lives with their diet (which really is heart breaking) but the impact they have on the world is far more than some "healthy" people do. So accept that they are fat, and thank them for their contributions to society.
    You might GAF about fatness when you lose that 70 lbs and have some skin hanging off your belly that flaps in a strong wind ;) I've been pretty lucky that it hasn't affected me much and I'm down 75 lbs from my peak of 240 but I've seen others that were pretty severe. Surgery is the only way to permanently deal with it and I can't imagine being really happy about looking like that. You'd never wear tight clothes again that's for sure.

    Another thing is, it doesn't affect you much when you are young but as you get older the extra weight really drags you down. Your joints start to ache, you have less and less energy as the years go by, you'll get injured more and more. You'll have health issues you wouldn't otherwise have had. You'll find you can't keep up to your kids, your grandkids, nieces, nephews etc. You'll miss out on life simply because you can't do what everyone else can do eventually.

    The only way IMO that you miss out on life is if you turn your back on it. Obese people might not be able to climb a mountain but there are other things that they can do to enjoy life.

    I agree with the weight being hard on you as you grow older. However being obese affects the young in different ways...the opinions of others has more of an affect on you than when you are older. Quite frankly at age 64...I could care less about what others think of me.

    No one however has to miss out on life if they choose not to. Even people that are bed ridden can enjoy the life that they have been given.

  • applemiki
    applemiki Posts: 13 Member
    edited January 2017
    To be honest, the FA movement isn't really about glorying obesity as much as it is glorifying self love. Think about it this way: a skinny person hates their body and people run to them and say you are beautiful. An obese person is confident and believes they are beautiful and there are thinpo telling them to lose weight.

    Like are only THIN people allowed to love their bodies? An obese person's health is none of your business. And plus thin =/= healthy. This subject does get me fired up in a way because moat people want to lose weight because society tells them they are NOT allowed to love our bodies and not because they really want to.

    However I DO agree being fat can have health risks. But if they won't listen, allow them to love themselves. I am losing weight for me and for me only. If i don't look "presentable" them I don't care. My health comes before people's feelings and comfort.

    PS: please also do not listen to any former fatties that tell you fat shaming is the way to go. it's not! we all know that. :)
  • LiftingRiot
    LiftingRiot Posts: 6,946 Member
    If you want to be fat, then be fat. I will never accept fat on myself and think im healthy though
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    edited January 2017
    newmeadow wrote: »

    Or a weak, whiney parent presenting some chronically indulged little kid with a million options at the IHOP while the waitress has to stand there. "Do you want pancakes Honey? Or how about two scrambled eggs? How about some toast with butter and cinnamon sugar? Do you want milk? No? But you like all those things. What's with the sourpuss? What would you like then? Look at me sweetheart. The girl is waiting. How about French toast. They have the syrup you like. You could even have a hamburger sweetie. Sweetie? Come on now. Answer me. Would you like butter on your pancakes or she can serve it on the side. Honey?" Wait 'til this brat grows up to be the office supervisor.



    Having terrible flashbacks to my time as a waitress.
  • smelliefeet
    smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
    I'm legitimately insulted when I bring up to anyone that I'm losing weight via calorie counting / exercise and overhauling my diet, and they tell me I look great the way I am and don't need to lose any weight. I literally want to punch them in the face.

    I'm 30.1% body fat currently, if I were 25% body fat and saying "uhhgg I NEED to lose weight I can't eat anything so I can lose 15 lbs!" yeah sure, tell me I'm healthy and look good or whatever, but when I'm obese and if I gain any more weight will be at risk for heart disease and diabetes and an early death, uh no, acceptance is NOT what I need from ANYBODY, INCLUDING myself!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »

    Or a weak, whiney parent presenting some chronically indulged little kid with a million options at the IHOP while the waitress has to stand there. "Do you want pancakes Honey? Or how about two scrambled eggs? How about some toast with butter and cinnamon sugar? Do you want milk? No? But you like all those things. What's with the sourpuss? What would you like then? Look at me sweetheart. The girl is waiting. How about French toast. They have the syrup you like. You could even have a hamburger sweetie. Sweetie? Come on now. Answer me. Would you like butter on your pancakes or she can serve it on the side. Honey?" Wait 'til this brat grows up to be the office supervisor.



    Having terrible flashbacks to my time as a waitress.

    Me too. Remembering the awfulness of not being able to roll my eyes, walk away, or even scream at them. To this day, if I dine with anyone who inadvertently tortures a waiter or waitress, I will never eat in a restaurant with them again.

    No better insight into the minds of others, simply watching how they treat those who serve them.
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    I'm legitimately insulted when I bring up to anyone that I'm losing weight via calorie counting / exercise and overhauling my diet, and they tell me I look great the way I am and don't need to lose any weight. I literally want to punch them in the face.

    I'm 30.1% body fat currently, if I were 25% body fat and saying "uhhgg I NEED to lose weight I can't eat anything so I can lose 15 lbs!" yeah sure, tell me I'm healthy and look good or whatever, but when I'm obese and if I gain any more weight will be at risk for heart disease and diabetes and an early death, uh no, acceptance is NOT what I need from ANYBODY, INCLUDING myself!

    Sometimes when you bring up weight loss to someone you have kind of put them on the spot. They don't know what to say...they don't want to run the risk of being rude.

    An event happened in my life. People wanted to say something...sometimes what they said wasn't very helpful...sometimes it didn't even make sense. I tried to understand that they meant well and just had no idea how to address the subject.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Annie_01 wrote: »
    I'm legitimately insulted when I bring up to anyone that I'm losing weight via calorie counting / exercise and overhauling my diet, and they tell me I look great the way I am and don't need to lose any weight. I literally want to punch them in the face.

    I'm 30.1% body fat currently, if I were 25% body fat and saying "uhhgg I NEED to lose weight I can't eat anything so I can lose 15 lbs!" yeah sure, tell me I'm healthy and look good or whatever, but when I'm obese and if I gain any more weight will be at risk for heart disease and diabetes and an early death, uh no, acceptance is NOT what I need from ANYBODY, INCLUDING myself!

    Sometimes when you bring up weight loss to someone you have kind of put them on the spot. They don't know what to say...they don't want to run the risk of being rude.

    An event happened in my life. People wanted to say something...sometimes what they said wasn't very helpful...sometimes it didn't even make sense. I tried to understand that they meant well and just had no idea how to address the subject.

    I think what many people are trying to say when they say things like this is "You're special to me no matter what your weight is." I don't doubt that makes it any less frustrating when it isn't what we want to hear from someone, but it can sometimes be a nice thing to remember.
  • tmoneyag99
    tmoneyag99 Posts: 480 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    And it's not just about calories, the food industry is willing to sell cancer causing substances wrapped in sugar to kids in order to make an extra penny on the dollar.

    That is some FoodBabe/Mercola level b.s. right there. Can you provide one example of a product currently on shelves marketed towards children that contains a KNOWN group 1 carcinogen (ie not a group 2,3 or 4)? Can you even name one that is group 2A or 2B that isn't something like bacon? (which you better not be complaining about bacon man). Not only that but at levels significantly above what is in everything else to actually be concerned (keep in mind I could list off some class 1 known carcinogens present in fruit).

    I just don't get people who say stuff like this. If you genuinely believed there was a KNOWN carcinogen being sold to kids in a grocery store right now that was going to ACTIVELY cause them to develop cancer then why aren't you in that store ripping it off the shelf?

    You can read this if you like...

    http://www.ecowatch.com/5-reasons-high-fructose-corn-syrup-will-kill-you-1882106389.html

    Not to mention that Coke and Pepsi have admitted there products contain cancer causing substance... Not to mention obesity, diabetes among other health issues, in children.

    Are you actually going to sit there and try to defend their right to market soda, knowing how terrible it is for you, to kids.

    Why on earth would someone try to defend these companies that don't give a damn about you or your health, by trying ever so lamely, to split hairs with me.

    You can find articles online that site studies blaming soda for over 184000 deaths each year.

    And another thing, do you honestly think you know more than Dr Mercola or Dr Greger, or Dr Haymen or Dr Furman.

    Drink your soda... Swim in it for all I care. It's your right to let these companies take advantage of you if you want to be a fool.

    I don't think ANYTHING should be marketed to ANYONE that does not have the right to enter into a legally binding contract. They do not have the power to make decisions therefore trying to persuade them to do XYZ is essentially intervening/over stepping the parents/caregiver's rules or policies.

    If my child had a friend or Family member that purposely tried to override my decision making through coercion and enticement he or she would be invited to leave our lives. My kid doesn't get to watch much television due to the development and health implications related, so the lack of marketing to him is an added bonus.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »

    Or a weak, whiney parent presenting some chronically indulged little kid with a million options at the IHOP while the waitress has to stand there. "Do you want pancakes Honey? Or how about two scrambled eggs? How about some toast with butter and cinnamon sugar? Do you want milk? No? But you like all those things. What's with the sourpuss? What would you like then? Look at me sweetheart. The girl is waiting. How about French toast. They have the syrup you like. You could even have a hamburger sweetie. Sweetie? Come on now. Answer me. Would you like butter on your pancakes or she can serve it on the side. Honey?" Wait 'til this brat grows up to be the office supervisor.



    Having terrible flashbacks to my time as a waitress.

    Me too. Remembering the awfulness of not being able to roll my eyes, walk away, or even scream at them. To this day, if I dine with anyone who inadvertently tortures a waiter or waitress, I will never eat in a restaurant with them again.

    No better insight into the minds of others, simply watching how they treat those who serve them.

    And a fine dating tip for screening purposes!

    I'm showing this at our team meeting this week:

    https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grant_are_you_a_giver_or_a_taker

    Something I've been doing for some time now whenever I meet someone new - putting them in a situation where I can see their behavior around waitstaff or other service personnel. Far more valuable than any interview.
  • tmoneyag99
    tmoneyag99 Posts: 480 Member
    If you want to be fat, then be fat. I will never accept fat on myself and think im healthy though

    This is absolutely reasonable. Hopefully, if you in counter obese people you do not place your rules on them. You are likely healthy. But it's also likely that your priorities are different from someone else's. That's okay.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »

    Or a weak, whiney parent presenting some chronically indulged little kid with a million options at the IHOP while the waitress has to stand there. "Do you want pancakes Honey? Or how about two scrambled eggs? How about some toast with butter and cinnamon sugar? Do you want milk? No? But you like all those things. What's with the sourpuss? What would you like then? Look at me sweetheart. The girl is waiting. How about French toast. They have the syrup you like. You could even have a hamburger sweetie. Sweetie? Come on now. Answer me. Would you like butter on your pancakes or she can serve it on the side. Honey?" Wait 'til this brat grows up to be the office supervisor.



    Having terrible flashbacks to my time as a waitress.

    Me too. Remembering the awfulness of not being able to roll my eyes, walk away, or even scream at them. To this day, if I dine with anyone who inadvertently tortures a waiter or waitress, I will never eat in a restaurant with them again.

    No better insight into the minds of others, simply watching how they treat those who serve them.

    Not necessarily. I can seem very crass if you read me wrong, but I am just not there for pleasantries, and I know the waiter/waitress isn't either, even if they get paid to seem like they are. I am efficienct with order delivery, to the point with any answer to a question, and so long as my coffee cup never empties, they've already earned at minimum, a $20 tip. Yeah, I've given 1200% tips before for that reason alone.

    Still doesn't stop people from telling me that I'm an a-hole for not smiling or being personable.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »

    Or a weak, whiney parent presenting some chronically indulged little kid with a million options at the IHOP while the waitress has to stand there. "Do you want pancakes Honey? Or how about two scrambled eggs? How about some toast with butter and cinnamon sugar? Do you want milk? No? But you like all those things. What's with the sourpuss? What would you like then? Look at me sweetheart. The girl is waiting. How about French toast. They have the syrup you like. You could even have a hamburger sweetie. Sweetie? Come on now. Answer me. Would you like butter on your pancakes or she can serve it on the side. Honey?" Wait 'til this brat grows up to be the office supervisor.



    Having terrible flashbacks to my time as a waitress.

    Me too. Remembering the awfulness of not being able to roll my eyes, walk away, or even scream at them. To this day, if I dine with anyone who inadvertently tortures a waiter or waitress, I will never eat in a restaurant with them again.

    No better insight into the minds of others, simply watching how they treat those who serve them.

    Not necessarily. I can seem very crass if you read me wrong, but I am just not there for pleasantries, and I know the waiter/waitress isn't either, even if they get paid to seem like they are. I am efficienct with order delivery, to the point with any answer to a question, and so long as my coffee cup never empties, they've already earned at minimum, a $20 tip. Yeah, I've given 1200% tips before for that reason alone.

    Still doesn't stop people from telling me that I'm an a-hole for not smiling or being personable.

    Do you at least say please and thank you?