This American Life: Tell Me I'm Fat

MurpleCat

Was catching up on podcasts this weekend, and I highly recommend a recent episode from This American Life called "Tell Me I'm Fat".

And because this isn't WW, I can include a link!
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/589/tell-me-im-fat

There are personal essays and discussions about "Coming out as fat", and what its like for a woman who lost 110# and the psychological impact of that, being black & fat, and the Christian weight loss movement. There's some good LTL questions to be asked, based on those essays, or maybe just general discussions for the board.

Murple

gadgetgirlIL

Murple - I listened to that a couple weeks ago. Very powerful. I still am disturbed that the one woman has to rely on speed to maintain her weight loss.

Rachel0778

I listened to that one a few weeks back as well. I wish they had made it a double episode because I feel like a lot more voices could have been added. Since only 5-10% of individuals maintain their 30+ pound weightloss for more than 5 years I liked that they showed the unhealthy ways that people maintain their weight loss as well, since I used to be someone who binged and purged to keep a lower weight out of fear of being fat.

MurpleCat

The woman who lost 110# and her description of the skin-removal surgery was pretty harrowing for me. I had been planning that for myself eventually, but now I dunno.

And how she realized that so many things were coming her way because she was thin. It was very much like the SNL skit with Eddie Murphy in white face, discovering that the city bus turned into party central when the last African American stepped off.

She obviously was really struggling with the idea that, had her husband met her when she was fat, he never would have loved her. Sure, they'd have been friends. But not lovers and never married. It was really impacting her ability to enjoy her life.

gadgetgirlIL

I had met a woman in real life who did have skin removal surgery. The incision on her thigh got infected and never did heal up smoothly. She also had her arms done. After I saw how visible the scars were, I decided to spend my money on my doctoral program instead.

Spandex is my friend. So is winter!

gadgetgirlIL

I'm also grateful that my husband has always loved me even though I regained over 120 pounds after we were married. He has seen me at both my highest ever adult weight as well as my lowest.

crewahl

Okay - you got me curious about a "Christian weight loss movement". I searched for that phrase, and opened one interesting-looking article from the list. The conclusion of that narrative?

"Bottom line:
There are only two "secrets" to a successful diet:
Eat less; exercise more."

Who knew Shendler was in the avant grade of the Christian weight loss movement?

MurpleCat

I think the central tenet is that if the body is the temple of the spirit, then you ought to treat it like one, instead of housing your spirit in a walking dumpster.

With a goodly dose of shame/guilt.

jbrack381us

I listened to the whole podcast. I lost probably 40-50# at one point about 12-13 yrs ago. My in shape, female boss, who was slightly older than me, did the complete up and down retinal scan thing as she asked with surprise how weight I had lost, as though she was saving a new image of me in her memory bank. It was the first time that I was aware of someone else doing that to me.

minimyzeme

MurpleCat wrote: »

...With a goodly dose of shame/guilt.

goodly or godly?

Anyway, I haven't heard this but will try to buffer my way through the podcast. Thanks for posting it, Murple.