How do you feel about fat pride?

parkscs

I'm certainly not arguing with your point, but I'm sticking to my point in regards to self-image, you can not be happy with yourself and your body when you are obese or fat.. now for the individuals you mentioned.. they are fat with tons of muscle and stuff.. I mean sure, sure.. there was a gentleman on here previously that posted as much - I agree and tip my hat to them doing what makes them happy and the goals they have of being powerful and strong.. but the idea that some average fat joe or jane is happy with being fat..
#getreal

In my mind though, that's where your argument really begins to break down. There are plenty of amateur powerlifters who are by any definition of the term "fat" at 300+ pounds (usually the guys who compete are a bit leaner these days, as it's almost required to stay really competitive, but I digress). So you're saying it's okay for them to be fat, because they're powerful and strong? So at what point do you become strong enough to be fat and happy? If I'm 350 pounds but I can bench 400 pounds, am I allowed to be happy? Is there a formula where I can plugin my bench to weight ratio?

I'm being a bit silly, but my point is simply that "happiness" is not that simple. Do I think the average overweight person is happy with their body? No. But then again, I'd be willing to bet you that the average person at a healthy BMI isn't altogether happy with their body either and the same goes for the average underweight person. Happiness transcends body fat percentage. Hell, there are plenty of bodybuilders and models with amazing bodies and yet, thanks to a healthy case of body dysmorphia, are very unhappy with their bodies. It's overly simplistic to think that you can tell whether someone is happy based solely on their physical appearance, and to some extent, I think you might find that some people find happiness when they stop putting quite so much emphasis on things such as their physical appearance.

MrTolerable

I'm certainly not arguing with your point, but I'm sticking to my point in regards to self-image, you can not be happy with yourself and your body when you are obese or fat.. now for the individuals you mentioned.. they are fat with tons of muscle and stuff.. I mean sure, sure.. there was a gentleman on here previously that posted as much - I agree and tip my hat to them doing what makes them happy and the goals they have of being powerful and strong.. but the idea that some average fat joe or jane is happy with being fat..
#getreal

In my mind though, that's where your argument really begins to break down. There are plenty of amateur powerlifters who are by any definition of the term "fat" at 300+ pounds (usually the guys who compete are a bit leaner these days, as it's almost required to stay really competitive, but I digress). So you're saying it's okay for them to be fat, because they're powerful and strong? So at what point do you become strong enough to be fat and happy? If I'm 350 pounds but I can bench 400 pounds, am I allowed to be happy? Is there a formula where I can plugin my bench to weight ratio?

I'm being a bit silly, but my point is simply that "happiness" is not that simple. Do I think the average overweight person is happy with their body? No. But then again, I'd be willing to bet you that the average person at a healthy BMI isn't altogether happy with their body either and the same goes for the average underweight person. Happiness transcends body fat percentage. Hell, there are plenty of bodybuilders and models with amazing bodies and yet, thanks to a healthy case of body dysmorphia, are very unhappy with their bodies. It's overly simplistic to think that you can tell whether someone is happy based solely on their physical appearance, and to some extent, I think you might find that some people find happiness when they stop putting quite so much emphasis on things such as their physical appearance.

^fair point. as I was, there is a great deal more to it then my generalization.

@SunofaBeach14 " I think it's a balance of having your material/physical needs met, your social needs met, helping others, and not being a greedy *kitten* about it. That's me though. "

-Once again I agree- its a great deal about just finding Aristotle's golden mean in all area's of your life. ..and corny but true.. having an attitude of serving and helping others is rewarding as well and brings happiness.

Happy Happy Happy!!!

RaggedyPond

In for more reading.

salembambi

You can't claim to know what happiness means for all humans either. But this is what I know... there are a lot of things that can make someone happy ( wealth, kids, a good job, appearances etc.). Our appearances are a huge source of self confidence...for example, how do you feel when you walk outside without make up ? Why do you put so much effort in making yourself look good before you go somewhere special? How would you feel if people stare at you in disgust? How would you feel if people treated you differently (poorly)? How would you feel if people called you ugly? You can say you don't care what people think, but no matter what, being treated poorly sucks for EVERYONE.

We don't live in a perfect world. I do believe that fat people are treated negatively, isn't that why this "fat pride" even exists?? Because they are trying to show the world that they don't want to feel inferior?? ....If they want a change in how the world is, that means they are not happy about something, and that something is how they are treated based on their appearance.

are all those questions directed at me or what im confused?

and I have been looked at in disgust by strangers , been called ugly my entire life ... I lost 150 pounds so far and was over 300 pounds previously.I know exactly how it is to live in a fat body. It is why I think fat acceptance is very important


oh and just to toss in when I walk outside with out make up I feel the same as when I wear make up...

SunofaBeach14

You can't claim to know what happiness means for all humans either. But this is what I know... there are a lot of things that can make someone happy ( wealth, kids, a good job, appearances etc.). Our appearances are a huge source of self confidence...for example, how do you feel when you walk outside without make up ? Why do you put so much effort in making yourself look good before you go somewhere special? How would you feel if people stare at you in disgust? How would you feel if people treated you differently (poorly)? How would you feel if people called you ugly? You can say you don't care what people think, but no matter what, being treated poorly sucks for EVERYONE.

We don't live in a perfect world. I do believe that fat people are treated negatively, isn't that why this "fat pride" even exists?? Because they are trying to show the world that they don't want to feel inferior?? ....If they want a change in how the world is, that means they are not happy about something, and that something is how they are treated based on their appearance.

are all those questions directed at me or what im confused?

and I have been looked at in disgust by strangers , been called ugly my entire life ... I lost 150 pounds so far and was over 300 pounds previously.I know exactly how it is to live in a fat body. It is why I think fat acceptance is very important


oh and just to toss in when I walk outside with out make up I feel the same as when I wear make up...

This is also why I think it's important to accept and love ourselves. It gives us the strength to deal with ****ty people.

vidoardes

This has wandered drastically off topic. I don't see why people are using the strawman arguments of "BMI is flawed", "powerlifters are 300lbs", "sumo wrestlers are huge".

Did you read the article to OP posted? These people aren't powerlifters, they aren't sumo wrestlers. The problem is these people are dangerously overweight and unhealthy, and that is nothing that "pride" should ever be attached to.

This topic shouldn't be about whether or not fat shaming is good, it isn't, but it's also not the point. Being proud of being incredibly unhealthy is the point, and it's wrong. I wouldn't be proud of being a chronic smoker, or a binge drinking alcoholic, but I would like some help & support to get healthier if I ever did get in that situation. I wouldn't however want someone enabling me and telling me it's fine to be in that state. If it was called "Diabetes Pride" or "Heart Failure Pride" this topic would probably be a lot shorter, but hiding behind the term fat allows people to defend it with irrelevant points because it is too broad a term without a proper definition.

I also don't know why being sexuality or ethnicity came up so often either, because it literally has zero to with this topic.

parkscs

This has wandered drastically off topic. I don't see why people are using the strawman arguments of "BMI is flawed", "powerlifters are 300lbs", "sumo wrestlers are huge".

Did you read the article to OP posted? These people aren't powerlifters, they aren't sumo wrestlers. The problem is these people are dangerously overweight and unhealthy, and that is nothing that "pride" should ever be attached to.

This topic shouldn't be about whether or not fat shaming is good, it isn't, but it's also not the point. Being proud of being incredibly unhealthy is the point, and it's wrong. I wouldn't be proud of being a chronic smoker, or a binge drinking alcoholic, but I would like some help & support to get healthier if I ever did get in that situation. I wouldn't however want someone enabling me and telling me it's fine to be in that state. If it was called "Diabetes Pride" or "Heart Failure Pride" this topic would probably be a lot shorter, but hiding behind the term fat allows people to defend it with irrelevant points because it is too broad a term without a proper definition.

I also don't know why being sexuality or ethnicity came up so often either, because it literally has zero to with this topic.

It's called a discussion and addressing someone else's comments, rather than strictly discussing the OP. You seem to be confusing the discussion about happiness while being overweight with the concept of being proud of being overweight.

If you want to talk about the article in the OP, only the title mentions pride in being fat. All of the quotes in the article relate more to acceptance and not hating yourself and encouraging exercise even if you aren't actively trying to lose weight. You keep saying you wouldn't be "proud" of being a smoker, but how about not hating yourself merely because you smoke? I don't see any harm in that. Again, "pride" in the context of the article is merely in the title and not the context of it. For instance:

She says there's a real problem with how society links exercise and weight loss.

"The problem with aligning exercise and weight loss is that then we put a whole lot of pressure on the only benefit of exercise is a way to lose weight," says Sarah. "The benefits of exercise are so enormous."

"I think we're doing exercise a great disservice in only making it about weight loss."

But while there are many people ready to offer opinions on what it means to be fat - Kath wants to tell people that while she's not an expert on societal health being fat is not an illness.

"I'm not a disease and I'm not diseased," says Kath. "This is the body that I come in."

"Fat acceptance led me to a place where I could be who I wanted to be.... and that was positive, and bright, and colourful, and fun."

"It's a really good feeling to not hate myself."

Sounds a lot more to me like trying to find contentment and self acceptance, rather than someone bragging about their beer gut. It goes on to talk about encouraging people to do exercise for reasons other than weight loss; hardly a radical suggestion.

I wouldn't however want someone enabling me and telling me it's fine to be in that state. If it was called "Diabetes Pride" or "Heart Failure Pride" this topic would probably be a lot shorter, but hiding behind the term fat allows people to defend it with irrelevant points because it is too broad a term without a proper definition.

Ultimately, it sounds to me like you only read the title of the article, as I don't see your comments really matching up with the article's content. As for it being "fine to be in that state," it's their life. I have friends that smoke and I don't go around condemning them or signing them up for support groups. They're adults. Is it fine to be a smoker? Sure, provided they're adults making a conscious decision. The same goes for friends who I'd say drink a bit too much. Is it optimal for their health? Absolutely not, but neither are many things we do for fun.

At the end of the day, if you want to talk about a strawman argument, how about getting obsessed with one word in the title of the article (which doesn't appear anywhere in the rest of the article) and addressing only that term, while ignoring the contents of the article and the accompanying video.

MrTolerable

You can't claim to know what happiness means for all humans either. But this is what I know... there are a lot of things that can make someone happy ( wealth, kids, a good job, appearances etc.). Our appearances are a huge source of self confidence...for example, how do you feel when you walk outside without make up ? Why do you put so much effort in making yourself look good before you go somewhere special? How would you feel if people stare at you in disgust? How would you feel if people treated you differently (poorly)? How would you feel if people called you ugly? You can say you don't care what people think, but no matter what, being treated poorly sucks for EVERYONE.

We don't live in a perfect world. I do believe that fat people are treated negatively, isn't that why this "fat pride" even exists?? Because they are trying to show the world that they don't want to feel inferior?? ....If they want a change in how the world is, that means they are not happy about something, and that something is how they are treated based on their appearance.

are all those questions directed at me or what im confused?

and I have been looked at in disgust by strangers , been called ugly my entire life ... I lost 150 pounds so far and was over 300 pounds previously.I know exactly how it is to live in a fat body. It is why I think fat acceptance is very important


oh and just to toss in when I walk outside with out make up I feel the same as when I wear make up...

^well congratulations on loosing 150 lbs!!! That is a huge achievement!

(-_^)



Not for arguments sake, rather just out of curiosity, what aided the most in light of motivation to get into high gear and make that obvious lifestyle adjustment?

pmr545

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