How disgusting is this...

*She* is not disgusting...I see her point, and it's good to read that someone is finding peace with herself.

But to just...choose...to be overweight because you can? It's a little sad and seems like an excuse - just like doing drugs or being an alcoholic or surrendering to any addiction on GP.

She says all this stuff about not wanting to starve herself to conform, and that's something we've all struggled with. But those of us who have lost anything know that we don't have to starve.

She says it's great that people who lose weight feel good about themselves, but that their lives should not be summed up by one accomplishment. I agree...but I have worked harder to lose this weight than I have at any other goal in my life. I have other accomplishments, and in their context I am proud of those things. But every time I walk in my closet, and know that I have clothes that fit and look decent on me - I am reminded of what I have achieved in this area.

It's like she is demeaning the losers for conforming...like the work we have done was for the wrong reasons...just to excuse her love for cupcakes. I love cupcakes. I have eaten cupcakes since I started this journey. I will eat more. But I don't eat a cupcake every time I see one simply because it's there. That's the difference.

I don't believe we should all be a size 2. I don't believe everyone should be thin. But healthy? Yes. We should all be healthy...

While it is her choice, it's an absolutely heartbreaking story! Staying overweight is her defense mechanism for now, but she's so angry at the world/parents/childhood/society that she has more problems than just the weight! Hopefully, she can find some sort of therapy other than eating for her issues, so that 10 years from now when she is 100 lbs heavier she isn't still dealing with all of the anger/emotional issues, but serious health issues as well!

everything written is Salon.com is complete and utter garbage. Theyshould rename it Pravda.

I'm surprised no one's commented on how absolutely delish the sandwich in the original article looks:

this article is the best thing i've read all day. thanks!

(and to answer your question: not disgusting at all.)

THANK YOU.

What is actually disgusting is rampant body shaming, fascist ideas about what bodies are supposed to look like, or the notion that everyone should have the same desires about their own size and weight.

Some days I can certainly relate to how the author feels about always being expected to lose weight and being expected to be interested in losing weight by everyone else. Sometimes it does seem unfair that a fat person just can't be okay with being fat BUT that being said, I am here for a reason and it's because I have been thinner and I understand how much better I felt by being at a healthier weight. Clearly that is not something the author has yet experienced or she would probably not choose to remain fat.

^^This. Exactly how I feel too.

I don't find this distgusting. I find it empowering that she is finding a way to define herself in a way that makes sense to her. I do not agree with the way she is going about it, over-eating food for emotional satisfaction and being obese or over-weight for that reason is not healthy and is going to continually lead down a road of hardship when it comes to health for her. However like all women she will come to an impasse and possibly change her own mind and choose a different way to live. Personally I hope she ends up being healthy and happy regardless, I wish that for anyone.

Interesting read as well, thank you.

this article is the best thing i've read all day. thanks!

(and to answer your question: not disgusting at all.)

would you feel the same way if it was an anorexic person who was just skin and bones? they are both destroying their health, bodies, future...

sorry. false equivalency. anorexia is a psychological disease, not a body type. you can't be anorexic and healthy, whereas you CAN be fat and healthy. as this woman clearly says in her article, according to all the tests that don't have to do with her weight, she is healthy. the point is, we're not speculating on her health here. we're speculating on her bodily autonomy as a human being with a right to do what she wants with her body, and how people take issue with that. the responses in this thread are perfect examples. what she chooses to do with her body has nothing to do with you, with the OP, with me, or with anyone else. (and don't even get me started on the whole ~omg i'm paying her healthcare~ bs, because as i've just stated, she's healthy so it's a non-issue.)

i think what's disgusting is the way that many doctors treat fat patients. it leads to fat people being terrified to go to the doctor, and then, guess what? when they do have a medical problem, by the time they get it treated it's exacerbated itself to a point it never should have, giving the doctor even more fuel to blame it on a patient's weight.

shame does not motivate most people to do anything. it makes them hate themselves, which is not conducive to change or healthy behavior. shame, simply put, does not work. that's a big part of what the author was getting at.

but i am IN for that sandwich.

i doubt she'll feel the same in twenty years. and one day she'll probably look back at all she's missed because she is overweight.

This.

It'll be a whole 'nother story if she ever develops diabetes or some other disease that her obesity puts her at significantly higher risk for later in life.

I've seen the same with my family members who were chronic smokers. They all said, "Hey it's fine" and "live and let live" or something along the lines of "i'm enjoying myself!" until all that smoking ended up killing them too soon. Then they regretted it, but it was far too late.

you're an idiot for judging somebody.......

this article is the best thing i've read all day. thanks!

(and to answer your question: not disgusting at all.)

would you feel the same way if it was an anorexic person who was just skin and bones? they are both destroying their health, bodies, future...

sorry. false equivalency. anorexia is a psychological disease, not a body type. you can't be anorexic and healthy, whereas you CAN be fat and healthy. as this woman clearly says in her article, according to all the tests that don't have to do with her weight, she is healthy. the point is, we're not speculating on her health here. we're speculating on her bodily autonomy as a human being with a right to do what she wants with her body, and how people take issue with that. the responses in this thread are perfect examples. what she chooses to do with her body has nothing to do with you, with the OP, with me, or with anyone else. (and don't even get me started on the whole ~omg i'm paying her healthcare~ bs, because as i've just stated, she's healthy so it's a non-issue.)

i think what's disgusting is the way that many doctors treat fat patients. it leads to fat people being terrified to go to the doctor, and then, guess what? when they do have a medical problem, by the time they get it treated it's exacerbated itself to a point it never should have, giving the doctor even more fuel to blame it on a patient's weight.

shame does not motivate most people to do anything. it makes them hate themselves, which is not conducive to change or healthy behavior. shame, simply put, does not work. that's a big part of what the author was getting at.

shes only has healthy blo0d work cause she is 23.... that wont last long id she doesnt change her eating habits.

this is going to be nitpicky but oh well. she's not 23. the article states that at the time she was at the clinic with her therapist, she was 23. it doesn't state her current age.

Why do you think it is disgusting? its her choice.

You're kidding... right?

It is her choice, even though she is just slowly killing herself. People who don't care about themselves can find ways to be content with all sorts of bad behavior: be it overeating, not exercising, doing drugs, sex addiction...you name it. She obviously has deep seated self esteem issues, and she's fighting against one thing she shouldn't be: her health. Still like another poster said, it is her choice, and she's not hurting ANYONE except for herself.

her family... her community... oh yea and the burden of the healthcare system

^^Yes, true, but have you ever been pressured to make a change? Does it work? I pressured my husband to stop smoking for 10 years, and it didn't work. All it did was ruin our relationship. He finally did stop smoking, but it took him having a SERIOUS health consequence. Some people think they are invincible and that all the statistics don't apply to them, and they don't realize they do until it's almost too late. She has to realize that what she is doing is hurting herself, and decide in her heart to change...not for anyone else, but herself. Only then will she be able to do it (as I'm sure you realized on your weight loss journey).

i feel you on this... but...

her "fat acceptance" is a just adolescent take on being ok with yourself. It is immature and self-destructive.

Instead of this chick, you know who us overweight people should paying attention to? Adele. She was defiant and vowed to never diet or bend to social pressure. Then she had a baby and realized was rationalizing and started living healthier. You don't have conform to some unattainable standard of beauty. You just have to not be selfish and set an example for your God Damned children.

I agree with you about Adele. I think we need more role models of people who are actually happy with themselves and trying to better themselves, rather than this woman who is obviously unhappy with herself and doesn't know how to make a life altering change. She needs to stop thinking about other people's expectations and live by her own, because in fact going against what "society" wants she is hurting herself and trying to proove a "point" in a stupid way!

She's not 23!!!! she says "I am 23 at the time" which means when she's writing this whole things she's older.

She's not 23!!!! she says "I am 23 at the time" which means when she's writing this whole things she's older.

^jeez, relax a little