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Fat Acceptance Movement
Replies
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Saw this article in my sister's AARP magazine, which I think epitomize our problem with this issueIt's Not Your Fault
5 Secret Diet Busters
The article then expands on five areas that may be "to blame" for your lack of progress on the scale: Meds; Sleep; Gut Bacteria; Cozy House; Been Sick.
We are far to quick to blame any bump in the road or obstacle for our failures in battling our weight. Just because some people do have a more difficult weight loss journey, that's not justification for failure in that journey.
I noticed the article never even brushed over CICO as a probable contributor. If we are going to change the national convo on weight, it should be to drill people on CICO, so they start paying attention to what's going into their bodies.
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Saw this article in my sister's AARP magazine, which I think epitomize our problem with this issueIt's Not Your Fault
5 Secret Diet Busters
The article then expands on five areas that may be "to blame" for your lack of progress on the scale: Meds; Sleep; Gut Bacteria; Cozy House; Been Sick.
We are far to quick to blame any bump in the road or obstacle for our failures in battling our weight. Just because some people do have a more difficult weight loss journey, that's not justification for failure in that journey.
I noticed the article never even brushed over CICO as a probable contributor. If we are going to change the national convo on weight, it should be to drill people on CICO, so they start paying attention to what's going into their bodies.
"Not your fault" is the biggest pile of horse *kitten* excuse out there, not just for weight weight control but for many issues effecting human in the developed world.
Sure there are some situations, medically for example, where an issues is not the individual's fault but for the most part pretty few and far between.
Personal accountability people.5 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Saw this article in my sister's AARP magazine, which I think epitomize our problem with this issueIt's Not Your Fault
5 Secret Diet Busters
The article then expands on five areas that may be "to blame" for your lack of progress on the scale: Meds; Sleep; Gut Bacteria; Cozy House; Been Sick.
We are far to quick to blame any bump in the road or obstacle for our failures in battling our weight. Just because some people do have a more difficult weight loss journey, that's not justification for failure in that journey.
I noticed the article never even brushed over CICO as a probable contributor. If we are going to change the national convo on weight, it should be to drill people on CICO, so they start paying attention to what's going into their bodies.
"Not your fault" is the biggest pile of horse *kitten* excuse out there, not just for weight weight control but for many issues effecting human in the developed world.
Sure there are some situations, medically for example, where an issues is not the individual's fault but for the most part pretty few and far between.
What? You hadn't heard? Apparently nearly everyone who's fat has some kind of hormone problem or genome disorder.
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Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »Saw this article in my sister's AARP magazine, which I think epitomize our problem with this issueIt's Not Your Fault
5 Secret Diet Busters
The article then expands on five areas that may be "to blame" for your lack of progress on the scale: Meds; Sleep; Gut Bacteria; Cozy House; Been Sick.
We are far to quick to blame any bump in the road or obstacle for our failures in battling our weight. Just because some people do have a more difficult weight loss journey, that's not justification for failure in that journey.
I noticed the article never even brushed over CICO as a probable contributor. If we are going to change the national convo on weight, it should be to drill people on CICO, so they start paying attention to what's going into their bodies.
"Not your fault" is the biggest pile of horse *kitten* excuse out there, not just for weight weight control but for many issues effecting human in the developed world.
Sure there are some situations, medically for example, where an issues is not the individual's fault but for the most part pretty few and far between.
What? You hadn't heard? Apparently nearly everyone who's fat has some kind of hormone problem or genome disorder.
I know you are being tongue in cheek but far too many people believe that and just say "*kitten* it, pass me the remote and a couple brownies". They really believe watching their food intake and moving their *kitten* won't make a difference.2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »Saw this article in my sister's AARP magazine, which I think epitomize our problem with this issueIt's Not Your Fault
5 Secret Diet Busters
The article then expands on five areas that may be "to blame" for your lack of progress on the scale: Meds; Sleep; Gut Bacteria; Cozy House; Been Sick.
We are far to quick to blame any bump in the road or obstacle for our failures in battling our weight. Just because some people do have a more difficult weight loss journey, that's not justification for failure in that journey.
I noticed the article never even brushed over CICO as a probable contributor. If we are going to change the national convo on weight, it should be to drill people on CICO, so they start paying attention to what's going into their bodies.
"Not your fault" is the biggest pile of horse *kitten* excuse out there, not just for weight weight control but for many issues effecting human in the developed world.
Sure there are some situations, medically for example, where an issues is not the individual's fault but for the most part pretty few and far between.
What? You hadn't heard? Apparently nearly everyone who's fat has some kind of hormone problem or genome disorder.
I know you are being tongue in cheek but far too many people believe that and just say "*kitten* it, pass me the remote and a couple brownies". They really believe watching their food intake and moving their *kitten* won't make a difference.
Oh, I know and it pisses me off on a couple of levels.
First: humans are THE apex predator. Excuses and pathetic bodies should be as uncommon as a bubonic plague outbreak.
Second: it makes the rest of the world eye those with legitimate problems suspiciously when they claim/admit said problems.3 -
Developing a conscious will to live a long and meaningful life made me realize I had be lying to myself and was actually eating in a way to hasten a painful death vs eating for a longer healthier life. I wanted the kids to see they did not have to travel the road that I took for 40 years of my life.
Where changing my way of eating in 2014 extends my life or not is not a real concern. Greatly reduced pain and turning negative health markers into positive ones plus showing my kids they have hope by the diet they eat is worth doing this WOE.
I really am not into controlling others that much these days because the required negative energy costs me too much in all ways. The same thing goes for creating the negative energy to feed REGRETS about past actions.5 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Developing a conscious will to live a long and meaningful life made me realize I had be lying to myself and was actually eating in a way to hasten a painful death vs eating for a longer healthier life. I wanted the kids to see they did not have to travel the road that I took for 40 years of my life.
Where changing my way of eating in 2014 extends my life or not is not a real concern. Greatly reduced pain and turning negative health markers into positive ones plus showing my kids they have hope by the diet they eat is worth doing this WOE.
I really am not into controlling others that much these days because the required negative energy costs me too much in all ways. The same thing goes for creating the negative energy to feed REGRETS about past actions.
I love this! Regrets can be paralyzing when we feel we can't move forward toward health (or any other goal) because of what we're done in the past.2 -
I see the fat acceptance movement as a bad thing, and I self describe as an ex-butter barge. I was very obese and am now roughly at the top of the healthy weight range for my height, with an additional focus on getting into the mid-low end of that range.
I was once one of the people who got angry if someone suggested there was something wrong with how much I weighed, or implied in any way that my lard mountain status was in any way my fault or that I could control it with behavior. I railed against the idea that I was unattractive, and thought the world was backward because the airplane seats were too small (and if I'm being honest, no I didn't fit. I was being unfair to everyone who ever sat next to me on a flight).
Then one day the wool was pulled from my eyes and I realized that the so-called shamers were right. I was ashamed, and I was ashamed because I had eaten myself into an existence that wasn't really living while denying I had anything to do with it. There was everything wrong with what I was doing, I was fat because of nothing other than my own poor choices, and that the way out of it wasn't to demand that society change around me to accept the adipose warehouse I'd become, but to take control of my food portions (CI) and start exercising (CO), or I was going to face the day really, really soon when the last words I heard on this earth were going to be "Get the bariatric stretcher." So I decided to make it really about loving and accepting myself which means being the best version of me that I can be. That means putting my health, and yep the size of my own body, first and foremost. Being the best me I can is also being the healthiest me, and that person is not obese or overweight.
I've become half the person, by weight, that I used to be. I run 5Ks, 10Ks, 10 Milers and Half Marathons now. I actually run, not amble along slowly and cheat the end of a 5K (looking at you, Ragen Chastain). I learned that it is true that nothing tastes as good as thin feels, because to be thin and healthy is to be able to run and jump and hike and walk up the stairs without getting winded. I don't sit on the sidelines while my friends are out living their lives. I can say "Yes, absolutely, let's go rent some kayaks!" without having to wonder if it's going to be able to hold my weight or "Damn, Go-Karting sounds amazing!" and not have to think about whether I'm too wide to fit in it.
There is nothing, no food on earth, that is worth giving up my life for. I only regret how long it took me to wake up.19 -
@heiliskrimsli that is an awesome post and welcome to MFP forums.1
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I think that shaming people for the size of their bodies is unbelievably cruel and should not happen, ever. Having said that, it is worrisome to me that it is becoming socially acceptable to be so very overweight. It is super unhealthy and can lead to early death. But, I can only do so much in my little corner of the world, so I encourage my girls to eat right and get decent amounts of exercise, and talk to them openly (and kindly) about the dangers of being obese.
I totally agree with you. I also found that once I accepted my larger body it suddenly became much easier to lose the weight I needed to be more healthy.
We also have to be careful about associating body size with health. I've known technically overweight people who run marathons, eat very healthy, and have clean bills of health. I've also known skinny girls that are anorexic and bulimic, which is NOT healthy. If you are totally ripped but completely obsessed with food and calories to the point that you have zero social life and that's all you talk or think about, well I personally don't consider that healthy either. Everybody, and every body, is different.2 -
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Body size is associated with health though. Statistics don't apply to individuals though, they apply to groups, so yes, some overweight people can still be relatively healthy, but as a group, they will tend to have more health issues than those with healthier weight levels. We have to stop worrying about offending or defending the individual exceptions to the rule in order to have an honest discussion about the subject.I think that shaming people for the size of their bodies is unbelievably cruel and should not happen, ever. Having said that, it is worrisome to me that it is becoming socially acceptable to be so very overweight. It is super unhealthy and can lead to early death. But, I can only do so much in my little corner of the world, so I encourage my girls to eat right and get decent amounts of exercise, and talk to them openly (and kindly) about the dangers of being obese.
I totally agree with you. I also found that once I accepted my larger body it suddenly became much easier to lose the weight I needed to be more healthy.
We also have to be careful about associating body size with health. I've known technically overweight people who run marathons, eat very healthy, and have clean bills of health. I've also known skinny girls that are anorexic and bulimic, which is NOT healthy. If you are totally ripped but completely obsessed with food and calories to the point that you have zero social life and that's all you talk or think about, well I personally don't consider that healthy either. Everybody, and every body, is different.
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I don't believe in fat shaming and I really do admire people who are larger and have the same confidence and happiness as somebody who's had to work harder for it. Personally when I was extremely overweight I didn't enjoy life as much, I was always insecure, had low confidence, highly emotional but since I've started taking care of myself many areas of my life have drastically improved. But that's just me - if people are 100% happy in themselves and have accepted being overweight, power to them!8
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gracemaryx wrote: »I don't believe in fat shaming and I really do admire people who are larger and have the same confidence and happiness as somebody who's had to work harder for it. Personally when I was extremely overweight I didn't enjoy life as much, I was always insecure, had low confidence, highly emotional but since I've started taking care of myself many areas of my life have drastically improved. But that's just me - if people are 100% happy in themselves and have accepted being overweight, power to them!
I would agree with this, except for one problem: I know a LOT of obese people, and other than maybe one, they seem fine with themselves in public, but talk to them in private, and it's a whole different ball of hell. All I ever hear about when discussing their body is how miserable they feel, how they wish they could keep up with their kids, etc. etc.
It's as bad as the fat person who only eats half a salad in public, then goes home to dive into a half gallon of Cherry Garcia. It's hard to figure out who they're trying to convince more: everyone else, or themselves.8 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »gracemaryx wrote: »I don't believe in fat shaming and I really do admire people who are larger and have the same confidence and happiness as somebody who's had to work harder for it. Personally when I was extremely overweight I didn't enjoy life as much, I was always insecure, had low confidence, highly emotional but since I've started taking care of myself many areas of my life have drastically improved. But that's just me - if people are 100% happy in themselves and have accepted being overweight, power to them!
I would agree with this, except for one problem: I know a LOT of obese people, and other than maybe one, they seem fine with themselves in public, but talk to them in private, and it's a whole different ball of hell. All I ever hear about when discussing their body is how miserable they feel, how they wish they could keep up with their kids, etc. etc.
It's as bad as the fat person who only eats half a salad in public, then goes home to dive into a half gallon of Cherry Garcia. It's hard to figure out who they're trying to convince more: everyone else, or themselves.
It's understandable. An overweight person doesn't want to see the eyerolls, hear the snickers, and overhear the name calling which would almost certainly take place if such an individual were eating a half gallon of Cherry Garcia ice cream in public.
I'll never forget something that happened when I wasn't overweight myself.
As I was walking back to work from my lunch, I saw a very overweight young woman walking through the plaza in our commercial district, with throngs of people around. Foot traffic only, no vehicles.
She was carrying a box of pizza. She walked by a group of young males, in their late teens/early twenties. Let's just say the volume and intensity of the insults and mockery flung her way was something I'll never forget. It was sickening and brought tears to my eyes. Anyway, she kept her head held high and never missed a beat. She kept walking on her way and didn't look at them or say a word.
We all know it happens.
Then she was/is probably truly confident and happy in who she was/is. If the mockery of others can wad you up into a ball of tears, then there's probably some truth in what's being said. That truth either needs to be confronted or rectified, or both, but the first has to happen first.3 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »gracemaryx wrote: »I don't believe in fat shaming and I really do admire people who are larger and have the same confidence and happiness as somebody who's had to work harder for it. Personally when I was extremely overweight I didn't enjoy life as much, I was always insecure, had low confidence, highly emotional but since I've started taking care of myself many areas of my life have drastically improved. But that's just me - if people are 100% happy in themselves and have accepted being overweight, power to them!
I would agree with this, except for one problem: I know a LOT of obese people, and other than maybe one, they seem fine with themselves in public, but talk to them in private, and it's a whole different ball of hell. All I ever hear about when discussing their body is how miserable they feel, how they wish they could keep up with their kids, etc. etc.
It's as bad as the fat person who only eats half a salad in public, then goes home to dive into a half gallon of Cherry Garcia. It's hard to figure out who they're trying to convince more: everyone else, or themselves.
It's understandable. An overweight person doesn't want to see the eyerolls, hear the snickers, and overhear the name calling which would almost certainly take place if such an individual were eating a half gallon of Cherry Garcia ice cream in public.
I'll never forget something that happened when I wasn't overweight myself.
As I was walking back to work from my lunch, I saw a very overweight young woman walking through the plaza in our commercial district, with throngs of people around. Foot traffic only, no vehicles.
She was carrying a box of pizza. She walked by a group of young males, in their late teens/early twenties. Let's just say the volume and intensity of the insults and mockery flung her way was something I'll never forget. It was sickening and brought tears to my eyes. Anyway, she kept her head held high and never missed a beat. She kept walking on her way and didn't look at them or say a word.
We all know it happens.
Then she was/is probably truly confident and happy in who she was/is. If the mockery of others can wad you up into a ball of tears, then there's probably some truth in what's being said. That truth either needs to be confronted or rectified, or both, but the first has to happen first.
Yeah, whatever. I'm sure she felt unhappy when it was happening and her confidence probably took a major hit to. She worked in the area, had to come and go from the workplace through the plaza, and was consequently subjected to walking by those animals on a daily basis and was at their mercy.
Dignity is another matter however and clearly hers remained intact.
And for the record, I don't wad into a ball. Not then and not now. Well up would be a better way to describe it and I hope everyone who witnessed this event saw it and felt the same effing way.
I didn't mean you with my tears statement; I was referring to the person being mocked. Now I admit, as I have before, that if I were to witness something like this, I would step in. I refuse to sit by and watch another human be berated in a cruel manner. I don't care if it's because of size, race, religion, sexuality, whatever.
That does not however, change the fact that in my experience, obese people are very rarely happy, or even remotely okay with how they look and feel. They need a solution, not enabling responses and public acceptance. I can respect a person's value all day; it does not mean that I have to accept all of their flaws.
Hell, I am riddled with them: balding, hairy, freckled as *kitten*, loose skin from decades of being obese, smoker, antisocial...Jesus, take your pick. Perhaps I should start a movement to push us back into the 50s, when ridiculing a smoker for doing their thing in public was unheard of.
Go ahead, remind me that smoking is a major health hazard that has societal costs and can inconvenience those around you.3 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »gracemaryx wrote: »I don't believe in fat shaming and I really do admire people who are larger and have the same confidence and happiness as somebody who's had to work harder for it. Personally when I was extremely overweight I didn't enjoy life as much, I was always insecure, had low confidence, highly emotional but since I've started taking care of myself many areas of my life have drastically improved. But that's just me - if people are 100% happy in themselves and have accepted being overweight, power to them!
I would agree with this, except for one problem: I know a LOT of obese people, and other than maybe one, they seem fine with themselves in public, but talk to them in private, and it's a whole different ball of hell. All I ever hear about when discussing their body is how miserable they feel, how they wish they could keep up with their kids, etc. etc.
It's as bad as the fat person who only eats half a salad in public, then goes home to dive into a half gallon of Cherry Garcia. It's hard to figure out who they're trying to convince more: everyone else, or themselves.
It's understandable. An overweight person doesn't want to see the eyerolls, hear the snickers, and overhear the name calling which would almost certainly take place if such an individual were eating a half gallon of Cherry Garcia ice cream in public.
I'll never forget something that happened when I wasn't overweight myself.
As I was walking back to work from my lunch, I saw a very overweight young woman walking through the plaza in our commercial district, with throngs of people around. Foot traffic only, no vehicles.
She was carrying a box of pizza. She walked by a group of young males, in their late teens/early twenties. Let's just say the volume and intensity of the insults and mockery flung her way was something I'll never forget. It was sickening and brought tears to my eyes. Anyway, she kept her head held high and never missed a beat. She kept walking on her way and didn't look at them or say a word.
We all know it happens.
Then she was/is probably truly confident and happy in who she was/is. If the mockery of others can wad you up into a ball of tears, then there's probably some truth in what's being said. That truth either needs to be confronted or rectified, or both, but the first has to happen first.
Yeah, whatever. I'm sure she felt unhappy when it was happening and her confidence probably took a major hit to. She worked in the area, had to come and go from the workplace through the plaza, and was consequently subjected to walking by those animals on a daily basis and was at their mercy.
Dignity is another matter however and clearly hers remained intact.
And for the record, I don't wad into a ball. Not then and not now. Well up would be a better way to describe it and I hope everyone who witnessed this event saw it and felt the same effing way.
I didn't mean you with my tears statement; I was referring to the person being mocked. Now I admit, as I have before, that if I were to witness something like this, I would step in. I refuse to sit by and watch another human be berated in a cruel manner. I don't care if it's because of size, race, religion, sexuality, whatever.
That does not however, change the fact that in my experience, obese people are very rarely happy, or even remotely okay with how they look and feel. They need a solution, not enabling responses and public acceptance. I can respect a person's value all day; it does not mean that I have to accept all of their flaws.
Hell, I am riddled with them: balding, hairy, freckled as *kitten*, loose skin from decades of being obese, smoker, antisocial...Jesus, take your pick. Perhaps I should start a movement to push us back into the 50s, when ridiculing a smoker for doing their thing in public was unheard of.
Go ahead, remind me that smoking is a major health hazard that has societal costs and can inconvenience those around you.
Nah, former smoker here. Smoking is so uncool nowadays it would be like shooting fish in a barrel to even bother discussing it.
Precisely. My hope is that Japan rubs off on the West a bit, and being 30+% bodyfat finds itself in the same position in 20 years.5 -
My only problems with fat acceptance tend to be problems with it in practice and not in theory. I hate seeing people who are like absolutely no where near being fat having to "justify" their body and being part of the fat movement. Usually, these people are guys with "dad bods" or girls who maybe have a small stomach pouch or something like that. That's not fat to me. And I certainly can't stand girls like Jennifer Lawrence trying to claim they're fat. No, you're really not.
But otherwise, I don't mind people wanting to be comfortable in their own skin. I know some people are more motivated to lose weight when they hate what they see in the mirror, but maybe it's overall better for people to love themselves before they lose weight. And maybe they'll never lose weight. It's really not my problem. Now, I prefer fat acceptance photos/messages that show fatter people in exercise clothes or eating healthier or doing some sort of physical feat. Maybe even doing something academic or something to do with talent because it gets at what I think is the biggest point of the fat acceptance movement which is to respect people based on their abilities and not on their looks.
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Wouldn't JLaw saying she's "fat" all be part of the same ball of wax? Maybe she's trying to make fat people feel accepted by claiming to be one of them or saying she feels like one of them. Maybe she's making a comment on Hollywood and it's obsession with rail thin actresses. Maybe, deep down in side, she feels like a fat chick and is expressing how she truly feels. Either way, if their is genuine acceptance at all levels, her comments wouldn't draw any negativity at all because it might be how she truly feels inside.SparklyBubblyBabe wrote: »My only problems with fat acceptance tend to be problems with it in practice and not in theory. I hate seeing people who are like absolutely no where near being fat having to "justify" their body and being part of the fat movement. Usually, these people are guys with "dad bods" or girls who maybe have a small stomach pouch or something like that. That's not fat to me. And I certainly can't stand girls like Jennifer Lawrence trying to claim they're fat. No, you're really not.
But otherwise, I don't mind people wanting to be comfortable in their own skin. I know some people are more motivated to lose weight when they hate what they see in the mirror, but maybe it's overall better for people to love themselves before they lose weight. And maybe they'll never lose weight. It's really not my problem. Now, I prefer fat acceptance photos/messages that show fatter people in exercise clothes or eating healthier or doing some sort of physical feat. Maybe even doing something academic or something to do with talent because it gets at what I think is the biggest point of the fat acceptance movement which is to respect people based on their abilities and not on their looks.
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Doesn't the JLaw thing potentially make things worse? If she's considered fat, then what would people have to do just to get to the point that they aren't fat?4
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richardgavel wrote: »Doesn't the JLaw thing potentially make things worse? If she's considered fat, then what would people have to do just to get to the point that they aren't fat?
Lots and lots of drugs and/or actually, ya' know, diet and exercise?2 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »richardgavel wrote: »Doesn't the JLaw thing potentially make things worse? If she's considered fat, then what would people have to do just to get to the point that they aren't fat?
Lots and lots of drugs and/or actually, ya' know, diet and exercise?
But you know, the truth is a *kitten*.1 -
There's a growing element of western society that things that feelings should trump logic and science. I feel this way therefore I am this way. I feel this, therefore that should happen. When that sort of backwards thinking takes hold you never know what is going to happen.richardgavel wrote: »Doesn't the JLaw thing potentially make things worse? If she's considered fat, then what would people have to do just to get to the point that they aren't fat?
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Just watched several episodes of "My 600-lb Life"
What I see is an almost complete lack of nutrition knowledge by the families, every 'patient' is surrounded by enablers. They all seem to be afraid of making the 'subject' mad. One mom was sneaking her daughter fast food because she was afraid her 600lb girl was going to starve to death.
I was also surprised at the lack of nutrition advice pushed by the show. In 5 episodes I've seen just one Nutritionist do a house call to educate the woman and her family, but that didn't even happen until 11 months into the journey and was a one-off visit. Most of them were eating fast food on a daily basis, with no calorie counting.
Just like with the Biggest Loser show, this genre is devoid of including practical advice to help the average viewer.3 -
Just watched several episodes of "My 600-lb Life"
What I see is an almost complete lack of nutrition knowledge by the families, every 'patient' is surrounded by enablers. They all seem to be afraid of making the 'subject' mad. One mom was sneaking her daughter fast food because she was afraid her 600lb girl was going to starve to death.
I was also surprised at the lack of nutrition advice pushed by the show. In 5 episodes I've seen just one Nutritionist do a house call to educate the woman and her family, but that didn't even happen until 11 months into the journey and was a one-off visit. Most of them were eating fast food on a daily basis, with no calorie counting.
Just like with the Biggest Loser show, this genre is devoid of including practical advice to help the average viewer.
Even the nutrition advice from Dr. Nowzaradan is pretty poor. It's good for those folks who are morbidly obese, but then I've seen him do the same diet plan with the folks who had much less to lose, e.g. folks on the "Skin Tight" show who needed to lose 30-40 lbs. It's always a 1200 calorie, high protein, low carb diet. It seems these people go from binging to hyper restrictive crash diets. They never learn anything in between. I was watching the latest Skin Tight last night and the lady was crushed she only lost 30 lbs in a month when she had a 42 lbs goal. This was after gaining 40 lbs in 2 months when he fixed her lap band so she could eat properly again.1 -
Just watched several episodes of "My 600-lb Life"
What I see is an almost complete lack of nutrition knowledge by the families, every 'patient' is surrounded by enablers. They all seem to be afraid of making the 'subject' mad. One mom was sneaking her daughter fast food because she was afraid her 600lb girl was going to starve to death.
I was also surprised at the lack of nutrition advice pushed by the show. In 5 episodes I've seen just one Nutritionist do a house call to educate the woman and her family, but that didn't even happen until 11 months into the journey and was a one-off visit. Most of them were eating fast food on a daily basis, with no calorie counting.
Just like with the Biggest Loser show, this genre is devoid of including practical advice to help the average viewer.
That's because those shows aren't designed to educate. They are there to make the "everyman" feel better about their 250 lbs. fatbody. It's "feel better" entertainment; nothing more.6 -
Thumbs up to everyone here for having s rational and nuanced conversation on this topic. I shouldn't be surprised because the level of discourse here is generally pretty high, but FA can be a real lightning rod.
My understanding of FA, and I do consider myself in board with it, is that you shouldn't continually punish yourself for being fat, or put things that are the spice of life (like wearing what you want, going out dancing, hiking, falling in love and all the other things that fat people feel dumb doing because of social messaging) off until you feel like you're thin enough--but live a good life in the body you have now.
That doesn't mean never ever lose weight or be reckless about food choices. Those healthy and normal things can part of FA too. It's just better to do them coming from a place of love than a place or self-loathing. It turns out it's hard to take good care of yourself if you hate yourself.
FA isn't the same as normalizing being overweight, it's a coping mechanism that allows a person to endure being their own skin. If someone tells you what you should or shouldn't do with your body, be it losing weight or whatever, that's their personal insecurity issues coming through and has nothing to do with FA. It's similar to when people with their own body issues and fears bandy about the term "morbidly obese" with that tone (you know what I'm talking about!). It says more about that person's inner life than anything else--and with all the feelings mixed into things like body image and social expectations, the us-against-them mentality can poison the well.
Anyhow. Thanks for being great, MFP. "Just don't be a jerk" covers most of what I said, though I would add "even to yourself".
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I consider this movement dangerous, as the pro-ana, they need some help and they are crying out for help....
That being said I do not bully or being disrespectful to obese people... why do people here are associating the two?3
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