Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
I'm within the obese range (I weigh 200lbs) and I disagree with the fat acceptance movement!
misshoneyz2dab
Posts: 62 Member
The fat acceptance movement encourages unhealthy lifestyles. When Tess Holliday reaches her 40s, she is going to suffer from a lot of health problems and find it very very hard to lose weight because of reduced bone density.
If you criticise obese social media celebrities, you get labelled as a 'bully' or a 'fat shamer'. You can't be fit and obese at the same time.
I weigh 200lbs and want to lose weight. I do find it a bit hard to exercise because I haven't got good knees. I know that losing weight will solve the problem.
If you criticise obese social media celebrities, you get labelled as a 'bully' or a 'fat shamer'. You can't be fit and obese at the same time.
I weigh 200lbs and want to lose weight. I do find it a bit hard to exercise because I haven't got good knees. I know that losing weight will solve the problem.
47
Replies
-
Okay, then.
12 -
ummmm congratulations?7
-
I think a lot of it comes down to loving yourself as you are. I started out at 205 pounds (so obese), successfully lost 55 pounds and subsequently gained back 15. Through all my highs and lows, let me tell you the most important piece of wisdom I can impart upon you is to love yourself throughout the process.14
-
Why do you feel the need to critisize ANYONE at all?34
-
There's a 73 page discussion on this topic on the first page in the Debate section, if you are interested:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10376680/fat-acceptance-movement/p1
8 -
Why put someone down just to bring yourself up?18
-
misshoneyz2dab wrote: »The fat acceptance movement encourages unhealthy lifestyles. When Tess Holliday reaches her 40s, she is going to suffer from a lot of health problems and find it very very hard to lose weight because of reduced bone density.
If you criticise obese social media celebrities, you get labelled as a 'bully' or a 'fat shamer'. You can't be fit and obese at the same time.
I weigh 200lbs and want to lose weight. I do find it a bit hard to exercise because I haven't got good knees. I know that losing weight will solve the problem.
Just curious, why do you say she will suffer health problems in her 40’s? She should be admired for being happy with herself, and for being a positive roll model for others. Acceptance and tolerance are good things.
I’m in my 60’s and have been overweight most of my adult life. I’m on no medications, no hospitalizations and have not had anything more serious than a cold in all those years.
BTW, I had no problem losing 140 pounds in my 60’s either.
23 -
misshoneyz2dab wrote: »The fat acceptance movement encourages unhealthy lifestyles. When Tess Holliday reaches her 40s, she is going to suffer from a lot of health problems and find it very very hard to lose weight because of reduced bone density.
If you criticise obese social media celebrities, you get labelled as a 'bully' or a 'fat shamer'. You can't be fit and obese at the same time.
I weigh 200lbs and want to lose weight. I do find it a bit hard to exercise because I haven't got good knees. I know that losing weight will solve the problem.
I think I hear where you're coming from: A strong impulse to improve yourself, and a nearly religious zeal for that, at the moment, that makes you want to spiritedly reject all counterforces. That's good.
In the long run, I think you'll be better served by ignoring silly pop culture nonsense, and focusing on what you can actually personally control or influence, which is . . . yourself, and your own behavior, mostly.
Real weight loss is more about diligent persistence than revolutionary zeal, IMO.
Also, you're wrong on the facts: It is possible to be obese and fit. I was obese and reasonably fit (competing athletically even, mostly middle of the pack results, the occasional medal) for about a decade. I just wasn't healthy. Since losing weight 3+ years ago, down to a healthy weight, I'm no more fit than I was before (resting heart rate, PR pace, strength, etc.). But I'm much healthier.
(I still have bad knees, though: Depending on what's wrong with yours, there are exercises that can work. I've found via experimentation that impact and torque bother mine. I row (boats, machines) and cycle (spin classes, bike). Things like water aerobics or swimming are good candidates (but I don't like to swim), as is weight training (though you might need to avoid certain specific exercises). Losing weight, by itself, materially improved my knee pain.)
Stop worrying about mass movements and other people, start figuring out how to work around your limitations and within your strengths to accomplish your goals in a practical way, and you'll do fine.
Best wishes!
23 -
Listen... I am willing to be overweight again to feel slightly normal. I lost a monkey ton of weight and got super lean. I am willing to gain 40lbs just to feel better. So... is that fat acceptance? Huh....7
-
I see nothing wrong with people wanting to feel comfortable in their own skin. I don't think we should put down anyone for that. Being overweight is not healthy, but neither is putting people down.17
-
Personally I feel there is a difference between health at any size, which to me means accepting and loving yourself but subbing for the healthiest version of yourself regardless of where you're at, and the extremist versions of the fat acceptance movement. Generally it's the extremists if any belief system, or way of living in general, that tend to be the loudest and most alienating. Just because you don't agree with Tess Holiday doesn't mean that she should be you're down or bullied. But also, no one should be turn down or bullied regardless of what your weight is and how you feel about (or what you are doing) that weight.
Finding peace within yourself is difficult and getting to a certain size doesn't always equate to gaining that inner peace. Life is difficult. Why try and make it even harder on someone else?6 -
My problem is how some people treat obese people. If some people are finally excepting obese people as a person like them no matter what size they are. I applaud them. I've had some people that are adults that will say unkind remarks. The looks are terrible and some look violent. Most of these are strangers. Maybe I miss understanding the discussion if so I apologize.2
-
To those wanting to debate body positivity/"Healthy at Every Size"(HAES)/fat acceptance, may I suggest that there's a wonderful sandbox to play in called the 'Debate: Health and Fitness' part of the forum?
Here's the perfect thread over there:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10376680/fat-acceptance-movement
It would be good etiquette to read the entire 73 pages (or so) of the ongoing debate before diving in . . . since, y'know, the ground may've already been covered. Maybe 8 times.
Just a thought.
(Yeah, this thread started in the "wrong" place; it happens. That could change, but why start anew, even over there?)
9 -
People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."25 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.14 -
Fat shaming is wrong and people shouldnt do it to others, however encouraging people to reduce their risk of CAD is completely different6
-
Ha. This reminds me of when I used to be obese (and very large in size). People still complimented me and encouraged me to be happy with who I am and that I looked great, etc.
As someone with PCOS, Hypothyroidism, and with T2 diabetes running in my family, if I were to have just listened to them and not lost 50+ pounds and dropped over 8 sizes, I guarantee I would've been diabetic by now. The lower my weight/size, the less severe my PCOS and hypothyroidism symptoms.
"Health at every size" my *kitten* lol.17 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.
Plus, isnt it also the case that health insurance premiums go up if you're a smoker? That hardly seems like the "nothing" the other commenter claims.5 -
dragon_girl26 wrote: »ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.
Plus, isnt it also the case that health insurance premiums go up if you're a smoker? That hardly seems like the "nothing" the other commenter claims.
No one said anything to me when I smoked. In fact I got extra breaks at work for it. At 22 I was told I looked cool for it. No one says anything at all to me about the amount of alcohol I consume. In fact they think its kind of cool and they're impressed by it even tho alcoholism runs in my family and I've almost died of poisoning a half a dozen times. When I was using heroin no one gave a *kitten*, I actually was complimented a lot on how thin I was...it was honestly from forgetting to eat and puking so much.
And the thing is too, my smoking hurt other people. Strangers walking past me, my kids. My alcohol consumption could of killed me and left my children motherless, so could of my heroin use. But me being fat only hurts me. I'm the only one that would have to deal with diabetes and whatever else *kitten* would come from it. You could argue that my death would hurt my kids but we're talking about things like I would be the one dealing with having a hard time walking up stairs. The worst thing a fat person is to you is an eyesore. Everyone just needs to get over themselves.15 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.
Agreed. I quit smoking almost ten years ago, but I got waaaaaaaaay more grief about that than I ever did about being overweight!3 -
No one on the face of this planet should have to defend their existence. No one. What you think of them..doesn't matter. No one has to apologize for existing. Just because you don't agree with how they live their life, and just because you don't think they look very good..does not mean they need to disappear. People have so little regard for human life its disgusting. Someone who weighs 500 pounds is still a person with thoughts and feelings. They still very much have a heartbeat and NEWFLASH!!! Your life is no more meaningful or important than theirs because of the size of your jeans. We're all equal creatures. People have to stop letting stupid *kitten* get in the way of what makes a person a person. Race, religion, nationality..now weight? What's next? Some of you need to take a good hard look at yourself and you should be ashamed. The lack of empathy is psychotic.29
-
ShayCarver89 wrote: »No one on the face of this planet should have to defend their existence. No one. What you think of them..doesn't matter. No one has to apologize for existing. Just because you don't agree with how they live their life, and just because you don't think they look very good..does not mean they need to disappear. People have so little regard for human life its disgusting. Someone who weighs 500 pounds is still a person with thoughts and feelings. They still very much have a heartbeat and NEWFLASH!!! Your life is no more meaningful or important than theirs because of the size of your jeans. We're all equal creatures. People have to stop letting stupid *kitten* get in the way of what makes a person a person. Race, religion, nationality..now weight? What's next? Some of you need to take a good hard look at yourself and you should be ashamed. The lack of empathy is psychotic.
Can you say that a little louder for the people in the back? Perfectly said!7 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »dragon_girl26 wrote: »ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.
Plus, isnt it also the case that health insurance premiums go up if you're a smoker? That hardly seems like the "nothing" the other commenter claims.
No one said anything to me when I smoked. In fact I got extra breaks at work for it. At 22 I was told I looked cool for it. No one says anything at all to me about the amount of alcohol I consume. In fact they think its kind of cool and they're impressed by it even tho alcoholism runs in my family and I've almost died of poisoning a half a dozen times. When I was using heroin no one gave a *kitten*, I actually was complimented a lot on how thin I was...it was honestly from forgetting to eat and puking so much.
And the thing is too, my smoking hurt other people. Strangers walking past me, my kids. My alcohol consumption could of killed me and left my children motherless, so could of my heroin use. But me being fat only hurts me. I'm the only one that would have to deal with diabetes and whatever else *kitten* would come from it. You could argue that my death would hurt my kids but we're talking about things like I would be the one dealing with having a hard time walking up stairs. The worst thing a fat person is to you is an eyesore. Everyone just needs to get over themselves.
This may have been your personal experience but there's a show that ran for 20 seasons about people intervening on loved ones who drink too much or use too many drugs. There are people whose profession is helping hold these interventions.
So we all know with absolute certainty that it happens a good bit and people are interested in this act of intervening on drug and alcohol abusers, interested enough to keep the show on air for 20 years.
Is there a 20 season long show about fat shaming? Where people tune in to watch an obese person get fat shamed and it's the only point of the show. Build up to a fat shaming followed by a big, dramatic, organized fat shaming session?
Not a weight loss show where the contestants themselves are the ones who want the weight loss. A show where obese people are just being obese then their family gather to tell them to lose weight or move out of my house and never call me again. That's two different things.
If nobody ever said anything to you about your smoking or, Jesus Christ, heroin use maybe your environment was so toxic and rueful that nobody really cared about anything you did and maybe that had a large amount to do with why you made such heartwrenching choices in the first place,14 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
This couldn't be more wrong with an electrified wronging machine.
Smoking is banned or at least frowned upon pretty much anywhere to one extent or another. In Australia you can't smoke anywhere indoors at all and now they have little designated smoking areas outside where people have to stand. Not to mention that there are health warnings plastered everywhere including the cigarette packets themselves and 'Quit' advertisements everywhere.
No one says anything about drinking alcohol unless it's become alcoholism then it becomes an issue.
No one says anything about 'eating like crap' unless it leads to obesity and then it becomes an issue.
LOL! Yeah, no one says anything about drugs. If that's the case get high and go announce it to your employer and watch how much *nothing* happens to you
I too have a bit of a problem with 'fat acceptance' or has become more the case 'fat celebration'. I think I draw the line at 'fat tolerance' in that I'm not going to attack someone for being overweight but don't expect me to tell you that it's OK or worse that it's a good thing.
I see overeating and being severely overweight as the equal and opposite of undereating and being underweight. I certainly wouldn't look at a severely underweight person and be telling them to 'forget the haters' and that they're perfect just the way they are.14 -
ShayCarver89 wrote: »dragon_girl26 wrote: »ShayCarver89 wrote: »People smoke - *nothing*
People drink alcohol - *nothing*
People eat like crap - *nothing*
People do drugs - *nothing*
Fat person *breathes - Everyone "Watch your health."
Ex-smoker here, this is deeply false.
People say *kitten* to you as a smoker, as an alcoholic, as a drug user.
Hell, Elon Musk, a wildly successful man once publicly smoked pot in a legal state and caught *kitten* about it.
There's really plenty of judgment for everybody.
Seriously, if you're catching *kitten* for being fat, know that you'll probably catch *kitten* for something else if you lose weight so don't let that be a factor in anything.
Plus, isnt it also the case that health insurance premiums go up if you're a smoker? That hardly seems like the "nothing" the other commenter claims.
No one said anything to me when I smoked. In fact I got extra breaks at work for it. At 22 I was told I looked cool for it. No one says anything at all to me about the amount of alcohol I consume. In fact they think its kind of cool and they're impressed by it even tho alcoholism runs in my family and I've almost died of poisoning a half a dozen times. When I was using heroin no one gave a *kitten*, I actually was complimented a lot on how thin I was...it was honestly from forgetting to eat and puking so much.
And the thing is too, my smoking hurt other people. Strangers walking past me, my kids. My alcohol consumption could of killed me and left my children motherless, so could of my heroin use. But me being fat only hurts me. I'm the only one that would have to deal with diabetes and whatever else *kitten* would come from it. You could argue that my death would hurt my kids but we're talking about things like I would be the one dealing with having a hard time walking up stairs. The worst thing a fat person is to you is an eyesore. Everyone just needs to get over themselves.
Honestly, it sounds like your environment ranged from "this reminds me of some college aged kids I know" to exceedingly toxic. Never mind that not everyone 22 and under thinks binge drinking and the like is a good thing nor smoking.
I mean I've definitely been in a number of spaces that are very pro smoking marijuana. I live in a state where it's legal and I'm honestly kind of shocked at how openly people discus it in a positive light (and how much crap that one will get when they express opposing views). It's mind boggling honestly and can be alienating at times - I say this as someone who doesn't use drugs and doesn't enjoy being inebriated.
Despite that, I think that much of your list of "people do nothing" isn't especially accurate in much of the US if not North America as a whole. There are plenty of social and legal repercussions for smoking, drinking, and using drugs (see drug laws in various places New York being a good one or, if we want to go outside of the US - the Philippines).8 -
Eh, nvm.3
-
ShayCarver89 wrote: »
No one said anything to me when I smoked. In fact I got extra breaks at work for it. At 22 I was told I looked cool for it. No one says anything at all to me about the amount of alcohol I consume. In fact they think its kind of cool and they're impressed by it even tho alcoholism runs in my family and I've almost died of poisoning a half a dozen times. When I was using heroin no one gave a *kitten*, I actually was complimented a lot on how thin I was...it was honestly from forgetting to eat and puking so much.
And the thing is too, my smoking hurt other people. Strangers walking past me, my kids. My alcohol consumption could of killed me and left my children motherless, so could of my heroin use. But me being fat only hurts me. I'm the only one that would have to deal with diabetes and whatever else *kitten* would come from it. You could argue that my death would hurt my kids but we're talking about things like I would be the one dealing with having a hard time walking up stairs. The worst thing a fat person is to you is an eyesore. Everyone just needs to get over themselves.
I truly am sorry for the lack of concern others had/have for your well being in those respects, however this is purely anecdotal. Where there is someone who doesn’t catch any grief for the things you mentioned, there are plenty more that do. A lot of this is dependent on the people you associate yourself with as well. I do believe you understate the impact that being overweight can have on others. Just like with alcohol/drug consumption, your children will learn from your habits and could very well wind up motherless if, heaven forbid, medical issues stemming from being overweight result in premature death. Sure only you will know what it’s like to have diabetes and have a hard time walking up the stairs, but the same can be said for lung cancer or cirrhosis of the liver from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Only you personally know what it feels like, but the impact doesn’t stop there.
7 -
I agree to a point, BUT, it is a personal choice for a lot if they want to go down the path of fat acceptance etc.
The main thing is personal choice, you have decided to do something about your weight because it affects you, while Tess has decided to whatever she wants to do.
Will it affect her later in life? I don't know as i am not a doctor.
You should worry about you and ignore the rest.
5 -
To those wanting to debate body positivity/"Healthy at Every Size"(HAES)/fat acceptance, may I suggest that there's a wonderful sandbox to play in called the 'Debate: Health and Fitness' part of the forum?
Here's the perfect thread over there:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10376680/fat-acceptance-movement
It would be good etiquette to read the entire 73 pages (or so) of the ongoing debate before diving in . . . since, y'know, the ground may've already been covered. Maybe 8 times.
Just a thought.
(Yeah, this thread started in the "wrong" place; it happens. That could change, but why start anew, even over there?)
Aaaaaannnnndddd . . . we're now moved to the debate section. My crystal ball is strong! (I'm not the one who flagged it to move, BTW. ). Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket?
The other thread has already dragged the topic back and forth through the mud, all the way across a couple of continents, really. :drinker:2 -
I had a woman boss who was short and considered overweight. She did triathlons every year. I have to think that even tho she was overweight she was still a fit individual, moreso than many people who may be thin and aren’t doing triathlons. Don’t know about the fat can’t ve fit thing. I have positive feelings for the fat acceptance movement in the fact that I can see women like me now on tv commercials and they aren’t the funny fat girl but just one of the beautiful women in the commercial. That makes me feel better about myself in a way. I might be fat but maybe I can still be beautiful to more people than my mom. That is a nice very feeling. I still want to lose weight to be healthy because I am not a fat fit person.4
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions