Fatadelic

From Michelle at Mouthfeel (who seems to be on a roll, lately):

Q: If I pursue weight loss, what is the most likely outcome, given past experience?

A: It would make me crazy, trigger disordered eating, and I’d eventually gain it back anyway.

Q: Am I more interested in being smaller, or feeling physically comfortable and better about myself?

A: The latter two. (Weight loss, in our culture, has become undeniably conflated with the pursuit of health and self-esteem, even though it is actually in diametric opposition to those things. That’s why it’s so insidious, and can be so seductive, even to people who have rejected it for years. Because who doesn’t want to feel good about their body? And who isn’t surrounded by the message that dieting will get them there?) When I actually was physically smaller and dieting, I got physically ill, and felt worse about myself. That’s what impelled me to find an alternative.

Q: So is there something I can do that will help me achieve those things, without the craziness and health risks of weight loss?

A: Yes. I can recommit to what I have learned about feeding myself well, and I can find enjoyable ways to move, visit a health professional to address any issues, and buy myself some new damn clothes.

Essentially, I can be nicer to myself, and turn up the self-care a notch. I can recommit to Health at Every Size.

Thank you, Kate Harding, you’ve nailed it down and driven it home:

Children’s bodies are not a problem for the government to solve.

It’s such a simple concept, isn’t it? So why is it so hard for the fuckers to grasp?

Let’s say it again, with emphasis:

Children’s bodies are not a problem for the government to solve.

Children’s bodies are not a problem for the government to solve.

Children’s bodies are not a problem for the government to solve.

Children’s bodies are not a fucking problem for the government to solve.

End of story.

By the way, if you haven’t already, go and read Junkfood Science’s take on the NSW Government’s Munch ‘n’ Move program (and as well as pretty much every thing Sandy has ever written.)

Is it really so radical to say that Fat Acceptance spaces need to be free of diet discussions? Actually, I don’t think it is. And I say this even though I believe that there has to be a starting point on the FA journey for everyone (as I have repeatedly stated before). I just don’t think weight loss stories are an appropriate starting point.

I’ve put together this diagram and the points below to help clarify my thoughts - but it’s really a work in progress and is intended as a starting point for discussion. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is have at it, discuss, dispute, whatever. Dive right in. The water’s fine.

Continue reading ‘Dieting and Fat Acceptance’

When even teeny-tiny starlets are ‘dimpled’ - despite their ability and motivation to throw endless cash at endless liposuction, creams, super-dooper marine mud goop treatments, pummelling or detoxing and whatever other arcane hoodoo has been most recently dreamt up by savvy snake-oil sellers - it is time to accept the inevitability of cellulite.

Birth. Death. Taxes. Cellulite.

Cellulite IS.

Continue reading ‘Cellulite IS.’

In lieu of an actual post:

Things my body wants me to eat today:

• Grapes! yummy fresh, crispy, sweet grapes that burst in my mouth like little bubbles of joy.
• Muesli - but wish I had some apple juice and live culture yoghurt to go on top, not milk.
• Watercress but I don’t have any, boo hoo.
• Steamed hong kong style dumplings

Things my body does not want today:

• Eggs. I am so off eggs at the moment. John has been wanting to make me an une coccotte (spelling errors entirely mine) which is an eggy spinachy breakfast thing, but I really can’t stomach the thought of eggs at present.
• Coffee.
• Milk.

As for anything else, the jury is currently out.

• I do not define myself as either a “good” or a “bad” fatty. I am just fat. Fat is not a moral issue. Nor is food.
• But society does divide fat people in that manner. To some extent, a fat person can earn a ‘pass’ or at least avoid a ‘fail’ by following the ‘rules’ (wear black, be well groomed, eat only salad, exercise, blah, blah, blah) and - of course - by showing an ‘appropriate’ amount of shame and a desire to ‘rectify’ the situation. It’s bullshit, but it occurs. It’s the “I don’t think of you as a fat person” phenomenon.
• I do, myself, follow HAES - and I do, myself, advocate it as a sane, holistic approach to mental, emotional and physical health. I interpret it as discarding an arbitrary set of rules for “health” and, instead, learning to follow one’s own instinct with regards to food, exercise and the body’s needs - what works for you.
• But that doesn’t mean I am better or worse than … anyone.
• I believe that we are all learning to have perfect self acceptance and body acceptance. It’s a journey, sure, but do we every really reach the destination?
• I welcome any fat activism. Period.
• Discussion of fat and health is important and valid and serves a purpose. Mythbusting is good.
• But “fat people can be healthy” is not the only message we need to convey.
• And we (note the ‘we’) need to check our unconscious biases in at the door.
• Each of us needs to fully consider how we as individuals want to participate in that activism. What works for some, won’t work for others.
• Fat Acceptance is (clearly!) not monolithic. Nor should it be. We have a range of view points, a range of goals, and a range of ideas on how best to achieve those goals. That’s great. Every little raindrop counts.
• I am not asking anyone to moderate what they say so as “not to offend” - but I do believe that, periodically, we need to look at who we (again, note the ‘we’) may unintentionally be marginalising. This is the same for any movement.
• And discussion about the best strategy to counter the arguments of the opposition can’t be a bad thing, can it?
• Finally, asking the Fatosphere as a whole to reassess our unconscious biases and/or knee-jerk reactions (and evaluate whether they are continuing to work for us or not) does not equate to criticism, finger pointing or lack of appreciation for past and present contributions. Really.

I have been following (and been commenting on) the recent discussions in the Fatosphere about “good fatties” and “bad fatties”. Surprisingly and sadly, it has been a rather divisive and explosive topic with misunderstandings abounding on all “sides”.

I’m not sure why this state of affairs should be, really, since we are all on the same team regardless of our views on this particular matter. Surely constructive discussion about what Fat Activism’s goals are and how best to achieve them is to be encouraged?

Anyway, Life’s been very full on recently, keeping me very busy and without the energy to compose a decent blog post about this or anything else. But when I have more time I intend to post more about this in future.