Fat Chance--Miss F.A.T.

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 8/6/05 at 10:27pm

I just got done watching what was possibly the most amazing show I've ever seen. It was Mo Nique's Fat Chance. They took 10 fat women and put them through basically a beauty pageant. They got so connected with themselves, and built up their confidence, it really was great to see. It made me realize some things. And I'm not really "fat" so I guess it was a pretty good show, eh?

Here's my rant to all of my fat friends:

They talked about how they never want to get off of the couch b/c 1) they don't have the energy and 2) b/c they don't want to face the criticism of the world. The skinny world. Which is really ironic because in all reality there are more overweight women than there are skinny. So get up, and show yourself. Take a stand. Stop taking the emotional abuse, and find ways to turn this seemingly negative problem into a positive. Use is to your advantage. Stop hiding...stand up and show the world that you are here!!!

Of course there is always the problem of clothing. I will be among the first to admit that the world of fashion was not meant for heavy women. Hell, even I have a problem shopping for clothes that fit. But you just have to work around that. Make your clothes if you have to!!! You've got a lot to show, so show it!!

What I don't understand is this whole "I am going to wear a sweater because I don't want my arms to show". Well, do ugly people wear bags over their faces? No. It's your body, show it how you want it. I know it must not be easy, for instance, I hate my thighs...but that doesn't stop me from wearing shorts. It's not as though people are going to throw rocks at you, or tar and feather you. No, I'm not fat, and no, I haven't had to go through all of the nasty stares, and bitchy remarks, but I can somewhat comprehend that it must be rough--but you are the one letting it happen. Show them up, don't take it...you are better than their snooty comments.

There's just more of you to love, and more of you to be beautiful. Being fat sucks, anyone can see that. There is job descrimination that still happens today because of how you look, the comments and stares in public are terrible, not being able to wear what you want is a burden, feeling tired all the time stinks, but that doesn't have to be your life. Change your attitude--realize that you are beautiful, and you have tons to offer.

Don't let your looks hold you back. Being fat is the same as being short, ugly, tall, pretty...you've just got to make it work for you.

I know, I know, easier said than done...but that's how life is. Just gotta work for it. Be you, be full, be beautiful.

So my friends...be F.A.T. Fabulous And Thick.

I'm feeling much better about the weight I've gained this summer after watching this show. If you get the chance, check it.

Dannah Girl.

[ForTheLoveOfLea]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:14am

Ok, here's the part I agree with.

I agree that people of every size should feel good about themselves. Just because the media focuses only on the little waifs doesn't mean all of America is like that. It is nice to prove that overweight people too can contribute to society.

Here is where its going to sting.

People should not be proud of being fat. Obesity is highly unhealthy and people really shouldn't embrace a condition that causes diabetes, heart failure, and other problems. In most cases (not all), obesity isn't something you are just born with. It is something that happens when you don't take care of yourself. It isn't like being short, ugly, or tall where you are born with these traits. There is also nothing you can do about these things. When you are overweight you do have some control. You can diet and exercise. I know its trite, but it works. Once you start doing it your cholesterol goes down, breathing gets easier, and you start feeling good.

I'm not talking about just curvy girls. If you have a big butt or are busty, by all means be proud of your assets. If you are morbidly obese you have a serious disorder and have nothing to be proud of. My dad has done autopsies on people and has seen hearts the size of soccer balls come out of overweight people.

This isn't meant to knock fat people down. This is more or less meant as a wake up call. Every day you don't exercise or eat healthily you are killing yourself slowly. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, be a go getter and start an exercise program or cut out all the snacks. Feeling good about being fat will get you absolutely nowhere. They will just go on thinking they are fabulous and not even think about changing their lifestyles because they are convinced that where they are is ok. If you are overweight you have to do something about it. Its not just a matter of vanity anymore, its a matter of health. It is not healthy to carry around 80 extra pounds. I guarantee you that once you start a healthy lifestyle the self esteem will come in naturally.

FAT is not beautiful, HEALTHY is beautiful.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:21am

and who decides what is healthy?

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:44pm

That's exactly right, Chita. Who has the right to tell you what is a healthy fat or not? There are obviously certain extremes to this...but before one reaches that, who's to say if it's healthy or not? Some people just have big bones.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:47pm

Uh...this isn't exactly an objective thing. Being overweight tends to be associated with high cholesterol levels/clogged arteries/heart problems, and that's been backed up by a ton of medical studies. Yeah, some people are big-boned. And other people are obese. They're not the same thing.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:52pm

I am a morbidly obese womanand I feel obesity is a disease. It doesn't matter how it happened............it is a disease that there is treatment available for. For many it goes beyond diet exercise and often is not the treatment if the weight keeps coming back. For instance, for those of us with diabetes, we have a condition called " metabolic syndrome". Most of the meds we take for diabtes case weight gain. Also, those same medications cause a heavy distribution of belly fat. There are some new medications that have just been FDA approved to help this siutuation. I am on one of them called Similin. The results have been very good so far. Surgery is another treatment that has been proven to also be highly effective. Obesity is a disease.......not something cosmetic!

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:52pm

My dad is 52 years old. He has a low blood pressure, low cholesterol level, and a resting heart rate of 63 beats per minute.

He is also obviously overweight.

It is possible to be larger and healthy at the same time. Obesity is never healthy, but I think everyone here is thinking of a different definition of 'overweight.' There is difference between 30 pounds overweight, where a person would just have some chub, and 90 pounds overweight, which is... usually obese. So what are we talking about, here?

And, of course, the average weight is in the 'overweight' range.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:02pm

Plum wrote, "Yeah, some people are big-boned."

Dinosaurs are big boned beeatch, put down that Twinkie.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:03pm

Actually, it's a brownie. *munches*

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:04pm

With nuts?

[Plum]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:07pm

Nope, not this time. Sometimes I make them with walnuts, though.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:08pm

According to Margo, nuts are God's miricle food.

Hence the addition to my sig.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:48pm

"That's exactly right, Chita. Who has the right to tell you what is a healthy fat or not?"

-Your doctor.

There is a difference between overweight and obese; most people are overweight by Hollywood standards, and who the hell cares? But EVERYONE (including people who are "skinny") should make sure their weight and eating habits are healthy.

People should always feel confident in how they look, but never so confident that they forget to eat their vegetables :0) THAT COUNTS FOR SKINNIES TOO WHO STARVE THEMSELVES!!!!

[shira467]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 5:35pm

There are certainly many examples of people who are morbidly obese, in which obesity is a disease. The larger fat cells, leptin levels, etc...

And then there are the people who overweight and obese due to lack of exercise and food choices.

When I was younger, a new magazine arrived on the market called "GRACE", and it celebrated larger women. I was thrilled with it, as I felt that it meant that it was okay to be a larger woman - and it is okay. However, I also took it to be a crutch, that "I can eat what I want and be overweight because that is OKAY!". However, for many woman who are normal to slightly overweight, the magazine can reaffirm that you don't have to look like Kate Moss to be beautiful.

Fastforward 3-4 years, and I was forced to take a year off from college to battle the 100+ pounds I had put on over the course of a lifetime. Another 20 pounds, and I most likely would have suffered the usual consequences of morbid obesity -- high blood pressure, knee pain. I already had shortness of breath and high cholesterol. I still have high cholesterol. I still have 60 pounds to go.

I'm all for embracing who I am, absolutely, noquestionsasked. But to celebrate a disease is rather disturbing. I feel we should celebrate our bodies and our selves, but not that which is causing so many deaths in our society.

Recently, I read an article about a woman who was being fattened up to be more attractive. She was being fed 10,000 calorie meals, and weighed about 750 pounds. And she didn't care that her health was endangered.

I think obesity is certainly a disease for many, and it has many addictions attached to it, much like smoking is an addiction which causes lung cancer. Do we celebrate emphysema and scarred lungs? No. We shouldn't celebrate diseases. But we should celebrate ourselves, and encourage ourselves and society to be healthy and beautiful. But more importantly HEALTHY.

I apologize is this is scattered and unorganized, but just some thoughts.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 6:23pm

Dr Plum? We haven't been properly introduced. Are you related to Dr. Frist? He is also in the habit of making a diagnosis without seeing the patient.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 7:13pm

Riiight. I'm not seeing where I diagnosed anyone, but what the hey. I'll be your little straw girl. C'mon, punch away.

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 9:04pm

Apparently you needed to see the show to see what I see. None of you have, correct? These woman are obsese, yes, and they weren't doing a damn thing with their lives--no, I don't promote obesity, however, I was happy to see that they were actually getting up and doing something with their life, and having more confidence in themselves. If you have no confidence or self respect for your body image you will fail at every diet...so forgive me if it came off as I was telling people to go get fat, b/c I was not. I was saying come to terms with who you are and what you look like and embrace it--then feel the power to change it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 9:14pm

Plum between big boned and obese there is a lot of territory.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/7/05 at 9:16pm

Can't disagree with you there.