What Lies Beneath The Biggest Loser

I know, I know it will come as a surprise to many but unsafe behaviors have occurred on The Biggest Loser. Gasp! Really?

Of course they have! I'm glad some this hidden, dark side is finally bubbling up to the surface. The show's shaming of fat people, totally unrealistic expectations, and fear mongering has to stop. If it was reality show focused on health as it claims to be it would be honest about it's "failures" and wouldn't perpetuate a system to encourage contestants to put their health at risk for the sake of numbers on a scale. No matter what anybody involved claims this show isn't about health, it's about ratings and money at the expense of health. It's sick.

Article on Doctors' Fatness

Like most articles on the subject of weight and health much of this one in the L.A. Times is mostly a bunch of unsubstantiated drivel even if it does mention the fatosphere. Ms. Deardorff, just throwing a sentence or two in there about fat activism doesn't make your piece well-balanced. Also the idea that seeing an "overweight" doctor is analogous to taking advice from a CPA who just file bankruptcy is way off-base. It's one of those things people say to make themselves sound clever and thoughtful but is just meaningless. Really, my biggest gripe with this piece is just what a lame note it ends on, "I am fat because I eat too much," she admitted. "I exercise plenty but I just eat too much. In fact, burp, I just did." Groan, really? Once again it lays all the "blame" on fat people being unrestrained gluttons.

I do have concerns with the overall premise of the article. Just like many pursuits, doctors and otherwise; fat people no matter how exceptional our accomplishments, experiences, education, qualifications, and gifts they can be all discredited just because of some extra fat. It's wrong, it's discrimination and it amazes me that so many people fail to recognize it as such.

Health Care Money Waste

The last paragraph of this article got me all hot and bothered. "Other areas of waste identified in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report included up to $493 billion related to risky behavior such as smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse." Hey, Mr. Kavilanz and PricewaterhouseCoopers maybe, just maybe, it's not that our behavior of being obese (I think I'm going to behave obesely today) is wasting money; it's the MASSIVE amount of money spent trying to cure obesity. Study after study has shown being fat alone is not the almighty evil risk it has been made out to be, far too much money (medical and otherwise) has spent in the pursuit of trying to make us thin. Especially when it has an over 95% failure rate. Aaargghhh my head is going to explode with the stupidity.

A Funny, Correct Way to Weigh Yourself

I got this in a forward from a friend, it amuses me.

The correct way to weigh yourself:



I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years.

Honesty at the DOL

Yesterday I had my driver's license renewed after living for five years with what I swear has to be one of the worst driver's license pictures of all time, no kidding it was death row inmate quality. I think for the first time my license will not have a vanity weight. I actually stated as honestly as I could my weight given I'm not sure of it exactly. There it is laminated glory: death fat, available for every cashier who is so inclined to check. For once what is stated is what it is: not a goal weight, not what I was a my thinnest, not 15 or 25 shaved off, not what I last managed to diet and starve myself to. I was going to do it anyway but I admit it helped that my clerk was also death fat and didn't even blink an eye. It was liberating in a way and milestone in this whole fat acceptance. Like if I can't accept where I am how can I expect everyone else to?

Fat Clothing and Simple Living

So the subject of my plentiful wardrobe came up yet again with my husband. I would like to put this on-going discussion into the context that both of us strive toward the idea of real simple living (not the somewhat commercialized, marketed magazine version). We find being real practitioners somewhat impossible with four children but we dream of it regardless. Our big plan for when all of our kids leave the nest is to get rid of almost everything and move into a parked RV and travel around together in a conversion van.

One of the areas I really cannot seem to commit to minimalism is my clothing. At first my husband attributed it to me being female. However, during the course of the discussion it finally occured to me I also despise the feeling of being unprepared and vulnerable. And I really, really hate paying full price for anything. Being a size 34 pant and a basic size Large shirt my husband can walk into pretty much any store, anywhere that offers men's clothing a just buy something, anything to fit him. At any time. At a size 24/26, 3/4X I cannot. Finding clothes that I like that fit and flatter me takes effort, usually mail-order, and lots of trial and error. Right now I just can't seem to get comfortable with the idea of having less than a stockpile of clothing any more than I can not full pantry bargains with four hungry kids. I have back-ups, for back-ups of swimsuits bought on clearance at Junonia. I guess I will need to sort this out in the coming years as I do not want stuff, even clothing, keeping us back from our dreams and plans.

Light Bulb Moment at Church Today

I'm a Christian. Today at church my pastor taught on this verse: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day (Colossians 2:16). Even though I’ve likely read that dozens of times it was finally an illuminating moment for me. What I eat or drink isn’t anyone else’s concern and I should not put up with letting anyone else judging me on it, in or out of the church.

Since there isn’t a BMI chart in the Bible I’m also taking it as my size isn’t anyone else’s beeswax either.

Just for Fun, Dancing

I loved this number on So You Think You Can Dance.

Fat Goggles

I've slowly come to the realization that my view of attractiveness has evolved over the last couple of years. Fat acceptance, both of my own and others, has also altered my base opinion of beauty. By cutting off and countering all the garbage we're constantly fed about what is attractive I've actually changed my instant, knee-jerk opinions. It seems Maddie at Mirrors in the House came to a similar revelation.

It really hit me this week when I happened to catch Kelly Clarkson on The Ellen Degeneres Show. My first thought was, "She's gained some weight, she looks HOT!"



It's too bad Ms. Clarkson has to deal with so much crap about her weight. Stay strong girl.

Old Diet Ad

This was sent to me from a good friend. Really, not much has changed. Hydroxycut anyone?