That's right, I said you're fat!
One of the fat-positive feeds I follow on Twitter posted a link to this little gem entitled "Why I'm Glad I Gained 100 Pounds", and it really stunned me that a feed that otherwise has been so good about really talking about fat activism and ways to empower women of size who get trashed by society would post this link.
I get really alarmed when fat activist start posting this kind of hard-core, pound counting weight loss stuff. Because saying that you're being size positive by linking to a blog named "See Sara Shrink" is like saying you're linking a queer positive blog named "See Sara Go Straight".
Because the point of her blog is to not be a fat person anymore. Which is fine. If she's made that decision and that's her identity and where she wants to be, more power toward her. But don't tell me that it's positive when someone who says shit like this:
I can relate to people with all kinds of self-control problems, problems that some people would call addictions. (I don’t believe that addiction is a disease, but lets don’t go there on this blog!) Whether their problem is drugs, alcohol, porn, hoarding, shopping or other compulsive behaviors, I can relate. I know how hard it is to change.
Yes because if you're fat it means you're obviously out of control and you eat like a pig. Gee why didn't I realize that before. I'm fat because I can't stop eating! Overweight DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL OVEREATING. I feel like I can't scream this loud enough, EVER. Lots of overweight people do not have self control problems. They may nutritional problems. They may not be eating the right foods, but it doesn't mean they are stuffing themselves with donuts every day.
Compulsive eating and obesity are not always interchangeable. A lot of obese people eat within normal range, they just eat bad foods or at the wrong time or in the wrong ways. Or, they eat a fine enough diet, but don't get physical activity like they should. Eating only 2000 (the recommended amount for normal adults) can still lead to overweight if you're unable to get useful physical activity.
Not to mention that it's not a problem with self-control if you're unaware of what a proper portion size is. It's easy, for instance, to overload on cereal because a serving is usually 3/4th to 2/3rds of a cup for about 110-130 calories depending on the cereal. Most people would, if they eyeballed it, put a cup and a half in plus a cup and a half of milk. This would not seem like a gluttonous portion if you saw it in front of you, but calorie wise it would be shocking.
So a "reasonable" portion of cereal (if you don't read labels) would cost you a lot of calories, sugar, and carbs if you're not aware.
Or, for instance, those little cups of peanut butter you get in the store to go with snacks (presumably healthy ones like apples or celery). You'd think that little 1/4th cup serving wouldn't be too bad? It's not a whole jar of the stuff, it's a little portion. But depending on the brand it would cost you anywhere from 310-340 calories and anywhere from 25-28 grams of fat.
So, when someone starts talking complete smack about how they understand my "self control" issues, I really want to start doling out the knuckle sandwiches.
That blog feels like a thin person pretending to be a fat person so they can show all those whiny fatties that if they just stop being lazy, gluttonous and stupid that they too can shrink and be pretty.
Because that's the answer to size discrimination. Don't want to get treated like crap? Stop being fat! Just like the answer to homophobia is to tell all those queers to stop being gay. Then they won't get beat up or denied marriage rights.
Telling someone that the only way to get fair and respectful treatment is to tailor their identity (size, race, sexuality, gender, etc) to someone else's specifications rather than demanding that they be respected AS THEY ARE is always part and parcel of oppression.
I'm tempted sometimes to start my own blog that's about my journey toward HEALTH instead of weight loss. Because as time has gone on, I'm less concerned about the poundage and jean size and more concerned about physical activity and my insulin resistance and things like that.
Because yes, sometimes fat people do need to lose some weight, but that doesn't mean they need to stop being what is considered "fat". If you're 800 pounds, you may need to drop weight - but that doesn't mean you need to get down to 120 pounds. It may mean you need to set your sights on being 250 pounds or 200 pounds.
For me? My ideal goal is 180 - which is still considered "obese" by the BMI charts, even though at that weight I would be a size 14/16 and that is the weight I was when I played basketball and could run up and down the court easily and run a mile. Yes, run a mile.
Because good health and good nutrition and physical activity are something that fat people should be talking about and they're the exact people who have been excluded from the Healthy Club, people who should feel good about taking care of their bodies (whatever size and shape their bodies are) and should enjoy using those bodies to have fun, to be active, to enjoy life.
That's what it's about really. Being healthy and happy for yourself. And if other people don't like the size or shape of it, well, serve 'em up a hearty glass of STFU with a GTFO chaser.
I get really alarmed when fat activist start posting this kind of hard-core, pound counting weight loss stuff. Because saying that you're being size positive by linking to a blog named "See Sara Shrink" is like saying you're linking a queer positive blog named "See Sara Go Straight".
Because the point of her blog is to not be a fat person anymore. Which is fine. If she's made that decision and that's her identity and where she wants to be, more power toward her. But don't tell me that it's positive when someone who says shit like this:
I can relate to people with all kinds of self-control problems, problems that some people would call addictions. (I don’t believe that addiction is a disease, but lets don’t go there on this blog!) Whether their problem is drugs, alcohol, porn, hoarding, shopping or other compulsive behaviors, I can relate. I know how hard it is to change.
Yes because if you're fat it means you're obviously out of control and you eat like a pig. Gee why didn't I realize that before. I'm fat because I can't stop eating! Overweight DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL OVEREATING. I feel like I can't scream this loud enough, EVER. Lots of overweight people do not have self control problems. They may nutritional problems. They may not be eating the right foods, but it doesn't mean they are stuffing themselves with donuts every day.
Compulsive eating and obesity are not always interchangeable. A lot of obese people eat within normal range, they just eat bad foods or at the wrong time or in the wrong ways. Or, they eat a fine enough diet, but don't get physical activity like they should. Eating only 2000 (the recommended amount for normal adults) can still lead to overweight if you're unable to get useful physical activity.
Not to mention that it's not a problem with self-control if you're unaware of what a proper portion size is. It's easy, for instance, to overload on cereal because a serving is usually 3/4th to 2/3rds of a cup for about 110-130 calories depending on the cereal. Most people would, if they eyeballed it, put a cup and a half in plus a cup and a half of milk. This would not seem like a gluttonous portion if you saw it in front of you, but calorie wise it would be shocking.
So a "reasonable" portion of cereal (if you don't read labels) would cost you a lot of calories, sugar, and carbs if you're not aware.
Or, for instance, those little cups of peanut butter you get in the store to go with snacks (presumably healthy ones like apples or celery). You'd think that little 1/4th cup serving wouldn't be too bad? It's not a whole jar of the stuff, it's a little portion. But depending on the brand it would cost you anywhere from 310-340 calories and anywhere from 25-28 grams of fat.
So, when someone starts talking complete smack about how they understand my "self control" issues, I really want to start doling out the knuckle sandwiches.
That blog feels like a thin person pretending to be a fat person so they can show all those whiny fatties that if they just stop being lazy, gluttonous and stupid that they too can shrink and be pretty.
Because that's the answer to size discrimination. Don't want to get treated like crap? Stop being fat! Just like the answer to homophobia is to tell all those queers to stop being gay. Then they won't get beat up or denied marriage rights.
Telling someone that the only way to get fair and respectful treatment is to tailor their identity (size, race, sexuality, gender, etc) to someone else's specifications rather than demanding that they be respected AS THEY ARE is always part and parcel of oppression.
I'm tempted sometimes to start my own blog that's about my journey toward HEALTH instead of weight loss. Because as time has gone on, I'm less concerned about the poundage and jean size and more concerned about physical activity and my insulin resistance and things like that.
Because yes, sometimes fat people do need to lose some weight, but that doesn't mean they need to stop being what is considered "fat". If you're 800 pounds, you may need to drop weight - but that doesn't mean you need to get down to 120 pounds. It may mean you need to set your sights on being 250 pounds or 200 pounds.
For me? My ideal goal is 180 - which is still considered "obese" by the BMI charts, even though at that weight I would be a size 14/16 and that is the weight I was when I played basketball and could run up and down the court easily and run a mile. Yes, run a mile.
Because good health and good nutrition and physical activity are something that fat people should be talking about and they're the exact people who have been excluded from the Healthy Club, people who should feel good about taking care of their bodies (whatever size and shape their bodies are) and should enjoy using those bodies to have fun, to be active, to enjoy life.
That's what it's about really. Being healthy and happy for yourself. And if other people don't like the size or shape of it, well, serve 'em up a hearty glass of STFU with a GTFO chaser.