Testify.
Because I’m still very new to body and fat acceptance, I mostly focus right now on accepting my own fat and my own body. I don’t feel like I have enough knowledge and background to really spread the message.
But I’m finding it harder these days to keep my new ideas to myself.
A coworker says she needs to lose 10 pounds? I ask why.
An acquaintance says she can’t trust herself around chocolate? I drag out the giant bag of Rolos I have in my purse and tell her about legalizing food and how restriction creates cravings.
If someone says “diet,” I follow it with “they don’t work.”
I’m becoming quite the nuisance.
But the thing is, I remain in awe of how fantastic I’m feeling about myself lately and how very, very indebted I am to some fantastic books and a community of blogs that I find inspiring on a daily basis, and I just want everyone around me to know:
How you are? Right now? The body you’re in?
There’s not a damn thing wrong with it. You don’t have to change a thing.
Just wanted to say that I stumbled upon your blog tonight and read all your past posts…I couldn’t stop reading! It was a delight to read about your journey-the high points and the low points and then realize the connections I could make to my own life and acceptance of my body. What you are doing takes a lot of courage and is really an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your story.
I’m flabulous and glad you are feeling so fantastic. All those things you listed are great every day ways to make a difference and change the dialogue.
Thank you for the reminder to love me where I am. I agree with you, I love the freeing feeling of not being diet obsessed. I have a subscription to fitness and I just get rid of it when it arrives now because the thought of reading it exhausts me and there is no desire to read it. I still struggle with accepting me and my body but I do not struggle with wanting to diet. It is great.
Great post. I too am starting to make comments when i here people talking about diets etc., although i’m still trying to keep it to myself.
Thanks, you guys!
Hey, LMM, I had to give up all health and fitness magazines–huge triggers for me initially and now I realize they just don’t have anything to say to me. I hope your subscription runs out soon!
Bliss Chick, why are you trying to keep it to yourself? I’m curious.
This is FANTASTIC. And, hey, guess what? You are an awesome activist. *grin*
Lovely post. I’m starting to find myself doing the same thing, and I love it! No more trying to disappear in social situations, no more pretending all the talk of of “I’m so fat!” doesn’t drive me UP THE WALL. But, best of all, I’m really starting to like me. It’s a new feeling, and I love it.
I feel I owe a lot to you wonderful bloggers.
I’m becoming quite the nuisance.
Heehee! Awesome!
[...] 4. Challenge fatphobic (and thinphobic) statements when you see them. Don’t be afraid to speak up. [...]
Amen! You have made my day with this.
[...] 4. Challenge fatphobic (and thinphobic) statements when you see them. Don’t be afraid to speak up. [...]
I just wanted to say that I’m very new to this whole fat acceptance movement, too, and I’m becoming quite the nuisance about it, as well. I know my co-worker is getting tired of arguing with me, and my parents don’t (yet) believe me when I tell them about set points, or demand feeding, or the lack of evidence to support weight-related illness.
It’s really interesting reading your posts–I’ve never been skinny (I currently weigh somewhere above 200 pounds, although I’m not sure exactly where), and I have never had huge problems with dieting or compulsive exercise, or even with checking the scale!
However, so much of what you say resonates deeply with me. I’ve always been conscious of the fact that my body was socially unacceptable, and I still get messages from my friends and parents–well-meaning ones–that I might consider losing weight for my health. Thanks for being so honest, here, and giving me more ammunition against all the lies people like to tell us about our bodies and weight.
Thanks for this post. I feel a lot of the same things and I look forward to reading more of your posts.