I’m committed to being in the body I have, taking care of it through exercise and healthy food, but never disassociating from or denying my stomach or my thighs or the rolls of fat on my back.

I no longer believe those things should be hidden from view. I don’t believe in flattering, in hiding or masking or Spanxing. I believe in belly outlines and flabby arms all a flutter, in jiggling double chins and stretch marks and cellulite and rolls aplenty. These are our true bodies, the ones that everyone keeps shrouded in cotton invisibility cloaks, except for the occasional decolletage or bared calf.

But what are we hiding from and for whom? And if we showed those things, would anything change? Did no one know I was fat when I wore long sleeved caftans and wide-leg pants? To this still newbie and sometimes naked model, fat activism and acceptance is not one movement or campaign, but is found in each exposed dimple and unfettered belly.

And so yes, I pose in my underwear, and in my less than underwear, and in a fluffy skirt and netted hat. But each person in a miniskirt (fat or thin or inbetweenie) is a triumph, each exaggerated belly and bold print over bolder ass a statement, and we, of all shapes and sizes, should not be afraid to speak out.

marinaberger:

redefiningbodyimage:

xxxxarachnexxxx:

redefiningbodyimage:

TW for possible food/body shaming discussion, just to be safe.

So one of my dear colleagues just came by with two trays of MASSIVE chocolate muffins. After being denied by at least ten people before coming to me, (“OH I shouldn’t, I’ve been gaining a bit of weight.” “No no no, I’ve been trying…

Jealous. I want a chocolate muffin too! And seriously, it’s sad what joys women deny themselves in order to be thin. Some of them were probably fishing for the “you don’t need to watch your weight! You’re so skinny!” line.

Sometimes that happens, but I don’t necessarily mean that to be the case in this instance.

I just find everyone’s need to openly justify why they will or won’t consume something to be absolutely ridiculous. Like, it’s something everyone does - it is widely accepted - why we shouldn’t eat this, why we shouldn’t eat that. We do it to fend off impending judgement from our peers - or in some cases, to justify our “healthy” choices and miraculous ability to deny sweets. But the fact that anyone feels it’s necessary at all and it’s just something that happens is just SO DISMAL to me.

We, as a species, as human beings - Did we always behave this way? When Marie Antoinette or the ladies of her place in time sat sipping champagne, dining on cakes and nibbling fruits laden with cream, did they worry about their figures or how what they consume may or may not define them? Well, she was quite unapologetic anyway, so I suppose it’s a moot point, but maybe there’s something to make sense of in there somewhere.

Nevertheless, I shall endeavor to uphold my unapologetic “obese lifestyle”, which for me includes eating things I enjoy eating (that may or may not always be “healthy” for me) and move my body when I feel like moving it (in nice ways that make me feel energetic and strong) and never giving a fuck about what anyone thinks that these things ever again.

Also, yet, that muffin was delicious. I ate the top of it, and then forgot about it, and then it got stale. :(

Actually, according to an episode of The Supersizers Go … The French Revolution, Marie Antoinette was preoccupied with her weight and tiny corset size (which was so tight it made it difficult to eat, move, breathe). The great feasts were mostly for show (and for Louis, who was typically served 50 plates of meat at dinner). Also, Marie Antoinette was 14 when she married Louis… and court life in her native Austria was much more casual than in France. So, I don’t know if describing her as “unapologetic” is really accurate.

Yeah, I was waiting on someone to correct me on that, haha. Good job.

xxxxarachnexxxx:

redefiningbodyimage:

TW for possible food/body shaming discussion, just to be safe.

So one of my dear colleagues just came by with two trays of MASSIVE chocolate muffins. After being denied by at least ten people before coming to me, (“OH I shouldn’t, I’ve been gaining a bit of weight.” “No no no, I’ve been trying…

Jealous. I want a chocolate muffin too! And seriously, it’s sad what joys women deny themselves in order to be thin. Some of them were probably fishing for the “you don’t need to watch your weight! You’re so skinny!” line.

Sometimes that happens, but I don’t necessarily mean that to be the case in this instance.

I just find everyone’s need to openly justify why they will or won’t consume something to be absolutely ridiculous. Like, it’s something everyone does - it is widely accepted - why we shouldn’t eat this, why we shouldn’t eat that. We do it to fend off impending judgement from our peers - or in some cases, to justify our “healthy” choices and miraculous ability to deny sweets. But the fact that anyone feels it’s necessary at all and it’s just something that happens is just SO DISMAL to me.

We, as a species, as human beings - Did we always behave this way? When Marie Antoinette or the ladies of her place in time sat sipping champagne, dining on cakes and nibbling fruits laden with cream, did they worry about their figures or how what they consume may or may not define them? Well, she was quite unapologetic anyway, so I suppose it’s a moot point, but maybe there’s something to make sense of in there somewhere.

Nevertheless, I shall endeavor to uphold my unapologetic “obese lifestyle”, which for me includes eating things I enjoy eating (that may or may not always be “healthy” for me) and move my body when I feel like moving it (in nice ways that make me feel energetic and strong) and never giving a fuck about what anyone thinks that these things ever again.

Also, yet, that muffin was delicious. I ate the top of it, and then forgot about it, and then it got stale. :(

TW for possible food/body shaming discussion, just to be safe.

So one of my dear colleagues just came by with two trays of MASSIVE chocolate muffins. After being denied by at least ten people before coming to me, (“OH I shouldn’t, I’ve been gaining a bit of weight.” “No no no, I’ve been trying to be good.” “Ugh don’t tempt me!”) she presents me with her spread of delicious sweets. I think I am the only person in our cluster of cubicles who thanked her and happily grabbed one without hesitation.

I WILL EAT ALL YOUR MUFFINS.

Seriously though, why do people feel the need to tack a disclaimer onto their decisions to eat/not eat certain foods in public spaces? Who gives a fuck WHY, just take it or leave the goddamn food! 

So now I’m the one fatty in a sea of thin-privileged colleagues, happily munching on a muffin.

And maybe other people noticed that I took one when everyone else didn’t - maybe they’re passing judgement on my desire to indulge, taking into account my corpulent body and appetite. 

I might have cared about all of that once upon a time.

But fuck them. I have a delicious muffin.

savethecurves:

As I was listening to Just Stop (Which has no relation to this post)I began wondering if the acceptance of my body has been a mental display of becoming numb, or less emotionally aware. Accepting our bodies makes us more socially aware, and pysically aware, but what does it really do to our feelings, self esteem, and sense of self?

I know as of now, I am completely fine with my body. I love it as if it is something that cannot change, but also as something that gives me great stregnth. Like the way kids feel about their parents; you cant change them, but you love the support they give you, if and when they give it to you. 

As Ive gotten more and more comfortable with my body, Ive gotten less sensitive to my and other peoples feelings regarding it. Ive actually written about this before, and Ive even said that Ive felt like I was losing my gentle side; the side of me thats not always so serious all the danm time. The side that cares.

Even though I am an empath, sometimes I find myself not wantitng to care about other peoples problems, or even the worlds problems. If it doesn’t relate to my life, it is labeled irrelevant in my mind. But is that what the Size Acceptance movement is all about?

Does Fuck Flattering = Fuck Your Feelings?

I think it does. And I also think this is my first step to being comfortable with my right to dismiss anyone’s, or everyone’s opinions or judgments.  

I suppose becoming comfortable with your body is only the first step to accepting yourself. 

I love this.

For me, it comes down to this - Fuck what everyone else projects or thinks about my body, because the way I feel is monumentally more important.

It’s an act of selfishness that needs to be encouraged - because after years of hiding away my fat to appease others, I am fucking done with it.

It’s about OWNING your feelings and proudly telling everyone else to fuck right off in the process.

I’ve been trolling the “fuck flattering” tag for a while as I gather the wherewithal to purchase and don a bikini for the first time…ever.

Also, this fatkini gallery at xoJane has been super helpful.

infinitetransit:

1. Realise all aesthetic choices are subjective.
2. Realise that they might think they look sexy as fuck.
3. Remove yourself from the vicinity until you’ve learned to get over your fatphobia/transphobia/misogyny/racism or combination of those.

Yes yes yes.

TW: Eating disorders/illnesses, body shaming

Hello and thank you!

I had not thought about it in that specific way before. I think perhaps there is a lot to this that I am unaware of, mostly because I do not have any personal experiences with eating disorders - although many of my followers do. (Do feel free to contribute some words!)

I do know that cases of eating disorders are rising and awareness is not rising with it.

Whether or not that has anything to do with equating eating disorders with thinness and therefore optimal health, I am unsure.

I do know that when a girl gets sick and vomits every day for years to the point that her heart is under serious stress, yet she is losing weight and gaining positive reinforcement from the people in her life about it - that poses a major fucking problem.

The line, for most people, between healthy/unhealthy is incredibly blunt. It starts with a look, external assessment, and ends there. Fat = unhealthy. Thin = healthy, normal. This correlation needs to end. If we are ever going to find peace and truth in our bodies and our personal health, this point needs to continue to be driven home again and again.

It all makes me so sad and frustrated sometimes.

morebutter:

I have tried a lot of diets in my life. Atkins, vegan, Weight Watchers, counting calories, Weigh Down Workshops, Paleo, Zone, South Beach, food logs. I’ve worked with nutritionists and therapists. I’ve done the shakes, the herbal supplements, the cleanses. I’ve spent hours in the gym, I’ve trained for races, I’ve done CrossFit, I’ve lifted weights. I’ve tried a lot of things. I’ve spent thousands of dollars. None of these efforts (and concentrated, years-spanning efforts many of them were) have succeeded to get me thin in the long term.

I finally got fed up, and about two years ago, and decided that instead of going on another diet, I would start doing some research about why nothing was working for me. I learned that dieting almost never works. That losing and gaining weight repeatedly was unhealthy. That I didn’t have to be thin to be healthy. I started to do more research. I read more books, I visited blogs, I investigated health journals and read papers and published research. I became more and more curious. Read the full post…

I love this because it aligns with my own journey to a diet-free existence, which all started with questioning. 

“WHY?”

As soon as we start to question all of these things that stand in our way, we can begin to break them down to a powder and blow them away.

Also, definitely click-through to the full article, there are a number of really amazing resources!

hi! I love your blog and I love the message for people to love themselves no matter what(fat/skinny, healthy/unhealthy and everything in between). What I’m wondering, however, is do you think the obesity “problem” in north america stems a lot from companies like macdonalds targeting children and impoverished people/families with their cheap food? It’s true that sugar and fat are literally addictive and eating too much food with high sugar/fat content causes health problems, so I think the “problem” has more to do with corporate greed than people being fat lazy slobs that need to get a life(that’s sarcasm). 

This message isn’t to say that being fat is a problem either. I’m mainly addressing the health issue(and that’s not to say that thin people aren’t unhealthy/fat people aren’t healthy, you don’t know a person’s individual history/lifestyle until you know, so no judgement here based on body type). 

Not that it’s anyones business as to why a person looks the way they do, I think people need to keep in mind that north american society/culture is very food oriented and there’s a lot of unhealthy shit readily available for consumption for low costs. Stop shaming people for being fat and start shaming mega food corporations for (for lack of a better example) forcing crap food down people’s throats. I know you make your own “choices” about what food you’re going to eat, but honestly, it’s not always that simple. Personally, I am an emotional binge eater and from an early age I comforted myself with food. I still have issues with food and I probably always will. For now, I’m not “fat” and I havn’t been technically overweight for about 10 years, but I struggle with body image/food every day. My mother is the same way and I feel like I got a lot of these bad habits from her. I just wish that instead of shaming people for their bodies there could be more positive messages about loving yourself and more readily available healthy food/ways to learn about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. 

Sorry if this message is all over the place, main thing is I love your blog and I thank you for your positive messages about self love. Push aside judgmental attitudes and focus on making things better for yourself! Happiness is contagious so make a difference for others by making a difference for yourself. 

thanks!

——

This is a topic that has been brought up a few times before and it always makes me feel uncomfortable because like…yeah, shitty processed food exists but it is not and never will be my place to judge anyone for consuming it, regardless of their situation. And like you’ve said, it’s not always as simple as making the “right” or the “healthy” choice. 

I could try to pick apart my thoughts on this, but honestly - I feel this quote from a post by fattypolitic sums up my thoughts on the subject pretty thoroughly:

“How many people by now have no idea that eating more fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and drinking plenty of (unpolluted) water is better for you than processed food?

I know it. Everyone knows it.

What these arrogant shits who keep aiming to “teach low income people” is not something we don’t know. 

If you want to “teach” me something about food then teach me how to make $30 a week for three people stretch without processed meals.  

Or how about you stop assuming we are ignorant of the fact that fresh foods are better for us than hamburger helper and look at the root of WHY we have to buy the shit.

Once again, it’s just easier to assume ignorance and laziness than it is to apply any critical thinking or empathy.”

Thank you for submitting!