WHAT WE'RE ABOUT

RBI focuses on using expressive writing, design-oriented work, photography, media, research, and community input to fuel fat positive, body acceptance, discussion, and outreach. Our goal is to redefine the way we view and think about body image, size, fat, discrimination, health, fitness, wellness, mental/chronic illness, stigma, and other related topics.

We are constantly redefining our own perspectives, and therefore tend to write a lot about our personal experiences. Many followers and contributors are living with anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder, depression, and a variety of other body image disorders or mental illnesses, so please be respectful and remember that health applies differently to everyone. Any and all potentially triggering content will be prefaced with a trigger warning.

RBI supports all races, genders, classes, and sizes. We try our best to make this a safe space for everyone. If we are not doing our job or checking our privilege, we invite you to please inform us.

Some of the artwork you see here has been created by our founder or moderators, some sourced when applicable. Please be kind enough to source this blog whenever you share it's content.

We are not health professionals. Any and all advice provided on this blog is supported only by our own research, studies, and personal experiences; nothing more.

This blog is part of the Safe Space Network.
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chubby-bunnies:

I read a quote at some point, that said that fat girls who love themselves scare the shit out of people who don’t. I think that is very true. My friends say I am surprisingly “self pleased” (English language lacks a word here! This was the best translation I could come up with), because, surprise surprise, I don’t hate myself. I love me! I am awesome! In fact, I think all people are awesome. I could easily see plenty of reasons why they are beautiful, amazing people! I love life and the people in it.

I think I’ve almost always had a very positive look on life: as a young teen, many teachers and family members would say independently of each other that I “rest within myself”: I don’t struggle with myself, never really have. Sure, there are plenty of things that are changing all the time within me, but it doesn’t drain me of my love of life. 

I think part of the reason I am so positive, is that I don’t let myself miss out. I am fat, so? Doesn’t mean I can’t flirt with attractive men at parties. Doesn’t mean I can’t dance like crazy at the club. Doesn’t mean that I can’t sunbathe at the public beach. 

At graduation, as pictured above (hence the hats) there are two traditions that I know a lot of people were surpised a fat girl like me participated in. Heck, I was even a bit surprised! One is pictured above: All 450ish graduates go to this fountain and dance around it, in it, on top of it. To get to the top is a bit of a climb, and I therefore settled for dancing on one of the lower levels, simply because I didn’t think I would be able to pull my fat body up there. But then my friends, who are used to me never missing out, used to that I am always  center when we have a silly fun time, they thought that of course I should be up at the highest level of the fountain, and helped me up there. Of course I shouldn’t miss out! 

The support of my friends, meant that I had no doubts when it came to the second tradition: Skinny dipping in the harbour. And I can add, I live in a harbour city, meaning the harbour is in the middle of town. And it was daytime. But, off with the dress, and in we went, no second thoughts! And again, people who knew we weren’t surprised, and people who didn’t (or even those who do, but continue to see me as a “selfhating fat girl”, because surely, that is what all fat girls ought to be like?), could hardly believe their eyes. “Was that a naked fat girl, joining in with her longtime friends in a tradition that has nothing to do with size or shape of bodies?” 

Yesterday, some old friends invited me to a beach party. I remembered that they had also invited me 3 years ago, and I had said no, because I didn’t want them to see me in a bathing suit. I was taken aback, I could hardly recongize that person! And I even know I was still a happy-go-lucky person then, even though I was still unsure of my body. So if I can go from feeling good, to feeling awesome in 3 years, what might the future hold? I can only look forward to it (:

So that was my little tale, of how I feel about myself and the world ;)

Denmark, size can be anywhere from EU size 44 to 54.

shantiflagg:

“Body.” By Shanti Flagg. Pentax K-1000 with Kodak Portra 400 film. Taken using a cable release. 2011.

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chubby-bunnies:

USA size 18/20

I’ve gained 50 pounds in the past 5 years, but I’m happier despite it all. Still rocking the dance! :D

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chubby-bunnies:

I’m Jill, US size 18/20. 

I just recently came to love my body, and I couldn’t be happier or feel more beautiful! I’m glad there’s others out there who feel the same way. 

Love you guys <3

I was just sitting here thinking about how much I love your arms, and that they look like my arms. And my arms have been the hardest part of me to learn to own and accept and just let be.

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chubby-bunnies:

I told this guy…I got a double chin, big hair, big boobs, and I dig rock n’ roll. He replied “bigger the hair, closer to jesus.” I stared. 

Man everyday I look at all you bunnies and feel so much more comfortable in my own skin. xo

http://tubbytattooedcurls.tumblr.com/

<3<3<3!!!!

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chubby-bunnies:

a little red tube top.

grrrcedes.tumblr.com

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chubby-bunnies:

3rd submission

Age 26 size 16-20 (depends on brand)

Love you all on here!! I feel so much more confident now!! I love this outfit! 

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chubby-bunnies:

This is my belly, post-laparoscopic surgery to remove a golfball-sized tumor on my left ovary.  I put these pictures all over the internet because yes, I’m around 200 pounds (it’s been going down due to stress) and I’m a size 16, but that is MY belly and we just went through a battle together. 

Plus it kind of vaguely resembles a stormtrooper’s helmet, and that’s kind of cool. 

B)

This is awesome. You are awesome. I also have battle scars on my belly (and in my belly-button) from appendix removal surgery. Beautiful!

fatbodypolitics:

Normal Friday night dressed like a Fat Superhero.

OH HEY BABE you make me want to dress up and bike like Super Fatties over to the ice cream shoppe! Just not right now, cause my skin is falling off and it’s unpleasant, but soon. <3

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More fun with double-exposures, apples, bellies, and ruined film.

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Part of a photo series I worked on last semester. Badly developed film and fun with double exposures.

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ambird:

No matter how many body appreciation blogs I follow, I still can’t help but be ashamed of how my body looks. My personal body image has restricted me from doing a lot of essential things in life: socialization and intimacy. I’ve been known to flinch/turn away if anyone tries to touch me romantically. 

I’m so jealous of all the women who post their curvy bodies and are proud of them. I’m tired of being ashamed. This is going to be the start of a new confident era for me.

I’m absolutely terrified that I’m doing this. 

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