The Fat Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:55:00 +0000

Yes, I just scored the very last one of this fab Igigi dress in their final cut clearance section...in my size! I have been watching it for several months and I feel like I totally lucked out.

Hmmm...

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:43:00 +0000

Very interesting and not surprising study finding indications of weight loss surgery not extending life expectancy. (Don't read the comments, never read the comments, amazing the people who demand thinness no matter the costs and almost zero expectation of "success".)

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:17:00 +0000

Sweater from Igigi and "Most Fabulous Pants" from Avenue. Outside of the lack of pockets they are indeed a totally fabulous pant. They are super comfortable and don't pinch or bind me anywhere. I went back and bought several of them on sale. As usual I also love the Igigi sweater and should have likely ordered a size down. My hair is in an in process stage to get much of the layers grown out long enough to cut them out and I'm less than happy with it at the moment.

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Tue, 03 May 2011 06:12:00 +0000

Sweater from Avenue, tank from Torrid, skinny jeans from Avenue, scarf from Coldwater Creek, rad knee-high stretch boots finally found off ebay after much frustration and many returns to several plus sized retailers that claimed they were wide calf boots (Yes, I mean you Woman Within and Roamans--standardize your freaking sizes to your charts or give individualized dimensions for each size for each item. Eventually fat woman will get of dealing with this shoddy treatment.).

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Tue, 03 May 2011 06:02:00 +0000

Me and my little guy, he didn't want to actually touch my lips because I had lipstick on. Shirt from Avenue, ponte knit pants from Junonia, scarf from One Stop Plus. His little yellow rain boots are from Gymboree.

Yep, I actually fell on my ample behind after trying to straddle the little chair.

Making My Fat Fatty Fatness Visible

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:12:00 +0000

The last several months I've noticed a lot of buzz on several fat acceptance sites about making our fat selves more visible in an effort to normalize our bodies. I've decided to take on the challenge and will be making an effort to post more pictures of myself. Sometimes I might do some outfit blogging, maybe I won't. I see a lot of fantastic, fat, edgy, and mostly young outfit bloggers. I think I can bring a slightly different voice to the party.

I'm 42, a homemaker, mom of four, and a military spouse of one who is currently deployed overseas. I have a mostly casual Seattle lifestyle but I do attend a lot of theatre and artistic endeavors. I like to dress uniquely but at my age I find some things are just starting to look silly. I'm fairly shameless and difficult to embarrass. I've come a long way in my self and fat acceptance but I, of course, still struggle with moments of doubt and criticalness. I'm really not sure what I weigh and don't feel inclined to find out. I'm 5'4" and I generally wear a US size 26-28 (less if we're dealing with Igigi, higher even than that if we're dealing with "skinny" jeans as I like them less skinny).

I foresee this taking my blog in a bit of a new direction for me and some antics from my normal life weaving themselves in my normalizing body image. Since I cannot find the thingy that attaches a camera to my tripod there will undoubtedly be some odd angles until it turns up.

Today's outfit: red ponte knit dress and black ponte knit leggings from Avenue, both bought a size too big so they would be loose; scarf from Walgreens, where I had addiction buying their 2 for $10 scarves every time I went in there for milk.

Passionate, Head Over Heals, I'm Going to Marry You, Igigi Love

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:45:00 +0000

It seems my life is going to be heading in a bit of a new direction and I foresee a need for more formal and dressy wear than my normal life has required. I discovered Igigi's sale and 'final cut' sections. Even there the prices were still a bit steeper than I generally pay but after so much glowing reviews of the company from fat fashion bloggers I decided to take the plunge and even order some things that weren't returnable. I loved everything in my first order so much quickly placed a second order, and another one since. In total it's been two gowns, five dresses, a jacket, two shirts, a skirt, and two long sweaters. I can honestly say I'm in passionate love with all them but one dress, and that one is okay enough for me not to regret it asking it out.

I think why I feel so moved by this experience is I think this is the first time as a plus size woman I've actually had clothes designed, from their conception, to flatter me and not just cover me up in an pleasant enough wrapper. Along with the much higher than quality these clothes actually make me feel good, sexy, and beautiful. With all the negative feelings that most of us accepting our fatness have had to confront having that reaction to clothing is a powerful thing. At moments it almost brought me to tears--in a good way, when does that normally happen with fat women?

After doing a bit more research on the company and watching many of their youtube videos Yuliya has a loyal fan and customer with me, even if it's from stalking the final cut section. My only hope is at some point she will include at bit more casual wear in the collection as well.

What Lies Beneath The Biggest Loser

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:38:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:26:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:42:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:19:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:32:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:32:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:44:00 +0000

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

Fat Goggles

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:45:00 +0000

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

Ms. Greene Tells United How It Is!

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:07:00 +0000

For those of you that haven't seen it there's a great article on the whole United Airlines anti-fatties policy by Susan Greene at denverpost.com. Ms. Greene even quotes Kate Harding, which is always a good thing.

I don't want to spoil the last line so I won't quote it here but it's sweeeet! (Warning: spare yourself and don't bother feeding the morons in the comments section though.)

School Weigh-Ins

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Sometimes as a long time homeschooling parent I'm clueless as to what happens at school. My friend was telling me how her fourth grade son had been weighed at school and had felt bad about himself since he was the second heaviest boy in his class at 100 lbs. The school had weighed everyone in the school, in front of everyone in their classes. At the time her son was doing the typical kid out and then up thing and has since grown a couple of inches and lost eight pounds so he's now at least personally feeling better about himself. It sounds like his parents handled the damage control about as well as can be expected. This whole thing makes me livid, I have no doubt whatsoever this asinine act on the part of the school has created no less than two cases of eating disorders per classroom. What an absolutely grossly irresponsible thing to do to children just entering the precarious adolescent stage. Do these school officials have no clue? In my opinion they will likely be responsible for at least a couple of eventual deaths, as well as many years of misery.

Unless my child is on the wrestling team there is absolutely no reason they even need to know my child's weight much less actually weigh them at the school. My child's weight is NONE of their freaking business! Why the heck didn't one of the multitude of adults in on this raise any concerns? If this is how incompetent they are with this issue how what else is going on?

Of course there are also labeling concerns with school weigh-ins.

I Smell Something Fishy

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:29:00 +0000

This isn't coming across as remotely genuine to me. Hmmm...what can Kathy Ireland do to boost her non-existent career? Let's see. How about gaining 25lbs, losing it, and writing a book about it? Sounds like a plan! Hey, maybe we'll even get a deal selling exercise equipment on an infomercial or a home shopping channel!

Kathy, if you were really serious about this you would have at least packed on 50 pounds. Come on, where is the dedication to your craft?

1095 Days Plus One

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:48:00 +0000

Normally I'm not much of a shopper, my general philosophy is I'll never be on my death bed wishing I had shopped more. I gravitate towards online shopping and seriously haven't been in the mall in something like four or five years. However it seems about every year to year and a half I have an almost overwhelming urge to do a massive overall of my wardrobe. I have no doubt it might be construed as shocking to some, especially someone such as my husband who has no problem getting by on three pairs of jeans, a drawer of t-shirts, and two sweatshirts (one is his "dressy" one); AND has remained about the same size for about 15+ years. Also, I'm sure part of his alarm is his personal finances are tied to such episodes (even though, I swear, I'm a major bargain hunter).

About a month ago I came up for breath from one of my sprees. My husband been gone on a military exercise for three weeks and has only been home for three days. He seemed agitated since he came home, after some snarky comments we managed to get to the root of his concerns: that I wasn't done yet and I would just do it again in six months. I said I only tend to do it every year and a half, he said, "Can you make it three years then?" Hmmm... Can I? We worked out some terms: thrift stores don't count and it only applies if I remain the same size (which hasn't really happened over a three year period before but I had always been in the cycle of losing and regaining weight before, or having another baby). I haven't decided if I'm going to take the challenge yet but I'm thinking about it. I'm also thinking he may need to add an incentive to the pot.

Could you take on a similar challenge? Are clothes important part of your personal expression or just functional? Or is it the shopping you love?

50 Million Pounds

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Dr. Ian Smith, from Celebrity Fit Club, is challenging us all to lose 50 million pounds and is still dragging out the tired and erroneous 300,000 deaths per year (along with a whole load of other uncredited, unproven diet psycho babble). Dr. Ian, hey maybe you could do something really novel, you know, perhaps even revolutionary and challenge everyone to throw out their scales and just focus on living the healthiest life they can regardless of weight.

At this point this just makes me all so weary. If this so called experts really cared about America's health and not just selling their diet books and TV shows they would really change their focus.

I could never say it better than Paul Campos did in The Obesity Myth so I won't try: Never before in American history has so much junk science been exploited to whip up hysteria about a supposed public health “epidemic.” The health establishment’s constant barrage of scientifically baseless propaganda regarding the relationship between weight and health constitutes nothing less than egregious abuse of the public trust. This propaganda has played a key role in creating a culture that makes tens of millions of people miserable about their bodies: Worse yet, it has done so for crass economic motives. The war on fat, which is supposedly about making all of us healthy, is really about making some of us rich.

The war on fat is an outrage to values—of equality, of tolerance, of fairness, and indeed of fundamental decency toward those who are different—that American culture celebrates (often with good reason) as essential features of our nation’s character. And in the end nothing could be easier than to win this war: All we need to do is stop fighting it.

Top Obesity Doc Fesses Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:48:00 +0000

Bri at Fat Lot of Good already had an excellent commentary on this somewhat surprising story (not surprising in it's information most of us fat activists already know, surprising in that a top obesity doctor finally fessed up to it).

To answer that question, Ernsberger took genetically obese and genetically thin rodents and made the thin ones fat by feeding them a high-sugar, high-fat diet. "They both had obesity related problems, but the one that has a poor diet is much less healthy — they have worse blood sugar, worse blood pressure and worse cholesterol.

"So all risk factors are worse off, even though they may not nearly be as heavy as the genetically obese." He says some people are naturally obese and other people are naturally thin but that they force their bodies to become obese by over-eating and under-exercising. "And that's probably the unhealthy obese."

Yes, yes, yes! So like in the "study" I talked about yesterday lumping all fat people and their variety of lifestyle habits is very misleading. Being fat alone is not the major risk factor. Correlation is not causation.

I know I have to be one of the genetically obese under his definitions. I exercise regularly, about an hour of lap swimming three times a week; I eat a much healthier than average diet, most days it's likely even on the low calorie side; and I have very good blood pressure and blood glucose but I'm still very fat. If I try to lose weight it wouldn't be for health reasons as I'm not sick. In fact I would likely be putting my body under risk again because of the stress of starving myself and the inevitable regain would in itself cause metabolic problems.

It's Never Too Early to Get That Baby on a Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Aauugghh! Got to make sure we get those fat babies as early as possible. Next up: mandatory sterilization of fat women.

Obesity Study, I'm Dying.

noreply@blogger.com (Cherie) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:45:00 +0000

Gasp, shock, horror; a new, I'm sure badly flawed, non real study (complete with picture of the obligatory, headless fat woman in stripes) has concluded teh fatz is going to kill me, and soon. Of the 57 studies this "study" looked at I'm sure few, or most likely none, controlled for diet, exercise, or perhaps even smoking. Did they even control for dangerous diet drugs or gastric bypass surgery? Hey geniuses, maybe your "cures" for obesity actually contributed to the higher death rates. Even if they didn't there is no reliable, proven, safe way to get fat people thin for the long term.

I'm betting I could look at this same data in a different way and conclude that an increase in dieting behavior increases a premature death rate.

This is more crap science that just feeds the fat panic but doesn't actually offer anything useful. At least they came to the undeniable conclusion that being a little fat actually has the lowest risk. How much more evidence do they need to up the recommended BMI ranges?