Not-so-random Poll: Is it ok to be fat?
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
Or is it OK for skinny people to be unhealthy but not for fat people? And if so, why the double standard?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I see shows on TV about large woman saying they are proud to be so big.
Well guess what. It was a defense. It really hurt deep down inside not be be normal.
Just putting this out there because it is how I truley felt.
But one thing I've always pointed out is that thin is only a value in certain cultures. In my culture, for instance, being a larger woman (within a certain range) is NOT a negative cultural value. Thick black women tend to get celebrated. So up to a point I had absolutely no reason to be dissatisfied with myself nor did it ever occur to me that I should be. I looked like every other woman I saw in my community. And I never had problems with dating, nobody teased me as a teenager. I was actually quite popular and was even the head cheerleader in my senior year. (True fact)
It was only when my obesity went past a certain point that I became dissatisfied. Mostly because it was uncomfortable and I felt I couldn't dress the way I wanted. That's what inspired the change. Had I stayed 230...I probably would have never had surgery.
So for some women, it really is ok to be bigger. But I also understand for some saying that is a defense mechanism.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
For me, I was done being fat. It wasn't that I didn't want to be who I am, but rather, I was tired of being tired of life. Being fat was sapping me of living a life I deserved to live. Plain and simple. It finally got to a point where being fat was effecting more than my clothing size, and honestly, that was scarier than continuing to be fat.
It's hard to explain to people that just because you wanted to improve your quality of life doesn't mean you disliked your bigger self. If my 240 lb. (pre-pregnancy) self could keep up with the dreams and goals I had...hell I liked her body just fine.
But she couldn't. So I had to say goodbye to her. But I don't look back with regret. I look forward!
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
That said, yes, people do have the right to remain obese if they so choose. It's their bodies.
- Barb, who is at GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!
HW: 274 SW: 244 GW: 137 CW: 137!
Keep on swimming! Keep on swimming!
I think that part of the reason obesity bullies exist is because we don't want to come out and say we don't feel it's ok to be fat. Even if it's not your fault, it is. Even if you are working on it, you are substandard somehow if you are obese. That's the statement that society makes in so many ways.
I think the part that trips me out is that people who are obese perpetuate it! I personally don't. People come in all shapes and sizes. I think if people focused on loving themselves instead of hating themselves and others for totally stupid reasons, we'd probably have healthier mentalities that would naturally lead into healthier body size.
But unfortunately...
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
