Fat Chicks Rule

No Epidemic and Beautiful bodies.

In 2005, we found out that the 300,000 & 400,000 death from Obesity number was a fabrication.  I was thought it was over.   That we wouldn't be hearing any more about the false epidemic.

How wrong I was.  The war has changed to the people most vunerable: Children.  Fat children are targeted

Here is an article that make sense instead of hysteria for a change.  I'm glad he brought up the point on how the so called epidemic hurts children.  Obesity 'epidemic': Who are you calling fat?

Also of note: Leonard Nimoy will be discussing his book the Body Project (which will also be on display) at R Michelson Gallery in Northhampton, MA. this coming weekend.  There is also a symposium with other great size acceptance activists and authors. Including Susan Stinson, Leslea Newman, Kelly Dunham.  I won't be there (very upset but have previous engagement).  However if you can't make it this weekend you can still view the photos until Jan 15th.

It's okay to call me Fat, Fatso or Fat Fat Fattie Arbuckle

Short post tonight as I am getting over a stupid cold.

This previous weekend I went to a con (Besides being a fat activist I'm a big ol' nerd).   I was playing in the tabletop game room with a group of other people.  I was  wearing the badge my friend got me where I am a fat faery cat wearing a t-shirt that says "Fat Chicks Rule".  The man sitting next to me, look over my badge (which I was proud to wear) and said "You're not fat."  I pretty much said "Sure I am, I don't mind."  He said a few more words how I wasn't fat.  Now I know he wasn't insulting me.  He probably thought he was being nice.   

A lot of people try to be nice by telling me that I'm not fat, I've lost weight, etc.  But it really doesn't bother me to be called fat. I'm fat, that's just what I am.  What I really don't like is to be called obese or overweight.   That seems to incline that I have something clinical wrong.  I'm fat the same way some people are thin or tall or short. 

Just another story that makes me want to hit my head against the wall. 
Did you know that there is something worse than global warming?  Why it’s Obesity.  Obesity is running across the world destroying everything in its path. 

You want to talk about something worse than global warming? Starvation. 25,000 a day die from it.  I much rather have too much food than no food at all.

Yeah, Paul Campos takes on Harvard. 

I'm still really mad about how much we pick on fat kids: Weight issues affect kids, too
and Weight issues plague heavy, thin teens alike

We really need to protect kids from the diet industry.

With issues like this, I would like to point out the action below from Joanne Ikeda:

We ask you to join us in rejecting the attempt to label large children as "obese." Attached please find a research-based call to action prepared by leaders of the Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, and the Association for Size Diversity and Health. Please take the time to
read it carefully. If you agree with the contents, please forward the call to action to any or all of the leaders listed below and/or to other individuals or organizations with whom you think it is important to communicate. We would like to reach as many people who care about the overall health of children as possible. E-mail addresses are given below each list of names to make it easier to cut-and-paste them into the "To" field of an e-mail.

You will probably want to send a cover message saying that you support this protest along with your name and any other identifying information that you wish to share. It is important to do this as soon as possible since the decision as to whether or not to adopt this recommendation will be made in the near future.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* Anand K. Parekh, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health [email protected]   
* Julie Gerberding, Director, CDC [email protected]
* Kathleen Toomey, Director, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, CDC [email protected]
* Janet Collins, Director, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion, CDC [email protected]
* William Dietz, Director, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and
Obesity [email protected],
* Elizabeth Duke, Administrator, Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) [email protected]
* David E. Heppel, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health, HRSA [email protected]

U.S. Department of Agriculture
* Nancy Johner, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services [email protected] 
* Judy Wilson, Director of Nutrition Services, Food and Nutrition Service [email protected]   
* Colien Hefferan, Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education
and Extension Service (CSREES) [email protected]

Suzy Pelican, Frances White, James Docherty, Dana Schuster
Chair, Weight Realities Division Co-Chairs, National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance President, Association for Size Diversity & Health Society for Nutrition Education

Organizations wishing to join this protest can contact: [email protected]

Joanne P. Ikeda, MA,RD
Nutritionist Emeritus
Nutritional Sciences Department
University of California
Berkeley, CA

Current address
1777 View Drive
San Leandro, CA 94577

phone (510)895-5300
FAX (510)351-8147
email: jikeda@berkeley. edu

Good news for the week.

Now you can buy "Nothing to Lose" a documentary by Robert Chang from a distributor (instead of from Robert himself.)  It is well worth buying it.  It is a terrific documentary.  Please encourage Robert to make more films like this!

Some good press on the Flea from NYU's Washington Square Press and a great interview with one of the organizers Deb Malkin

An article in the Village Voice about Brooklyn Plus Size Boutique Lee Lee's Valise:

A Fashion Week for Plus Sized Women

The Flea!

Fat Girl's Flea Market was last Saturday and like the last 5 years, it was a blast! I sold mucho copies of my book, met many great people and of could got fabulous clothes. This year I was mostly looking for work wear: short sleeve shirts as I have a lot of tanks for summer and long sleeves for winter but only a few things I can wear in Fall and Spring.  For partying I got a cool Torrid tank that will go great with the skirt I got last year and a flapper dress.

It makes me love my size even more. I loved seeing the happy faces of shoppers when they left. I left around seven, bone tired but happy at the prospect of being at such a size affirming event.

It's a shame, that chain plus size and dept stores can't be as cool as this event!

Can't wait for next year!