The Fat Positive Lounge

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I am one very Happy’n’Fat Kiwi! LOL!

I met one of my new GPs today; she seems very nice and very thorough. She’s a former Neurology Consultant and wanted to see me for a routine check-up and examination as she’s new…

She’s over ridden my Spinal Orthopaedic Consultant’s decision to send me to a Neurologist he recommended that I be referred to for my other back issues. She feels, in her medical opinion, that I’d be better suited with another Neurologist who specialises in SB and other inherited Spinal problems and who also deal with other issues of the Spine in people with SB, etc.

She wasn’t bothered about my weight and knew it isn’t a problem for me and my Blood Pressure is normal. So, with this and my annual blood test results being excellent, I’m Fat and Healthy! LOL!

[Bad_boi]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

Welcome to the Lounge! Will you be joining us more often?

It is always possible.

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I came across this article on one of the UK’s online newspapers and had to share it after reading it…

The article starts with the headline; 'I love the word FAT': The larger-than-life fashion bloggers, celebrating plus-size style in a big way.”

The article also has links to a handful of Fat Positive Blogs…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...e-big-way.html

[nycfem]

Check out this funky plus size website for puffy grrls:

http://www.dominodollhouse.com/index.php

[nycfem]

Special thanks to LeftWriteFemme for posting this on my wall

[1QuirkyKiwi]

My recent trip away over Easter with just me and my Backpack brought back memories of when I did a lot of Backpacking in my early 20s for work and pleasure. My fondest memories are of my time in Indonesia, Backpacking with a belly! LOL!

I am fat! I have belly that wobbles when I walk and a bum that echoes my movements. Don’t get me wrong, this is not some life-altering confession a la alcoholics anonymous: Rather, it’s an easy way for you to picture me, climbing up a rope, bum over end into the back of a rocking Indonesian fishing boat, desperately trying not to bounce into the propeller and retain,….. well, at least a crumb of dignity. I have a plus-size body….. Backpacking is always adventurous but it takes on many new twists when a plus-size body, SBO and crutches meets rickety transport, bamboo bridges, and tiny locals who find all westernised people… let alone those with wobbly bellies….. startling!

Let’s take the tiny upright women of central Lombok who are less than half my size. Whether in the multi-coloured chaos of the local markets, the golden rice fields, or the white washed lanes of small villages, my appearance invariably produces animated discussions in Sasak and wild gestures toward me. The boldest of the group comes up to me and slaps my thick arm, uttering more exclamations. Gestures of eating, offers of rice follow.... One old woman pats her hips, expands them large with her hands and then follows her breasts, producing proportions that would make Dolly Parton proud! LOL! The message is always the same; a good breeder. The scene is replayed throughout the islands Polynesia, the Caribbean and southern Europe…

Size is frankly acknowledged and appreciated….. a refreshing change from the weight police. When I learned how to thresh rice, the women circled my waist with their hands and said, “Stay! You are a good worker!” “ But I would eat too much rice, and then there would be more work.” I replied. “Ah yes!” The women nod sagely, ever the wise housekeepers. The Indonesians always appreciated my pride when I come back from a day clambering around the fields with and without my crutches, knowing that I did the best work I could.

They can imagine how hard it is at my size to avoid falling, breaking a delicate bamboo bridge or slipping down a muddy slope. The only murmur of discontent . . . and more often riotous laughter . . . was on local transport, where a combination of my size and innate clumsiness could have proved disastrous. I took up three seats, and with my legs up to my chin, a huge backpack, crutches and my late beloved cat, it took a while to untangle me! LOL! My most fervent wish when squashing past startled locals in their tiny minivans, aiming for an unlikely looking space at the back, is: “Please don’t let me get stuck!” LOL!

[Soft*Silver]

I am battling a slow case worker at BVR who is holding up the progress of my store so much that I have had to report him to his supervisor twice now this past month. The third time happened yesterday. He dared send me an email saying he needed my address, which has not changed in the 3 years I have been working with them. He has not sent me the items I need, nor issued the monies I need, nor approved the purchases I need! I am beginning to panic!

However, the supervisor and I talked yesterday and she assured me she can still get these things to me in time and will be addressing his insufficient work with me, today. I await a phone call.

he has literally put me two weeks behind. I tried to be hopeful about it, but I cant even take consignments without the items he is holding up!

But, the store will open..its just a matter of when. And two weeks off isnt bad. I need to breathe....just breathe...lol

[aishah]

Originally Posted by Miss_Tia

I am battling a slow case worker at BVR who is holding up the progress of my store so much that I have had to report him to his supervisor twice now this past month. The third time happened yesterday. He dared send me an email saying he needed my address, which has not changed in the 3 years I have been working with them. He has not sent me the items I need, nor issued the monies I need, nor approved the purchases I need! I am beginning to panic!

However, the supervisor and I talked yesterday and she assured me she can still get these things to me in time and will be addressing his insufficient work with me, today. I await a phone call.

he has literally put me two weeks behind. I tried to be hopeful about it, but I cant even take consignments without the items he is holding up!

But, the store will open..its just a matter of when. And two weeks off isnt bad. I need to breathe....just breathe...lol

you can do it, miss tia! you are awesome

[nycfem]

I love hearing about your adventures! I have not travelled much in my life and am so intrigued by any culture that values a fat woman. I wonder where in the world would be the best place to visit in terms of a full-figured woman not being automatically judged as being unhealthy and unattractive. Conversely, I wonder what the worst places are. Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

My recent trip away over Easter with just me and my Backpack brought back memories of when I did a lot of Backpacking in my early 20s for work and pleasure. My fondest memories are of my time in Indonesia, Backpacking with a belly! LOL!

I am fat! I have belly that wobbles when I walk and a bum that echoes my movements. Don’t get me wrong, this is not some life-altering confession a la alcoholics anonymous: Rather, it’s an easy way for you to picture me, climbing up a rope, bum over end into the back of a rocking Indonesian fishing boat, desperately trying not to bounce into the propeller and retain,….. well, at least a crumb of dignity. I have a plus-size body….. Backpacking is always adventurous but it takes on many new twists when a plus-size body, SBO and crutches meets rickety transport, bamboo bridges, and tiny locals who find all westernised people… let alone those with wobbly bellies….. startling!

Let’s take the tiny upright women of central Lombok who are less than half my size. Whether in the multi-coloured chaos of the local markets, the golden rice fields, or the white washed lanes of small villages, my appearance invariably produces animated discussions in Sasak and wild gestures toward me. The boldest of the group comes up to me and slaps my thick arm, uttering more exclamations. Gestures of eating, offers of rice follow.... One old woman pats her hips, expands them large with her hands and then follows her breasts, producing proportions that would make Dolly Parton proud! LOL! The message is always the same; a good breeder. The scene is replayed throughout the islands Polynesia, the Caribbean and southern Europe…

Size is frankly acknowledged and appreciated….. a refreshing change from the weight police. When I learned how to thresh rice, the women circled my waist with their hands and said, “Stay! You are a good worker!” “ But I would eat too much rice, and then there would be more work.” I replied. “Ah yes!” The women nod sagely, ever the wise housekeepers. The Indonesians always appreciated my pride when I come back from a day clambering around the fields with and without my crutches, knowing that I did the best work I could.

They can imagine how hard it is at my size to avoid falling, breaking a delicate bamboo bridge or slipping down a muddy slope. The only murmur of discontent . . . and more often riotous laughter . . . was on local transport, where a combination of my size and innate clumsiness could have proved disastrous. I took up three seats, and with my legs up to my chin, a huge backpack, crutches and my late beloved cat, it took a while to untangle me! LOL! My most fervent wish when squashing past startled locals in their tiny minivans, aiming for an unlikely looking space at the back, is: “Please don’t let me get stuck!” LOL!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I love hearing about your adventures! I have not travelled much in my life and am so intrigued by any culture that values a fat woman. I wonder where in the world would be the best place to visit in terms of a full-figured woman not being automatically judged as being unhealthy and unattractive. Conversely, I wonder what the worst places are. Any thoughts?

Thank you! I’ve noticed a huge change in the past 20 years to the attitudes of fat women in various cultures. If you’d asked me these questions 10 years ago, I would have said unreservedly Polynesia, Africa and Indonesia as the best fat friendly places to travel. Sadly, these cultures are now succumbing to the ‘fat is bad and unhealthy’ mentality. There are still people within these cultures who enjoy and accept us fat ladies, but, it’s being pushed behind doors.

Italy enjoys the womanly figure and is accepting; at least they are where my Nonna is from on the Tuscan/Ligurian border. In Norway, I’ve experienced fat positivity, but, not so much in Sweden…

Russia was my biggest shock! I was treated as though I was a Goddess and worth my weight in gold! (That’s a lot of gold, there! LOL!).

Africa was a dream come true! There, a woman’s belly, bum and thighs are deemed the most seductive and attractive….. The bigger the better! A woman can have enormous breasts, yet, they will not be gawked at in the same way. My thighs and belly were often the source of much admiration…

The truth is, I’ve experienced a fair mix of positive and negative acceptance around the world. What has made the difference is how I’ve handled it and handled myself in response to the negativity and myself as a Fat woman with pride and confidence (without being arrogant).

For me, the worst place is here in the UK. I’ve been met with some of the most hurtful and insulting comments and gestures from just walking down the road, minding my own business.

[nycfem]

I'm on break from work this week (I work at a school) so I'm rereading this thread and jumping back where I've had a thought but felt like I didn't have time to post

istolurboxers38 posted (snip):

Originally Posted by istolurboxers38

I have a hard time playing raquetball with my knee it has the arthritis

This made me think about exercise for larger people in general and what works / doesn't work. I love to exercise and by experimentation and research over the years have found ways to minimize the chances of injury as a fat girl.

Here are my thoughts on exercise for bigger women, not as a professional, but as a fat woman who loves to get physical in a big way!

1) Swimming is great when available. Exacerbation of knee issues (e.g. arthritis) can be minimized by doing the front stroke and the back stroke and avoiding the breast stroke. I've been told and found that kicking in water doesn't tend to cause problems while doing strokes in which the leg is pushing at an angle (e.g. breast stroke) does. I like to swim laps and then stretch in the pool. For instance, for the past week I've been having lower back pain due to having lifted too much weight and pulled something (a rarity for me but oh so annoying when it happens) at the gym. So yesterday I did laps for half an hour and spent another half hour just stretching in the water. A plus for big swimmers is that we don't get cold as easy. I see smaller people shivering but I've got that extra layer of fat that keeps the water comfortable. I have read about fat, long distance cold, open water swimmers who say the same thing. And, of course, we are more buoyant. I have had times in my life where I would regularly swim a mile or two a day in one to two hours. So much for all fat people being sedentary and incapable of serious, regular exercise. Yes, people can be fit and fat

2) I love to use a stationary bike. I find it helps to choose a medium level (not too high and not too low- as either extreme, I find, negatively impacts the knees). When we are on a bike, we are not bearing down on our full weight, so aside from swimming, I find it to be the best exercise for larger women in terms of not being injured. We have natural butt padding which helps me go longer distance. I can bike hard (where I'm sweating and breathing hard) for up to three hours (Usually I do one hour.). I also lift weights or do arm exercises sometimes while I bike which gets the heart rate higher.

3) Regular walking (ideally not on a treadmill) is relatively low injury. Jogging and running, on the other hand, put a lot of weight on the knees for larger women, and I find it riskier and don't do it.

4) I stretch and do floor exercises for a minimum of 30 minutes every time I go to the gym. Stretching after long work-outs feels fantastic and, again, minimizes injury for me.

Anyone else have thoughts on exercise? I also like the kind of exercise that 1QuirkyKiwi described: getting physical in the context of an adventure. While off this week from work, for three days in a row I went hiking / rock climbing / walking at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, going off the designated paths at times (I'm incorrigible.). It was so much fun to be negotiating the forest and sliding down rocks. Extra padding can be a real plus

[aishah]

i've found that in light of my disabilities and being fat, i have a hard time with stuff like hiking and rock climbing. i do like walking (as long as it's mostly flat i can walk for a long time with my cane). swimming is awesome...sadly, i don't have a complex swimming pool anymore. i might see about going to the community pool this summer. it's a bit expensive though. i also liked biking when i was going to the gym...it's nice because you can kind of do something else (like read) while you're doing it. i like yoga but have had a hard time getting into doing it regularly.

i love dancing and hula hooping. sometimes they are painful if i'm not moving around a lot (if i'm just staying in one place) but for the most part they are one of the least painful, most low impact exercises i know. and they're really fun and burn a lot of calories (~600 an hour for hooping). so that's most of what i do nowadays.

[nycfem]

This is so interesting! You've stayed in such a variety of different places and cultures. What part of Africa is most fat accepting, do you think? My brother's husband is from South Africa, and I've never been there.

That sucks about how hard it is in the UK. And yet, I admire the self-confidence you clearly possess and unwillingness to accept the fat-shaming and negative stereotypes. How did you manage not to drink the Koolaide?

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

Thank you! I’ve noticed a huge change in the past 20 years to the attitudes of fat women in various cultures. If you’d asked me these questions 10 years ago, I would have said unreservedly Polynesia, Africa and Indonesia as the best fat friendly places to travel. Sadly, these cultures are now succumbing to the ‘fat is bad and unhealthy’ mentality. There are still people within these cultures who enjoy and accept us fat ladies, but, it’s being pushed behind doors.

Italy enjoys the womanly figure and is accepting; at least they are where my Nonna is from on the Tuscan/Ligurian border. In Norway, I’ve experienced fat positivity, but, not so much in Sweden…

Russia was my biggest shock! I was treated as though I was a Goddess and worth my weight in gold! (That’s a lot of gold, there! LOL!).

Africa was a dream come true! There, a woman’s belly, bum and thighs are deemed the most seductive and attractive….. The bigger the better! A woman can have enormous breasts, yet, they will not be gawked at in the same way. My thighs and belly were often the source of much admiration…

The truth is, I’ve experienced a fair mix of positive and negative acceptance around the world. What has made the difference is how I’ve handled it and handled myself in response to the negativity and myself as a Fat woman with pride and confidence (without being arrogant).

For me, the worst place is here in the UK. I’ve been met with some of the most hurtful and insulting comments and gestures from just walking down the road, minding my own business.

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I'm on break from work this week (I work at a school) so I'm rereading this thread and jumping back where I've had a thought but felt like I didn't have time to post

istolurboxers38 posted (snip):



This made me think about exercise for larger people in general and what works / doesn't work. I love to exercise and by experimentation and research over the years have found ways to minimize the chances of injury as a fat girl.

Here are my thoughts on exercise for bigger women, not as a professional, but as a fat woman who loves to get physical in a big way!

1) Swimming is great when available. Exacerbation of knee issues (e.g. arthritis) can be minimized by doing the front stroke and the back stroke and avoiding the breast stroke. I've been told and found that kicking in water doesn't tend to cause problems while doing strokes in which the leg is pushing at an angle (e.g. breast stroke) does. I like to swim laps and then stretch in the pool. For instance, for the past week I've been having lower back pain due to having lifted too much weight and pulled something (a rarity for me but oh so annoying when it happens) at the gym. So yesterday I did laps for half an hour and spent another half hour just stretching in the water. A plus for big swimmers is that we don't get cold as easy. I see smaller people shivering but I've got that extra layer of fat that keeps the water comfortable. I have read about fat, long distance cold, open water swimmers who say the same thing. And, of course, we are more buoyant. I have had times in my life where I would regularly swim a mile or two a day in one to two hours. So much for all fat people being sedentary and incapable of serious, regular exercise. Yes, people can be fit and fat

2) I love to use a stationary bike. I find it helps to choose a medium level (not too high and not too low- as either extreme, I find, negatively impacts the knees). When we are on a bike, we are not bearing down on our full weight, so aside from swimming, I find it to be the best exercise for larger women in terms of not being injured. We have natural butt padding which helps me go longer distance. I can bike hard (where I'm sweating and breathing hard) for up to three hours (Usually I do one hour.). I also lift weights or do arm exercises sometimes while I bike which gets the heart rate higher.

3) Regular walking (ideally not on a treadmill) is relatively low injury. Jogging and running, on the other hand, put a lot of weight on the knees for larger women, and I find it riskier and don't do it.

4) I stretch and do floor exercises for a minimum of 30 minutes every time I go to the gym. Stretching after long work-outs feels fantastic and, again, minimizes injury for me.

Anyone else have thoughts on exercise? I also like the kind of exercise that 1QuirkyKiwi described: getting physical in the context of an adventure. While off this week from work, for three days in a row I went hiking / rock climbing / walking at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, going off the designated paths at times (I'm incorrigible.). It was so much fun to be negotiating the forest and sliding down rocks. Extra padding can be a real plus

The exercises you describe NYCFEMBBW are excellent, as is Iyengar Yoga (which uses props like blankets and chairs for support in postures. There is a book by Judith Lasater called: Relax and Renew. The Art of gentle Yoga which is excellent. She trained in Iyengar Yoga in Pune, India under BKS Iyengar. She’s also a Physiotherapist). I’m looking to do my training as an instructor in this style…

Tai Chi is also excellent and yep! Enjoying adventures where you’re off the beaten path is so much fun and you feel so energised and great on the inside.

Stairs! Now they are good for gentle exercise….. walking up and down them half a dozen times gets the heart pumping nicely and the lungs working.

Dancing, even if it’s just around the living room to your favourite music, it’s all good!

I've still got thighs the size of mature Oak tree trunks, albeit, toned ones! LOL!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

This is so interesting! You've stayed in such a variety of different places and cultures. What part of Africa is most fat accepting, do you think? My brother's husband is from South Africa, and I've never been there.

That sucks about how hard it is in the UK. And yet, I admire the self-confidence you clearly possess and unwillingness to accept the fat-shaming and negative stereotypes. How did you manage not to drink the Koolaide?

Kenya (one of my favourite places) and Botswana are fat accepting and encourage their women to be fat…

One of my best friends is South African from Durban; when I went there with her on holiday, I was met with some negativity, but, not a lot.

Crikey! Umm… I know my self confidence and comfort about my body comes from fat positive role models from my Maori and Italian Grandmothers and other fat women within my family. My Maori Grandmother was 5’ 10, weighed 35 stone and was very active and healthy until the day she died. My Italian Grandmother was 5’ 6, weighed about 25 stone and was equally fit and healthy, again until she died. I’m 5’7 and weigh a pleasant amount, yet, I’ve always been active.

My role models refused to be stereotyped by western standards of what a fat person is seen as in their perspectives.

My body is my temple; it may not be the ‘ideal’ of what many may feel is attractive, yet, it’s still mine. It’s taken me on adventures I never dreamed of having. It’s helped keep me fed and with a roof over my head when I worked as an Artist’s model at the GSA in Glasgow. It carried my daughter, nourishing her and keeping her safe.

What has been said to me so often and by Butch’s who usually prefer slender Femmes is; my acceptance of and my comfort with my body and my willingness to enjoy life, despite my size, and not make apologies or excuses for being my size. When people ask why I’m fat, I tell them the truth and that I can’t help my genetics, yet, I can try to keep healthy.

Also, I have a few retorts to fire back should the need arise, lol!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

My brain misplaced this thought... there is (or was. I don't know is it's still the case) a plus size model called Megan Garcia who taught Hatha style Yoga in NYC. She explained how to adapt the Asanas to suit a fat woman's body type and used props as well.

She had a book published called; Mega Yoga.

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I’m sitting here eating a stuffed Avocado and letting my mind musings take a stroll (this can often lead to weird and interesting thoughts and can get me into trouble! LOL!), when I remembered two previous GPs saying that my body shape is that of an Avocado Pear! … It’s between an Apple and a Pear shape. I also remember the huge smile that gave me.

Neither Doctor knew each other, as they were in different countries and when I asked the woman GP who said it, she said that a small percentage of women fall into this category.

If I may ask; are there any other Avocado Pear shapes here?

Are you Pear or Apple shaped?

[aishah]

i'm more hourglass shaped...i'm top and bottom heavy. i carry some weight in my waist but not nearly as much as the rest of me. i love the idea of being avocado shaped! hehe

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by aishah

i'm more hourglass shaped...i'm top and bottom heavy. i carry some weight in my waist but not nearly as much as the rest of me. i love the idea of being avocado shaped! hehe

My arms are thick, but, not fat. I have ample breasts, a waist that is shaped like an hour glass, a round belly and very wide hips with large round thighs.

Thank you for sharing.

[clay]

just stopping by...to admire all the beautiful ladies in here....you are all truly gorgeous...thru and thru..I heart each one of you!!!