I used to work with someone who was militantly FA. She was overweight and completely happy with herself, her life, her choices. She was very hard to be around because when those of us who were being health conscious or even *gasp* dieting would be discussing things (our last weigh-in, our poor choices in clothing, etc.) she would make disparaging comments. "You should be happy the way you are, why do you think you need to lose weight, why are you worrying so much about something so stupid, etc. etc." We were all in the same boat, but she was HAPPY to be the captain of this vessel, and upset with us because we weren't as happy as she was.

To me it felt like she was discriminating against us.

I wish there was a SELF Acceptance movement. How many of us have said at a lower weight or even a perfectly healthy weight, "I hate my thighs. I hate my stomach. I hate my __________!" It's almost as if we, as women, are pre-programmed to hate our bodies and be ashamed of them no matter what we look like. That's what I'd like to see change. . .

Ok, so maybe the question should be...what about yourself didn't you like so much you abused your body, mind, and spirit to get where you are?
I had to ask myself the same questions, so I'm not asking out of spite or anger or trickery.
For me, I'm a rape survivor and being big provided me safety.

This is the thing about the FA movement that makes me most uncomfortable. It's a WONDERFUL message to say "Regardless of your size, treat your body well and love yourself - you can be healthy even if you don't adhere to a media ideal, and your self-worth isn't determined by your weight". But it gets ugly when that message turns into "If you want to lose weight you don't love yourself enough"...which to me, was the opposite of my experience...I first realized that I was worthy/good enough at my highest weight, that I had value, and then I decided that I was SO valuable that I was worth taking better care of.

If being overweight is good for you, and you are healthy then why do you (and me) continue to lose weight? I do agree that EVERYONE should be treated with respect and equal rights whether they are healthy or not.

Once a doctor said this to me, "look around at an old people's home full of 90 year olds, you'll see plenty living that still smoke, you'll see plenty with cancer or Alzheimer's, but you wont see one that is obese..."

Not sure how accurate he was, but that stuck with me for some reason.

I'm exploring those questions daily

Yes, you've said that. I'm just not sure what that has to do with the Fat Acceptance movement in general.

warmaiden - i'm not sure i really understand your position fully. you say that you are in optimal health and physically fit. so why are you here? why are you trying to lose weight at all? if your current body shape and fitness is perfect, i honestly don't know why you're trying to lose weight or coming here to 3 fat chicks at all.

This is something i completely agree with. I think there are some people who claim to be part of the FA movement that are just as bad as anyone else when it comes to judging people based on their weight.

I saw plenty of obese old people at my grandma's nursing home.

I agree with the basic message of the fat acceptance movement (or how I perceive it), that people should not be discriminated against or treated poorly because of their weight. I would rather the movement be identified more as a Body Acceptance, though, and include those of all weights and body types.

I strongly disagree with the statement that one can be obese and in great health. I’m sorry, that is just my personal standpoint and just as I feel free to disagree with others, they can feel free to disagree with me. (This does not mean that I believe that the obese person in the room is by default the unhealthiest.) Excess weight is exactly that…excess. It is unnecessary, useless baggage and pressure on our bodies. I do believe that being overweight inhibits natural body functions and prevents a person from reaching their utmost potential health. I’ve been obese and am now considered overweight. And I have seen great improvements in my overall health and I believe that I will continue to see those as I lose the last 20 pounds.

Most people are not as healthy as they could be. We all have things that we could improve on and areas that we need to work on. This goes for those of us who are overweight or obese and those who are underweight or considered a normal weight.

Beautifully written post. ITA.

I don't think she ever said she was in optimal health just that she was healthy.

also, many people want to lose weight regardless of health and even to the detriment of their health. Weight loss and health are not synonymous.

(bolding mine)
that's the part i was talking about. i mean, it's just confusing to me.

Well, I do think there's an evolutionary advantage to having the ability to use calories efficiently and store fat. All us 3FC chicks would be rocking it in a time of famine or back in the hunter/gatherer days . Obviously, that's not the reality that we're dealing with right now, but looking at it that way makes it a lot more clear why some of us have a very hard time shedding pounds we don't want or need. We're fighting against our bodies' natural inclination to hang on the every gram of fat. Evolution is a tough thing to undermine. My body, at least, really fights against consuming at a deficit for more than a few weeks at a time.

it seems to me that the FA movement would actually be MORE about health than about attraction, appearance, etc...that's what is confusing to me. accepting fat/obesity as another beautiful body type in an aesthetic sense. but to say that obese bodies are optimally healthy, i don't know. i mean - if you do believe that...that you (general you) are optimally healthy at an obese weight, then really the ONLY reason to lose weight would be for aesthetic reasons...and that seems to be MORE against the FA movement than doing it for purely health reasons. am i making sense??