Eat All The Cheese
This is a bit of an unrefined rant, but let’s just go with it. It’ll make me feel better to hit publish. The July issue of Marie Claire also makes me feel better. If you have it handy, read Joanna’s Journal and “What I Miss About Being Fat” by Sarah Elizabeth Richards.
When I lost the weight, I got a harsh reality check. I was still me with the same problems. I was just smaller.
I eat fresh fruits and veggies, I drink water, I exercise, I take my vitamins, and I’m done making myself feel bad for the way I look.
I remember being a size 8 in college and being told if you just lose 10 more pounds…Then I’ll fart glitter? I’ll get to eat fudge and fly around without a care in the world? What could possibly be so much more wonderful at 130 pounds than it is at 140 pounds? Or 200 pounds, for that matter.
If you insist on talking about my weight problem, I’ll insist on talking about your sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong problem. Yes, I’ve had my thyroid checked. No, I don’t have PCOS. No, I don’t eat ho-hos and ding dongs all day. I’m not complaining about how awful I feel about myself nor does my flat ass have absolutely any impact on your life, so zip it. Likewise, I don’t want to commiserate with those trying to lose “these final 10 pounds.” I have nothing to say about your cheese eating guilt because I don’t have any cheese eating guilt. Eat all the cheese, is what I say!
It continually miffs me that I can order the same portion of the same meal as anyone else, yet from time to time I feel the “would you like the lunch portion?” judgement where there’s none directed to the other side of the table.
I can talk about food all day long – restaurants, recipes, photography, food blogs – but the minute someone starts talking about their latest prepackaged diet or some magic powder they’re sprinkling all over perfectly good food, I shut down. I don’t want to spend my life dissecting every morsel I put into my mouth – eat fresh, eat well, and don’t worry about it. This isn’t about fat acceptance or throwing your health to the wayside. It’s about doing the best with what you’ve got and being happy with it.
So, this is it. This is what you get. Stop judging me because you’re unhappy with yourself.
Toni
Twitter: ItsToni
Love this in a huge way
Toni´s last awesome blog post…Cooking: Necessity or Luxury?
Toni
Twitter: ItsToni
Oh, and I want to fart glitter!! That would be a hit at parties.
Toni´s last awesome blog post…Cooking: Necessity or Luxury?
Avitable
” . . .eat fresh, eat well, and don’t worry about it. . . ”
I think that’s a fantastic mantra.
Avitable´s last awesome blog post…Summer Camp Rules As Written By A Very Honest Camp Director
Meagan
Twitter: SarafinaKitchen
Well said, m’dear. Well said.
Meagan´s last awesome blog post…Culinaire Dictionnaire – 23 June 2012
Julie
Twitter: jvdesigns
SO MUCH YES to all of this. And a hug for you. And let’s eat all the cheese together, ok?
Julie´s last awesome blog post…Whoopie Pies
crazyassmomma
Twitter: crazyassmomma
a-fucking-men.
and also? i want to fart glitter!!!!!!!
Natalie!
you’re so right- it’s all about the whole foods! and top of the “importance chart” is feeling good about yourself; if you’re there then you are ahead of most of the world, skinny or less so. recently i was at subway (ugh, i know. limited options at the airport) and i ordered a foot long something fattening. a very, very large lady in a wheelchair behind me ordered a 6 inch turkey sub, and the veggie man looked at us, SWAPPED OUR SANDWICHES, and asked me what i wanted on the 6 inch! i was pissed off on that lady’s behalf and was like “um, no. mine’s the foot long”. so anyhow, screw the general public’s views of weight; there are more important things to worry about!
Natalie!´s last awesome blog post…Humor me…
Kristin Fairholm
Yes! Well said!
Leigh Ann
Twitter: Torres
YES. I’m so tired of other people trying to “solve” my problem, even though I know they’re tired of hearing me complain. I too shut down when I hear all the “you just need to….” ugh.
Leigh Ann´s last awesome blog post…Some poetry for you
Martha
Twitter: marthawood
That’s awesome and I agree completely! I never had a weight problem ever until I had a baby and now my stomach is just flabby. I can do crunches and exercise all day long, but it’s still going to be relatively flabby.
I have spent the last four years guilting myself over every bit of pleasurable food and obsessing over how much I eat. But dang, I want to enjoy myself and I like to eat! So I decided that I wasn’t going to keep living in denial. I eat healthy food. I exercise. End of story.
Martha´s last awesome blog post…Why Media Matters and How Brown-Skinned Girls Are Represented
Martha
Twitter: marthawood
Forgot to put my Twitter handle.
Martha´s last awesome blog post…Why Media Matters and How Brown-Skinned Girls Are Represented
Tara
Twitter: taraburkholder
Preach girl!! Having Aidan wrecked my body. Pretty sure it’ll never go back to the way it was. I’ve accepted it, I’ll be glad when the hubby does.
Tara´s last awesome blog post…Father’s Day Difficulties
Jessica
THIS! All day, every day. I couldn’t agree more. I actually do have a thyroid problem + PCOS but none of the medications have suddenly made me skinny and they definitely have not caused glitter farts. For me, being recently pregnant AND plus size made me appreciate my body and what it could do – extra weight and all. Thank you for this post!
Jessica´s last awesome blog post…The Weekend + Photo Fun
Anna
Twitter: annaban
“What could possibly be so much more wonderful at 130 pounds than it is at 140 pounds?” Well said! Healthy doesn’t mean being skinny, like my doctor said. It’s all about striking a balance between eating healthy and proper exercise.
P.S. Farting glitter is such a mesmerizing image. Kind of like leaving a trail of stardust in your wake. Heh.
Anna´s last awesome blog post…Hey Zinester!
Anne
Twitter: sunandthescribe
I kept meaning to comment on how much I love this post. And then I never got around to it. Anyway, I do, and I also wanted to tell you about a super delicious cheese plate I devoured at William Chris Vineyards. I ate at least a pound of cheese. Guilt free, as it should be.
Kelly Hays
Twitter: kellymariehays
This reminds me of your trepidation over your Eat Cake for Breakfast purchase. I’m so glad you bought it anyway.
I am SO with you on this. I always hate hearing my friends complain of “fat” days or when they say things like “she shouldn’t wear that cause her legs are too heavy.”
even my most well meaning friends don’t understand the venom that they’re firing at ME (not just the person they’re judging) JUST because they can’t imagine being confident and comfortable at that size or with that shape. Let’s stop putting limitations on OTHER people because of our issues with our OWN bodies. We have just GOT to put health first, not just in our own lives, but in our damn MOUTHS as well. And health comes in all shapes and sizes.
Kelly Hays´s last awesome blog post…Dressing Like a Mom.