Comments on: The Elephant (So to Speak) in the Room http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:26:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: NewMe http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104353 NewMe Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:04:32 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104353 Fillyjonk - I have a great GP who never bugs me about weight loss. She's just totally supportive of whatever I do to help my own health. It is really important to strengthen the muscles around the knee, which is something I'm doing more and more. I have been doing yoga for three years now. It has not had any effect on my weight, but I carry myself more comfortably and people have remarked on how much my gait has improved (I also have arthritis of the hip). In addition to protecting my back, hip and knee from further damage, I think yoga has helped me to feel more "beautiful" and more comfortable in my skin. Just as an interesting aside, my yoga teacher --a shining example of all that yoga can do for a body--is in her early 50s. She has a beautiful, rounded belly and some extra skin on her upper arms. She'd never be on the cover of Vogue, but boy is she beautiful and wow, is she a pretzel! Fillyjonk – I have a great GP who never bugs me about weight loss. She’s just totally supportive of whatever I do to help my own health.

It is really important to strengthen the muscles around the knee, which is something I’m doing more and more. I have been doing yoga for three years now. It has not had any effect on my weight, but I carry myself more comfortably and people have remarked on how much my gait has improved (I also have arthritis of the hip). In addition to protecting my back, hip and knee from further damage, I think yoga has helped me to feel more “beautiful” and more comfortable in my skin.

Just as an interesting aside, my yoga teacher –a shining example of all that yoga can do for a body–is in her early 50s. She has a beautiful, rounded belly and some extra skin on her upper arms. She’d never be on the cover of Vogue, but boy is she beautiful and wow, is she a pretzel!

]]> By: fillyjonk http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104352 fillyjonk Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:53:20 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104352 That's a tough row to hoe, for sure. Because having a genuine reason to be lighter doesn't really change the fact that permanent weight loss is rarely possible. Do you have a sympathetic doctor you can discuss this with? Usually when people talk about how extra weight hurts your knees etc., we point out that extra muscle supports them. But I have no idea if that's relevant in this case. That’s a tough row to hoe, for sure. Because having a genuine reason to be lighter doesn’t really change the fact that permanent weight loss is rarely possible. Do you have a sympathetic doctor you can discuss this with?

Usually when people talk about how extra weight hurts your knees etc., we point out that extra muscle supports them. But I have no idea if that’s relevant in this case.

]]> By: NewMe http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104349 NewMe Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:55:37 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104349 Fillyjonk - In an effort at brevity, I wasn't very clear about the arthritis. It is hereditary in that three generations of women in my family all have it (who knows what my ancestors in Russia suffered!). Being a lower weight puts less pressure on my suffering joints. But certainly, weight did not bring on the arthritis and weight loss will not "cure" it. It just might make it a little easier to bear. And thanks for understanding where I'm coming from. Fillyjonk – In an effort at brevity, I wasn’t very clear about the arthritis. It is hereditary in that three generations of women in my family all have it (who knows what my ancestors in Russia suffered!). Being a lower weight puts less pressure on my suffering joints. But certainly, weight did not bring on the arthritis and weight loss will not “cure” it. It just might make it a little easier to bear.

And thanks for understanding where I’m coming from.

]]> By: littlem http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104320 littlem Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:42:29 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104320 <i>"Fully Ascended Fat Acceptance Master"</i> Man, I didn't even know they had that title. Feels like another badge I missed at Scouts. *sigh* “Fully Ascended Fat Acceptance Master”

Man, I didn’t even know they had that title. Feels like another badge I missed at Scouts. *sigh*

]]> By: fillyjonk http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104318 fillyjonk Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:29:15 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104318 <i>I know that being somewhat lighter will help with the hereditary arthritis that is attacking my body?</i> Is this some meaning of the word "hereditary" I was previously unaware of? Pretty sure hereditary things are caused by genes, not weight. Sorry if I'm being flip, but... I mean, right? <i>Clearly, I’m not a fat activist.</i> Not so clear to me. It's not like everyone here is a Fully Ascended Fat Acceptance Master. Knowing that the fascination with weight loss is a scam designed to make you dissatisfied with yourself, and believing that you get to eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full... that sounds pretty much like it to me. I know that being somewhat lighter will help with the hereditary arthritis that is attacking my body?

Is this some meaning of the word “hereditary” I was previously unaware of? Pretty sure hereditary things are caused by genes, not weight. Sorry if I’m being flip, but… I mean, right?

Clearly, I’m not a fat activist.

Not so clear to me. It’s not like everyone here is a Fully Ascended Fat Acceptance Master. Knowing that the fascination with weight loss is a scam designed to make you dissatisfied with yourself, and believing that you get to eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full… that sounds pretty much like it to me.

]]> By: NewMe http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104317 NewMe Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:24:43 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-104317 OMG, I feel alone. I think diets are the work of the devil but am I a dieter because I'm learning to eat intuitively and actually losing weight very, very slowly? I know that I've been taken in as much as anyone else by the culture of thin. I know that if I'm honest with myself, the real reason I want to lose weight is to look "better". But is it wrong of me to want to lose weight when I know that being somewhat lighter will help with the hereditary arthritis that is attacking my body? I don't believe in points, I don't believe in cutting out carbs, or not mixing proteins and carbs (anyone remember "Fit for Life"?) or feeling hungry because that's what you have to feel to lose weight. I do believe in eating when you're hungry and stopping when you're full and enjoying your broccoli and your chocolate (preferably not together, at least in my opinion). Clearly, I'm not a fat activist. I would hope that I can put myself in the HAES camp. And I know that my friends in the weight-loss blogosphere think I'm pretty weird. Oh good grief! OMG, I feel alone.

I think diets are the work of the devil but am I a dieter because I’m learning to eat intuitively and actually losing weight very, very slowly?

I know that I’ve been taken in as much as anyone else by the culture of thin. I know that if I’m honest with myself, the real reason I want to lose weight is to look “better”. But is it wrong of me to want to lose weight when I know that being somewhat lighter will help with the hereditary arthritis that is attacking my body?

I don’t believe in points, I don’t believe in cutting out carbs, or not mixing proteins and carbs (anyone remember “Fit for Life”?) or feeling hungry because that’s what you have to feel to lose weight.

I do believe in eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full and enjoying your broccoli and your chocolate (preferably not together, at least in my opinion).

Clearly, I’m not a fat activist. I would hope that I can put myself in the HAES camp. And I know that my friends in the weight-loss blogosphere think I’m pretty weird.

Oh good grief!

]]> By: Who Sets the Size Acceptance Agenda? « Insolent NDN http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-48190 Who Sets the Size Acceptance Agenda? « Insolent NDN Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:58:19 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-48190 [...] Acceptance Agenda? Posted September 8, 2007 The context of this post is layered in this, this, this, this, and especially [...] [...] Acceptance Agenda? Posted September 8, 2007 The context of this post is layered in this, this, this, this, and especially [...]

]]> By: Why I write… | Creamy Nougat Lair http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-11198 Why I write… | Creamy Nougat Lair Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:34:46 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-11198 [...] the blogosphere, it’s easy for me and this brand new baby blog to keep our distance from the fervour raging in other regions.  This surprising peace is partly intentional and partly just a neat-o side effect of being new to [...] [...] the blogosphere, it’s easy for me and this brand new baby blog to keep our distance from the fervour raging in other regions.  This surprising peace is partly intentional and partly just a neat-o side effect of being new to [...]

]]> By: Defining your terms at Kindly Póg Mo Thóin http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-10296 Defining your terms at Kindly Póg Mo Thóin Sun, 09 Sep 2007 15:45:48 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-10296 [...] Harding, who I love, also wrote a post, not directly about Blank’s blog, about how she’s gone from being agnostic on the [...] [...] Harding, who I love, also wrote a post, not directly about Blank’s blog, about how she’s gone from being agnostic on the [...]

]]> By: Body Impolitic - Blog Archive - » The Fickle Finger of Fat Acceptance - Laurie Toby Edison: Photographer http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-10217 Body Impolitic - Blog Archive - » The Fickle Finger of Fat Acceptance - Laurie Toby Edison: Photographer Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:43:31 +0000 http://kateharding.net/2007/09/06/the-elephant-so-to-speak-in-the-room/#comment-10217 [...] and a lot of examination, in the fat acceptance blogosphere. The thoughtful posts at The Rotund and Shapely Prose both have 85+ comments in their comment threads, which tells you how important this is to [...] [...] and a lot of examination, in the fat acceptance blogosphere. The thoughtful posts at The Rotund and Shapely Prose both have 85+ comments in their comment threads, which tells you how important this is to [...]

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