My newfound FAME, in the Pasadena Star News led to an opportunity to teach at a kids health camp in Duarte last week.  I led a 45-minute exercise class with about 25 young kids in it.  Was it ever a blast!  The kids were excited and enthusiastic about trying something new.  We did “dance around the world” with songs from Africa, Spain, Ireland, India, France and China.  We didn’t talk much about exercise and we certainly didn’t talk about thinning our thighs.  Some of the kids were genuinely surprised when I used the word “fat”.  There were a few snickers and giggles, but mostly the kids just got down to the business of having a really good time.

And that’s the point, right?

One of the problems with adult exercise is that so often, we lose track of what exercise’s primary objective SHOULD be, which is having fun.  The minute exercise becomes about something else–fitting into a bathing suit, reducing numbers on a scale, toning your upper arms, the fun just leaks away.  And once the thrill is gone, it becomes a chore.  And we all know how we all feel about adding one more chore, right?

That’s why it was so awesome dancing with these kids.  They were doing it just for the joy of it.  Nobody told them it was supposed to be hard work for them–so it wasn’t.  So my dear chicklettes, that’s my wish for you.  Take your inner child outside and play.  Swing on some swings.  Turn around in a circle until you get dizzy and fall down.  Turn on some fun music and boogie!  Above all, have fun.

Love,
The Fat Chick

Towering seventeen stories above the Russian city of Volgograd (formerly known as Stalingrad), this statue (known as “The Motherland Calls”) stands as a “striking combination of neoclassical styling and Stalinist kitsch”.  I know we’ve seen some big statues here on this blog, but this gal is truly heroic.  I mean, look carefully at the picture above.  See those two little dots just to the right of her toe.  Those are PEOPLE!  Honest to gosh, full-sized people.  Made to represent the Soviet victory over Nazi invaders, this chick is no pushover:

Height: (from plinth to top of the figure’s head) 170 feet
Height: (from plinth to top of the sword) nearly 300 feet
Length of each of the two shawl pieces: longer than 18 wheel semi truck
Weight: Over 8,000 tons


Conclusion, this girl is not afraid to be seen and she definitely weighs more than me.


Want to read some more about a girl not afraid to be seen?  Click HERE to read about my latest exploits on The Fat Chick Sings.

Well, to say that it’s been a while since I’ve posted is, um, an understatement.  But I’ve got an excuse!  I’m busy out there in the world being SEEN.  This might not seem like a big deal.  After all, my web site has like 20 pictures of me on it.  And my DVD is called The Fat Chick Works Out! for heaven’s sake.  So it would seem that I am out there in the world.  And the answer is, well, kind of.  I’ve been out there in cyberspace.  I’ve been out there in spirit.  But I’ve kind of been hanging out, you know.  Not really putting it out there.  Hoping people would just find me and shower me with love.

But the time has come for me to take a more active role in taking my message out to the world.  And I’ve taken a few baby steps forward.  The picture above is from the NAAFA convention in San Francisco a few weeks ago.  There I am at a vendor table selling my DVDs.  I’m finally saying, “hey, I’m over here.  Come talk to me.”  Believe it or not, even after all these years of working in size acceptance, fitness and health, it was still scary.  What if people don’t like me?  What if they disapprove?  But I got to meet so many AWESOME people.  And I got to listen to so many inspiring stories of people reclaiming fitness for themselves.  It was so exciting.  And it was enough to get this girl right up off her big butt!

I have other exciting news to share, but I think I’ll string it out over a few more posts–but only a few.  Because now that I’ve experienced the exhilaration of being OUT THERE in the world, I don’t think I’ll give it up for a while.  And neither should you!  Take your light out from under that bushel basket.  Wave it around and do an interpretive dance.  Film the whole thing and post it on YouTube!  Because by engaging in your own private act of courage and sharing, you help other people to do the same.

Oh, there you are.  Welcome back.

Love,
The Fat Chick

For a little piece of plastic, these things make a very, VERY big noise.  Even for the little plastic version, sound pressure can reach as high as 120 decibels at 1 meter from the horn opening.  One might think that would be enough noise, but OH, NO. Not when crazed soccer fans and the companies who wish to market to them get involved.

So for the 2010 World Cup Hyundai set out to create the World’s Largest Vuvuzela, which is played at the beginning of each match.  There’s no question that this thing is big, at over 114 feet long.  It’s hard to say exactly how much it weighs, but given it’s size and the fact that it needs it’s own freeway to rest on, I think it’s safe to say it weighs more than me.  Check out the video:

Aside from the very large Hyundai Vuvuzela (which is some smart marketing by the way), there’s also the matter of the world’s largest vuvuzela concert.  A total of 12,511 people all managed to blow vuvuzelas simultaneously for a brand-new Guinness World Records-approved achievement.  So if we calculate a minimum of 100 lbs per person including the plastic vuvuzela, we’re looking at over 62 short tons of fun here!  So whether we’re talking about the Hyundai vuvuzela or the world’s biggest vuvuzela concert, we’re most definitely talking about something that weighs more than me.

Want to hear about another great vuvuzela concert?  Click HERE to check out some classical vuvuzela moments!

Temple of the Golden Buddha or Wat Traimit houses a solid gold Buddha image.  At one point, towards the end of the 18th century, the statue was covered with stucco and moved in order to hide it from the invading Burmese.  Later the temple that housed the statue was closed down, and the statue was moved to Wat Traimit in Chinatown in Bangkok.  The abbot of the temple tried to get the statue transmitted, but because of it’s large size and plain looks nobody wanted it.  As they moved the statue, it got caught in the rain and dropped, causing the stucco to break away and the solid gold statue underneath to be revealed.  Needless to say, the statue still resides at Wat Traimit.

Here’s some stats:
Distance from knee to knee of the lap: over 9 ft.
Distance from base to top: Over 11 ft.
Purity of gold base to neck: 40%
Purity of gold chin to forehead: 80%
Purity of gold hair and topknot: 99%
Weight of hair and topknot: 99 lbs.
Total Weight: 5.5 tons

Conclusion: More than my weight in gold by quite a stretch.


Getting a craving for some Thai food?  Check out this awesome recipe for Thai Green Curry Fish HERE on Fat Chick Sings!

I promised to give you some fish recipes, so here goes.  This one is for Thai green curry fish and it’s adapted from a recipe in Sunset magazine.  Yummy!

1 jar of thai green fish simmering sauce (like the one from Trader Joes)
2 14 oz. cans of light coconut milk
1.4 pounds mahi mahi or other firm fish
2 red peppers, seeded, cored and cut into 1/2 inch rings
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves washed and patted or spun dry
2 cups cooked white rice.

Put the curry simmer sauce in a food processor with half of the fresh basil leaves.  Process until the leaves are very finely minced and mixed with the sauce.  Pour the sauce into a 1 qt. saucepan and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes on low.  Cut the pieces into 4 or 5 ounce servings.  Dip the fish and the red pepper rings in the coconut/curry mixture.  Heat grill to medium high.  Grill fish on the center (hottest) part of the grill and the red peppers on the outside for 5 minutes until the red pepper rings are beginning to brown and the fish is cooked through.  Put the rice on a large platter.  Put the fish fillets and pepper rings over the rice.  Cover with the green curry mixture and sprinkle with fresh basil leaves.  Serve immediately with a crisp Asian-style beer like Singha.  Serves 4.

Having trouble finding the ingredients?  You can order them from my favorite Thai food exporter HERE.

Enjoy!

Love,
The Fat Chick

As I have mentioned BEFORE, every month I try to tackle a new, very discrete, very tiny health habit.  I don’t diet or engage in a “whole new way of eating”.  I simply pick a small health habit and work on it.  This month’s habit is FISH.  We all know that fish is good for us.  But there is increasing evidence that fish can significantly reduce our risks for heart disease and other health problems.  (Check THIS out…).

And fish is yummy.  Sometimes.  For a long time I didn’t eat fish.  Truth be told, I hadn’t really learned to enjoy fish until I tasted truly fresh fish.  A lot of my life I had frozen, reconstituted or just plain old fish.  And with apologies to those who think me ageist, old fish is bad fish.

So first and foremost, I’ve had to learn to find sources for really fresh fish.  I’ve been finding great tilapia and sockeye salmon at my local Fresh and Easy store.  And for the very freshest AND cheapest fish, look no further than your local, high volume, Asian Grocery.  I go to 99 Ranch.

I’m starting to compile some more fish recipes and pictures that I will share with you soon.  (Like THIS one, I posted back in April.)  In the meantime, here are some super easy ways to get fish into your diet:

1.  Canned tuna.  It’s the perfect fast food.  Sprinkle it on salads, mix it with pasta, or even eat it straight out of the can.
2.  Fish tacos.  In a word, yum.  Go to your local, quality taqueria and order a few of these babies.  They are also usually very reasonably priced too!
3.  Canned salmon.  In addition to the yummy prep ideas listed above, you can make salmon cakes.  These are super yummy and freeze beautifully so you can make a bunch.  Recipes coming soon.

So for happy, healthy awesomeness I say, Go fish!

Love,
The Fat Chick

This is a bra sculpture, apparently seen at Burning Man.  I actually have very little information about it other than the obvious–it’s big.  I mean REALLY big.  This thing gives new meaning to the slang over the shoulder boulder holders.

I’m guessing the material was wire and fiberglass.  But even with those lightweight materials, this thing has to be heavy.  I’d guess a height of about 15 feet and a circumference of about 60 feet.   Minimally I”m guessing 500 lbs for this sculpture.  But one thing I do know, the seriously huge knockers that would fit in this getup, would weigh more than me.

Wondering why I’m obsessed with underwear?  Check out the article on The Fat Chick Sings.

Under there is your underwear!  In our ongoing series on sexy, I want to tell you one thing.  Even if you’re the only one who sees them, you need some sexy drawers my friend.  That doesn’t necessarily mean a $1,000 shopping expedition to Victoria’s Secret.  (Which doesn’t carry anything in my size anyways, except maybe the breath mints…)  And I’m not saying you need to wear a thong if that’s not your thing.  But a little effort here goes a long way.  Dudes, clean goes without saying.  And if the boxers don’t fit, ya gotta toss it.  And ladies, let’s just talk quietly and frankly about HGPs (huge granny panties).  In a word, um, no.  Even if nobody but you will see them, how are you going to feel sexy in those things?  Can you find something with a little lace?  Maybe at least wear a bra and panties in the same color family?  And most importantly, can you wear something that fits?  I’m telling you pulling your unmentionables out of your nether regions is a no no.  Even though it can constitute both exercise and flexibility training, it does NOT feel sexy.  Spend the time to find the right bra and panties.  And when you find some that fit, buy about 80 sets because 2 days after you fall in love with that model, they will inexplicably stop making them.  Don’t ask me why.  But it’s as sure as bird poo on your freshly washed car.

So why am I mentioning your unmentionables?  And why spend all this energy feeling sexy?  Because feeling sexy makes you sexy.  And being sexy is AWESOME.  Okay my little chicklettes.  Go get some sexy gear on.  (A feather boa is always a nice touch.)  Because you’re worth it.

Love,
The Fat Chick

Don’t let my friendly picture with Buddy the baby T-Rex and my friend James at the recent PGA screening at the Egyptian fool you.  A full grown tyrannosaurus rex was a truly gigantic creature.  The footprints alone were over 1.55 feet long (although the feet were much longer–closer to 3.3 feet since t-rexes apparently twinkled around on their tippy toes.).  And the T-rex’s skull was an astonishing 5 feet long.  Here’s the rest of the stats:

Height: 15-20 ft.
Length: Up to 40 ft.
Stride length: 15-20 ft.
Weight: 4-8 tons

Conclusions: A) I don’t want to meet a real one of these things in the flesh, ever.  B) An adult T-rex weighs more than me.