Tag Archives: Jeanette DePatie

Body Independence Day! The Right Now Show–Episode 015.

The Fat Chick demonstrates the right to Bare Arms on July 4, 2013.

In episode 15 of The Right Now Show, Jeanette DePatie (AKA The Fat Chick) shares her declaration of body independence just in time for the 4th of July. This is a reprise of a previous blog post you can find here. Assert your right to bare arms! Declare your freedom against the diet industry and appearance overlords! And enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the body you have right now!

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Stuff that Weighs More Than Me: F4F-3 Wildcat WWII Fighter Plane

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During the elebenty hours I spent at O’Hare Airport today, I did have the fortune to run into at least one thing that weighs more than me.

As you can see from the plaque (that also serves as a unique format for a “selfie”) this is an F4F-3 Wildcat. This single seat, fighter flew during WWII and was later used primarily for training missions. It also served as blog fodder and consolation prize for having spent nearly 2 lifetimes at the airport today.

And here’s the specs:

Length: 28 ft. 9 in.

Height: 9 ft. 2 in.

Wingspan 38 ft.

Weight Empty: 5342 lbs.

Gross Weight with Fuel/Ammo 7002 lbs.

Max Weight: 8,152 lbs.

Conclusion: This WWII fighter plane weighs more (and has been at the airport slightly longer) than me.

Love,

The Fat Chick

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Workplace Wellness Doesn’t Heal the Bottom Line

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I think we’ve seen lots and lots of press of late concerning workplace wellness. There are a variety of companies charging huge premiums to corporations promising companies healthier employees. And each of these companies, in turn, promises a healthier balance sheet by reducing worker healthcare costs. A lot of c-level employees have spent a fair amount of company cash on these promises. So it’s probably not surprising that when Rand Corporation issued its recent report concerning the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs there was a scramble.

Rand Corporation briefly posted the government-mandated report on its site last Friday. Very shortly after it was posted, it was withdrawn. The following statement was posted in its stead:

“This document was posted in error and has been withdrawn pending completion of contractual obligations to the project sponsor.”

Before the document was pulled, Forbes magazine managed to snag a copy. Forbes didn’t waste any time posting an article about the findings of the report. I’ll summarize the report for you here.

Most workplace wellness programs don’t work.

Yup, you heard it. It seems that most of the millions and even billions of dollars of corporate cash being dumped into workplace wellness programs that don’t offer any statistically significant benefit. In short:

1. Most workplace wellness programs don’t lead to better health among employees.

2. Most workplace wellness programs don’t lead to statistically significant weight loss in employees. On average attendees of the wellness programs lost 1 pound per year for three years. Even those few programs that showed larger weight loss numbers, were not able to sustain the benefits.

3. Most workplace wellness programs don’t lead to better behavior. Even smoking cessation programs generally led only to “short term” improvements.

4. Most workplace wellness programs don’t lead to better health markers. There were no statistically significant improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar.

5. Most workplace wellness programs were unable to demonstrate lower costs for hospital or emergency care.

The bottom line is that, as a whole, the workplace wellness programs cost the companies money and did not create statistically significant cost savings. In fact, on average, cost savings averaged $2.38/month for year one and $3.46/month for year three.

Not long after Forbes published its article, it seems that the cat was well and truly out of the bag. And the Rand Corporation published the report. You can see the full PDF here.

All of this is especially relevant to us fat folk. For the past few days, I have been at the ASDAH Conference. I’ve been leading fitness classes, speaking about Health At Every Size(R) and hearing a LOT about how workplace wellness programs disproportionally affect people of size.

The fact is, that a lot of workers who don’t have a “government-sanctioned” BMI or waist circumference are required to choose between paying higher premiums and enrolling in company “workplace wellness” programs. Many of these programs violate worker privacy and shame workers in front of co-workers. Imagine if you are required to go to a workplace-sponsored “Weight Watchers” program and are required to step on a scale in the same room with your boss or your co-workers. Just think about the trauma this could cause. Then think about that trauma in light of the fact that these programs simply don’t work. The programs don’t help you lose weight in the long run. These programs don’t help you be healthier. And these programs don’t even save the company money. It’s a lot of personal drama and trauma that provides absolutely no benefit to anyone outside of the company selling the workplace wellness program and Weight Watchers.

It doesn’t benefit the companies. Which isn’t a super big surprise, given the fact that many c-level employees fail to scrutinize or even understand these programs before they are implemented. According to the RAND report, only 44% of companies who used wellness programs have ever evaluated them and only 2% have “detailed information” about how much the company has saved as a result. Uh-oh. There goes that boat you were gonna buy with your annual bonus.

It doesn’t benefit employees. Many employees resent being asked to show up at potentially embarrassing, and decidedly time-consuming programs that don’t work. They don’t like it and it doesn’t improve their health. Um, check please!

As advocates of Health At Every Size, this is a space that will be worth watching. In the meantime, I offer this health advice absolutely free:

1. Manage your stress.

2. Get good quality and quantity sleep.

3. Move around in a way that feels good and joyful to you.

4. Eat a wide variety of foods that taste good to you, and take time to savor and enjoy them.

5. Connect often with people you love and people who love you.

All that stuff is scientifically proven to improve your chances at good health. And you didn’t have to take time off work, step on a scale or tell your boss your intimate health details to get that information. You’re welcome.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

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Coming Home to our Bodies

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If my blogging has been somewhat irregular this week, it’s because I’ve gone home. I’ve gone to the house that my Mom and Dad and sister and I built with our own hands, stick by stick and brick by brick. I’ve gone back to the deep green grass and country quiet of where i grew up in Wisconsin. My sister moved into the house we built together and now lives there with her husband and two kids–my nieces. The older of these just graduated from High School and I was there to celebrate with her and 50 other family members. She’s headed off to college in the fall, and I’m so proud I could bust!

It was odd being back in our old family home, but deeply comforting as well. I was surprised at how little had changed. I have to admit I am feeling acutely aware of the passage of time. I had a minor freak-out when I realized that my niece is now the same age as I was when I met my husband. Yikes!

But on the second day of the trip, as I sat on the front porch and watched the sun go down over the pond, I had some time to think. And one of the thoughts I thunked was about how wonderful it was to find a place of peace that is deeply connected with your roots and who you are. And immediately following I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could feel that way about our bodies? Wouldn’t it be great if getting in touch with our physical selves gave us a sense of “going home”. If checking in with our limbs and our laughter and our breathing and the beating of our hearts could ground us, remind us of where we came from and who we are? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could return to our physical being, if we could rest in the core of ourselves and simply find peace?

I have to own up to a certain amount of family privilege here. Sure, I’ve had disagreements with my family, but I’ve always known without a single doubt that in all important things, they had my back. They are my posse. I live in certainty that the strong family I have has allowed me to grow to who I’ve become. And when it comes to family and being loved, I have enjoyed an embarrassment of riches.

I’m acutely aware that not everyone has this “home” to go back to.

But it is this idealized version of this moment of coming home that I wish for all of us. That we find in ourselves the love we may not have always had, but have always, always craved. That we find in the cradle of our bellies and the length of our arms the embrace we deeply desire for ourselves, rocking us and assuring us that we’re okay, we’re okay, we’re okay.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

Buy my DVD: The Fat Chick Works Out! (A Safe, Easy and Fun Workout for Klutzes, Wimps and Absolute Beginners!)

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ADA Says Not All Fat is Bad

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The ADA suggests that not all fat is “bad”.

Well it certainly has been a week of ups and downs. On the one hand, we had the very disturbing news that the American Medical Association has gone against the recommendations of their own advisory committee and have declared obesity a disease. I can’t see this as good news for anyone outside of obesity task forces and large pharma companies. And I can’t help seeing this as anything as a black-or-white, gross, oversimplification of the issues of body diversity, and the role of fat in the body.

In the meantime, the research demonstrating the complexities of the issues surrounding fat, body diversity and obesity continues to roll out. This very interesting article recently released by the American Diabetes Association highlights the results of some new studies conducted in both mice and humans about the role that fat plays in the body. As always, I recommend caution when reviewing studies on mice as they don’t always directly correspond with results among humans. However, both studies seem to suggest that fat behaves differently in the bodies of creatures that are exercising as opposed to those who are sedentary. The study suggests that exercise changed the subcutaneous fat into higher concentrations of “brown fat” which has a different metabolic profile than “white fat”. The study indicated that the brown fat provided better glucose tolerance and glucose sensitivities.

The research seems to indicate that exercise can “train” fat to behave in a way that is more beneficial to the body, even without weight loss.

The upshot is that these studies lend further strength to the notion that exercise helps improve health even when weight remains the same. The article states:

These studies suggest that even if you’re not losing weight, exercise is still training your fat to be more metabolically active; even if you don’t see the results on the scale, you are still improving your overall metabolism and therefore your health.

Does that mean you are under some sort of moral obligation to exercise? Do you owe this to the world? Absolutely not! Your health is your business, and there are no moral requirements that you be healthy or do healthy things. But if our goal, as a society, is to be healthy, maybe we should stop slapping a label on a significant portion of the human population that reads “sick” or “wrong” or “diseased”. Maybe we should focus on making healthy behavior more accessible, more comfortable and safer for every BODY. Yes. Let’s do that.

Love,

The Fat Chick

P.S. I’ll be speaking on the topic of exercise for every BODY this Friday in Chicago at the Wellness Beyond Weight event at the Doubletree by Hilton O’Hare in Chicago. Drop by if you get the chance! You can buy the tickets here!

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

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The Fat Chick on Hallmark’s Home and Family

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Hi Everybody!

At long last, I’ve gotten a copy of my appearance on Hallmark’s “Home and Family” Show. It’s pretty light-hearted, but I got the chance to say some important things. I hope you like it.

I think it’s fair to say that I was terrified about this appearance. I actually was in several other segments of the show as a guest. The producers grilled me at length before booking me. In fact, I remember that the call came in during a camping trip that I shared with my husband. Thankfully he’s super understanding so I was able to take this call even while we were on vacation. This is something that is generally a taboo for us.

But I learned one interesting thing from this show. And that is I think the interviewers were as nervous as I was about covering this topic. This is a “nice” show with “nice” hosts. This was no Jerry Springer. And I could tell they were struggling with how to cover this topic and meet the requirements of their producers without looking mean or stupid. When I was able to handle the questions without crying or freaking out or being accusatory, they were visibly relieved. And for me, that’s something important to remember. When you’re talking to somebody who is aggressive and mean, it’s important to be able to deal with that. But it’s also important to be able to help somebody along who has absolutely no idea about how to talk about this important topic.

Anyways. I’m on the road and frantically getting ready for the ASDAH conference. I hope to see some of you there!

Love,

The Fat Chick

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: Giant Orange

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Yup, that’s a person up there in the observation area!

Apparently, they just grow stuff bigger down under. The search for the stats for the giant espresso pot, led me down a rabbit hole of really, really big stuff in Australia. And the biggest of the really big fruit is this orange–which has observation windows and stairs.

Yup. Most oranges contain some juicy citrus fruit and a few pips. This orange incorporates a cafe, a souvenir shop, a 360-degree mural and a lookout area at the top. This orange has stairs.

I seriously want to go to Australia just to have my picture taken with this thing. Seriously. I’d fly on a plane for umpteen hours, just for that.

Speaking of planes, I’m hopping on one soon on my way to the ASDAH conference. I’ll be speaking or leading classes all 3 days. Can’t wait to see you there.

And just in case you’re wondering, “Orange you gonna share the stats?” here they are:

Materials: Fiberglass panels over a steel frame

Height: 45 feet

Diameter: 36 feet

Levels: 4 (Yes, this orange has four floors!)

Weight: 85 Tons

Conclusion: The Big Orange weighs more than me.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

Buy my DVD: The Fat Chick Works Out! (A Safe, Easy and Fun Workout for Klutzes, Wimps and Absolute Beginners!)

Buy a book or a DVD for a friend and save $5! Just enter FRIENDBLFT in the discount code box!

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Your Big Fat ASSumptions: The Right Now Show Episode 014

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Today’s episode of the Right Now Show shares two things that you may safely assume when looking at a fat person. We also discuss five Big Fat ASSumptions that we routinely make about people of size and whether or not those assumptions have any validity. Enjoy watching, and don’t forget to share with all your friends:

Here’s some additional information and resources you may want to consult after watching the show:

Want to join a whole lot of other people enjoying exercise in an environment which is free of fat shaming at weight loss talk? Check out the Fit Fatties Forum!

Want to stay up to date on the very latest info about fat and health? Join the Fat Chick Clique. It’s free!

Here’s a link to a lot of the most recent research about Fat and Health on my website.

Here’s some more information about fat and shame on my blog:

Here’s a comprehensive review about fat and health which reviews over 100 other major studies about fitness, fatness and health:

Here’s some information offered by the Association for Size Diversity And Health about Health At Every Size (R):

P.S. Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

Buy my DVD: The Fat Chick Works Out! (A Safe, Easy and Fun Workout for Klutzes, Wimps and Absolute Beginners!)

Buy a book or a DVD for a friend and save $5! Just enter FRIENDBLFT in the discount code box!

Check out my Training Programs–both in person and via Skype (Starting at just $25!)

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Stuff that Weighs More than Me: Molto, Molto Venti Coffee!

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This week’s entry for stuff that weighs more than me was inspired by the picture above which was submitted by the most amazing and awesome Bev Whittington. According to Bev, the giant pot above can be found in West Australia in Swan Valley. However, after extensive digging, I wasn’t able to find out much about it. Please feel free to chime in with more info if you like Bev. Or if anybody else knows about this thing I’d love to hear about it.

In fact if you have any other pictures of giant things that weigh more than me, I’d love to see them! Please post them to my timeline or email them to jeanette@thefatchick.com. The more detail, the better. I’d love to feature YOU in my blog!

While I’m quite confident that Bev’s giant espresso pot weighs more than me, I am unable to say exactly how much more than me. So I decided to look for other giant coffee pots and coffee cups. And my goodness, folks do love their coffee. I found a huge number of giant java sources all around the world. I was literally spoiled for choice.

For this week I settled on the world’s largest cup of coffee. This was created by De’Longhi of Italy and was unveiled in London on November 5, 2012. This huge coffee cup was actually filled with gallon upon gallon of coffee (black). In fact, this super, molto, giantico, venti caffee was the equivalent of over 216,000 shots of espresso.

All that wake up juice was probably required for the four designers who labored for 504 hours to put it together. Here’s the stats:

Height: 9 ft. 6 in. (When somebody asked for a “tall” they weren’t kidding…)

Width: 8 ft. 8 in.

Volume: 3487.1 gallons (US)

Weight: Over 12 tons

Conclusion: Both the World’s Largest Cup of Coffee and the giant espresso pot in West Valley Australia weigh more than me. And can somebody get me some decaf?

Love,

The Fat Chick

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

Buy my DVD: The Fat Chick Works Out! (A Safe, Easy and Fun Workout for Klutzes, Wimps and Absolute Beginners!)

Buy a book or a DVD for a friend and save $5! Just enter FRIENDBLFT in the discount code box!

Check out my Training Programs–both in person and via Skype (Starting at just $25!)

Book me to speak at your special event!

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: Offshore Platform

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I was just watching the History Channel series “The Men That Built America”. One of the interesting bits was about how John D. Rockefeller got his start in refining oil in the great state of Ohio. Apparently at one time, Ohio was the number one source of oil in the United States. It was also the site of the first submerged oil wells or oil rigs. These were located in Grand Lake St. Marys.

There are a variety of different types of offshore platforms or oil rigs including some that are fixed to the ocean floor, some that are artificial islands and some that float. Offshore oil platforms represent some of the largest moveable man made objects.

The Petronius Platform located in the Gulf of Mexico stands 2,000 feet above the ocean floor and is currently one of the world’s tallest structures.

One of the largest and probably the heaviest offshore platform is the Hibernia platform in Canada. This gravity base platform is located in the North Atlantic Ocean about 196 miles east, southeast of St. Johns in Newfoundland, Canada at N46°45.026′ W48°46.976′.

Here’s the stats:

Start of development: 1986

Start of oil production: 1997

Depth: The Hibernia rests on the ocean floor at a depth of about 260 ft.

Height: The topsides extend about 160 ft. out of the water

Capacity: The gravity base can hold 1.2 million barrels.

Weight Integrated Topsides Facility: 37,000 tons

Weight Gravity Base: 660,000 tons

Ballast: After the Hibernia was towed into place, 450,000 tons of solid ballast were used to secure the platform.

Total Weight: 1.2 million tons

Conclusion: Any given oil platform weighs more than a little bit more than me.

Like my posts? You’ll love my stuff!

Buy my book: The Fat Chick Works Out! (Fitness that is Fun and Feasible for Folks of All Ages, Shapes Sizes and Abilities)–available in softcover and e-book versions

Buy my DVD: The Fat Chick Works Out! (A Safe, Easy and Fun Workout for Klutzes, Wimps and Absolute Beginners!)

Buy a book or a DVD for a friend and save $5! Just enter FRIENDBLFT in the discount code box!

Check out my Training Programs–both in person and via Skype (Starting at just $25!)

Book me to speak at your special event!