Tag Archives: the fat chick

Warts and All: New Sources for Inspiration in Body Diversity

Over the past two weeks, I’ve seen a number of new sources for inspiration in the world of body diversity. Of course we have new inspiration from tried and true sources like Adipositivity (BTW notoriously NSFW). But there are some exciting new sources as well. For example, The Body Images Project contains a number of scrumptious photos of folks of all shapes, sizes and ages. And we’re not just talking about cellulite here. There’s grey hairs, scars, scabs, freckles, warts and more. And we’re also seeing some especially awesome feeds on facebook and tumblr lately, including THIS one and THIS one.

And beyond the pictures, there’s the dancing–OOOOHHHH the dancing. Aside from the toddler dancing that I posted a few weeks ago, we have awesome dancing old ladies. HERE’S an 88 yr. old lady who boogies down the stairs:

And there’s old ladies doing Zumba and old ladies standing proudly for portraits and there’s just bodies, all different kinds of bodies EVERYWHERE! In a sea of previously perfectly toned and tanned and coiffed and waxed bodies, it’s so exciting to me that social media can also be a source of difference. It seems that just now in cyberspace, I’m seeing big bodies and small bodies and smooth bodies and wrinkly bodies and white bodies and black bodies and freckly bodies and scarred bodies. All are sacred bodies. All are unique packages encompassing the divine. And all I can say is, HOW DELIGHTFUL! Rather than a one page menu of clone, drone, Barbie types, I’m seeing a bodacious BUFFET of bodies of all different kinds. And I ask you, how can this NOT be a good thing?

So click away. Click at links and click at cameras. Show us your gorgeousness you cyber cuties. And let us see how decidedly, deliciously DIFFERENT you all are!

Love,

The Fat Chick

The Right Now Show–Episode 007: Free Exercise Equipment

The Right Now Show Episode 006: Exercise and Chronic Pain

4 Replies

In Episode 6 of the Right Now Show, we address a viewer inquiry about exercising with chronic pain or disability. We discuss strategies for exercising with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and other sources of chronic pain, discuss the traffic light method for rating pain conditions and discuss techniques for getting the most out of your workouts.

Here are some other important resources for exercising with chronic pain:

This week I’m offering a special FREE BONUS VIDEO with additional information on exercising with chronic pain.

Here’s an extended (1 hr.) interview with me and Pain Specialist Dr. Paul Christo talking about coping with plus-sized exercise and chronic pain:

Here are some studies about the effects of exercise on chronic pain:

And here’s an extremely informative article about chronic pain and exercise technique:

And the Award for Best at Wearing a Dress Goes to…

2 Replies

Long before the final statuettes have been given out, the awards for who looks best (and worst) in a dress are being decided. From the moment these film actors and actresses stop onto the red carpet, the world is frantically deciding, do they look good? Isn’t it interesting that the Oscar is almost a secondary award to the main award–the best and worst dress lists? These lists begin to come out before the first Academy Award envelope is opened and before the stars and starlets have even had a chance to find a drink or have their first, post-red-carpet pee.

Anybody who has any doubts about the priorities of our culture need look no further than this night. Winning for being the best actor or actress often simply takes second place to who wore the best dress, had the right hair, and managed to score the most exclusive awards night jewelry. Even the directors, producers, costume designers, writers, set designers, sound designers and more are meticulously dissected based on hem length, cleavage, tux tailoring, strappy shoe wearing and bling.

I can’t help thinking that it all feels so “High School”. The pecking order for the most prestigious film awards in the world seems to share more than a little in common with your average High School prom evening. You have the popular kids, the AV nerds, the smart kids, the jocks, the goth kids and others. You have limo rides that are probably more awkward than fun. You have folks who have poured more money into one evening that anyone ever thought prudent or even possible. And at the end of the day, it seems all anyone cares, is how they looked in the dress.

Meh.

Maybe that’s why, despite multiple invitations to various Oscar parties, I opted to simply go to the pub with my sweetie. I ate sliders. I wore jeans. I drank wine. Life is good.

So maybe I won’t win the award for best at wearing a dress. But at least I had a good time. Oh, and I didn’t have to wait three hours to pee either.

I guess it’s all about priorities.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Love Your Body Week TRAVEL Edition (sigh…)

Why You Just Shouldn’t Mess with Wisconsin Women

4 Replies

Once again, a woman from Wisconsin is at the center of a controversy over body snarking, and once again, a woman from Wisconsin has totally schooled the world on why this isn’t okay.

I’m talking in this case about former Green Bay Packers cheerleader, Kaitlyn Collins. Apparently somebody posted a picture of Kaitlyn from her Packers cheerleader days on the Chicago Bears Fan Facebook day with the caption, “Like If You Agree The Packers Have The Worst Cheerleaders In The NFL!” And the comments. Oh the comments.

Now as a diehard Packers fan, I can attest that the rivalry between the Packers and the Bears is longstanding and epic. And thus, it’s probably not that surprising that the comments got ugly in a hurry. But this level of body disparagement and the nasty objectification of women did not go unanswered.

Kaitlyn created the YouTube video that you see above and she was NOT playin’. She called some of these bullies out by name–which may be getting somewhat humiliating for those folks, especially as this story gets more and more public. And I think the point she made was clear and concise. I don’t really have a lot to add, except…

It reminds me somewhat of the case a few months back, involving the anchorwoman from Eau Claire, Wisconsin who called out some comments regarding whether or not she should remain an anchorwoman at her current weight. She called those hateful folks out on the air as well and the backlash was amazing.

I guess I’d like to point out three things here:

1. Nobody is safe from body snarking–not even gorgeous NFL cheerleaders.

2. I’m from Wisconsin.

3. You just don’t want to mess with us women from Wisconsin.

That is all.

Love,

The Fat Chick

A Fatty Affair 2013 was Off the Hook!

3 Replies

If, like me, you were privileged enough to go to A Fatty Affair last weekend, I imagine you are still basking in the afterglow of what can only be called a massively cool rad fatty event. If you didn’t get to go, I’m sorry. But you can still view the clip above to get an idea of just how much awesome and win was experienced by all.

There was singing and dancing. There was talk about sex. There was home-baked yummy desserts. There were hula hoops. There were butt bounces. There was laughing and playing and more fabulous clothes for swapping than you can even imagine.

Kudos go out to Sarah Redman and her entire planning committee for creating such an uplifting, warm and positive event. I can’t wait for next year! Thankfully, Sarah has informed us that they plan on doing even more events in the coming year. If you want to stay on top of all the stuff this great group is cooking up, check out their web site.

This weekend reminded me once again, just how powerful community can be. I think at one time or another all of us feel like we are all alone in our journey towards self acceptance. But there’s no reason to go it alone. In addition to the Fatty Affair folks, there’s the Size Diversity Task Force (who has already collected over 15,000 pages towards the Paper Mache in a Big, Big Way project), ASDAH, The Fat Chick Clique and The Fit Fatties Forum (who have reached the Rockies in their jaunt across the USA). Don’t worry if one particular group is too far away or doesn’t fit your style. There are amazing size acceptance groups everywhere! So don’t try to do it all by yourself. Share or be square!

Love,

The Fat Chick

Thursday Theater: Presenting Right Now (With Me!)

6 Replies

Hi everybody! I’m so excited to present the very first episode of my new web show “Right Now! With Jeanette DePatie AKA The Fat Chick”. Hope you like it. If you’ve got some specific topics you’d like me to cover in the show, I’d love to hear them. And if you are willing to be interviewed for the show (via my super handy skype cam) I’d love to have you on! Just comment below or send an email to jeanette@thefatchick.com.

I also feel it necessary to talk about a few of the other incredibly awesome things we’ve got going on! First of all, on the Fit Fatties Forum, we’re still going strong with our Fit Fatties Across America project. In less than 2 weeks we’ve gone from New York City to Topeka, Kansas! Can you believe it? Don’t forget to enter your minutes or miles HERE by noon on Fit Fatties Fridays. Then check back after 5PM to see just how far we all have gone.

Next, I wanted to let you know that I will be presenting a teleseminar next week Tuesday evening at 5PM PST (8 PM EST). I’ll be talking about setting safe, reasonable and fun New Years resolutions for fitness. Click HERE to register. There are limited slots and we’ve got a whole lot of people already registered. So go on over there and register right away!

Finally, I wanted to remind you that Paper Mâché in a Big, Big Way is still going strong. We’d love for you to “liberate” diet books from thrift stores and resale shops (so no more money goes to the diet industry) and send them to us so we can use them to make the world’s largest paper Mâché sculpture. Or if you’d prefer, you can donate money and we will liberate the books for you! I know. There’s just so much awesome here, it can hardly be contained!

So hop to it my little Chicklettes. Let’s get going, right NOW!

Love,
The Fat Chick

Thursday Theater: Shake Your Tail Feathers

5 Replies

Hope you had a chance to watch the bird above. Did ya? Did ya have fun? Well, you’re welcome, and have a nice day.

But seriously folks, this bird has the right idea. First of all, Ray Charles totally, totally rules. And secondly, dancing is one of the best and most fun things you could possibly do, ever. Most of us are aware that dancing makes you feel better physically. But dance has so many other benefits. For example, some studies show that frequent dancing is one of the best ways to help stave off dementia. Dancing also keeps you young in other ways; helping keep people engaged in life, strengthening social relationships and literally helping to relieve the aches and pains associated with aging. There are also studies indicating that among exercise and leisure activities dance is one of the best for relieving anxiety and lifting mood.

So it’s fortuitous that I’ll be resuming my FREE live dance fitness classes starting this Saturday, January 5. It’s totally easy and no technological expertise is required. You don’t have to install anything or do anything special on your computer. Just follow this link to dance with me live on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 AM PST. Click here to figure out what time that is where you live. PST is the same as USA_Los Angeles.) You can dance with me on your laptop or desktop computer (with any browser you choose), iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Android phone. It’s super fun and totally free.

Starting this Saturday you no longer have any excuse. So join me and “Shake Your Tail Feathers”!

Love,

The Fat Chick

P.S. Don’t forget to send in your photos and related New Year’s Resolutions for a super secret upcoming project. You can use this video for inspiration. Send your photos and your resolutions to projects@thefatchick.com.