Sagittarius
In fifth grade, I was at a school attendance, and a girl around my age pokes me in the back and says to me, "Hey Twinkie! How many Twinkies have you eaten today? Fatso." I was shocked, I was bewildered. Who on Earth was this girl? I had never seen her before in my life. What would have prompted her to say such a hateful thing to me?
Not only that, but I didn't even EAT Twinkies. My allowance gave me just enough to buy Poki©mon cards with my friends and buy ice cream in the summer. Apparently amused at the look on my face, she laughed at me. She continued to say the same thing to me every time we had an attendance. I never learned who she was.
To me, food was never so much of a problem as a solution. I loved to cook, for myself, and for others. One of my happiest times, both then and now, is baking something for my friends and watching them enjoy eating it. My birthday cakes are especially popular within my circle of friends. I think that in many people's points of view, especially teenagers, overweight people are lazy, sloppy, and disgusting. I've had people refuse to touch me or sit by me, simply because of the way I look.
Truth is, yeah, I have some vices. I get cravings for chocolate and chips, sodas...maybe a little pizza. Nevertheless, I still cannot understand how I can't indulge on something like, say; a fudgesicle once or twice a week and yet other, thinner girls can stare at me in disgust while shoveling fries and chips into their mouths.
Centuries ago, larger women were viewed as the ideal.
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I really liked this article
By Hazel8500, June 26, 2007 at 11:39I really liked this article too. And I could relate, only from the other side of the fence having disordered eating issues of my own.
I remember this one time, different issue, total stranger came up to me slapped me on the back (hard) and exclaimed wow never saw a black girl with a sun burn before. Then continued to follow me incessantly slapping my burn. I never knew who he was either, but had to get outta there! Wow what a loser. Its amazing how none of us gets away scott free you know. Fat, black, skinny, gay, confined to a wheel chair, we all get a bit of it. I'm not sure if I find that comforting or depressing.
Either way, I enjoyed your article and think its really cool you were in a documentary on the topic too.
I so identified with so many
By Trisha Baptie, June 14, 2007 at 12:28I so identified with so many things you said in your story, in case you haven't seen a pic of me i am heavy. Unashamedly so.
I LOVE me right now the way i look. I was thin up till my 20's and i am so much more comfortable like this.
I have quit dope, smoking, obsessive drinking, violence in fact stripped away all i am comfortable with in the last 7 years. I have 2 bite brownies left though.
Personaly my weight is a total non issue for me.. OK i'm fat... so!?
Thanks for your concern for my health but i am healthier now than 6 years ago.
your concern for how much i will, in the future cost health care is a little looking into the crystal ball. i'll loose weight , maybe.. one day... possibly.... just not on my to do list right now.
I have an ongoing conversation with a friend of mine who is severely anorexic she has been in hospital for months at a time, has had a feeding tube inserted 5 or so times, been unable to have any form of life basically. She has cost health care much, much more than i have. ( she read and agrees with this comment)
Yet when we go out she is sought after cause she is the "ideal' and i am constantly shunned and belittled for being big.The debate over fat vs thin will rage on forever. Western society i think will always have an "ideal" woman one who can generate the most money for companies that benifit, from the ones who do not fit the "ideal" and will flock to do what ever they can to fit into the mold.
However the prejudice and disgust that is so freely thrown around when speaking about people who are overweight has to stop.I am shocked at how OK it is to make fun of, belittle, or make rude quips about large people. I find it amazing that one aspect of who i am as a person so affects how others treat me.since doing this gig with Orato i have had one reporter ask me if "i worked when i was this fat"
I almost fell over.....
The stereotypes that go along with size also amazes me to.... Although i suppose we have sterotypes for all groups of people.
I have not seen this movie but will run out and see it. When i heard Teresa MacInnes directed it i was even more motivated, i was in her teen rebel/ teen mom documentary film back in the day and she was in fact my out reach worker before she got into film making, i have DEEP love and respect for her.