Big Fat Deal

Big Fat Deal Has Moved

2007-04-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Just a final post to say that the new and improved Big Fat Deal is here. I hope you'll join us!

Ta-Da!

2007-04-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

Fatwatch: Courtney Love

2007-03-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

Holy shit, she is skeletal. I cannot believe that is Courtney Love. On her website, Courtney says:

"im happy not to have crazy lips and a crazy teensy unnatural little nose. so you have your opinion and ill have mine and it is my body and my face and lost 44 pounds with 6 more maybe 11 more to go. and ill fit tin that dammed couture, ( the uh ..real stuff) so im pretty yhappy and really all i care about i sthat my self esteem is limitellss and intact"

Translation: she apparently got a nose job that gave her back her old nose, and she wants to fit in couture, which is why she is starving herself. She thinks she needs to lose up to 11 more pounds. Oh god, Courtney!

Via Shawn at TUS.

I Still Don't Eat

2007-03-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Fug Girls apparently were also watching the Oscar pre-show I talked about here. They applaud her refreshing honesty while at the same time pointing out... she may actually want to reconsider her stance on self-starvation.

"I kind of get the impression that Debbie's reaction might be, 'oh, you NOTICED! I'm so glad.' And, honestly, that's kind of f'ed up... So here's yet another in our long line of pleas to the ladies of the world: we were not all built to weigh 90 pounds. Being healthy is a good thing: being HUNGRY just makes you really crabby and then your face starts to look prematurely aged, and while some people believe you can never be too thin, there's no cliche along the lines of "you can never be too cranky and gaunt."

Thanks to Jelly for the tip!

Deep Thoughts

2007-03-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

Do you feel like doing some deep thinking today? this post by Savy of Shaping My Way asks if the world, in catering to the overweight, is actually, subtly making people overweight.

"So, how do we save ourselves? Where is the line between a reasonable accommodation for every person (because people deserve to be able to participate in the world, regardless of size - I fully believe that, so please don't misunderstand) and a disservice to our society as a whole? Is it fair to make this a world that accommodates overweight/obese people before normal weight people?"

I don't think this post is in any way a knee-jerk antifat reaction, although I do detect a hint of the whole smug-ex-smoker in her attitude. I find the idea that our world is going to cater to fat people--much less pressure people to be overweight--somewhat laughable. But it's still worth thinking about. Is society an enabler? Is it important for us to suffer and to be uncomfortable, on top of all the ridicule, in order to motivate us to lose weight and be healthy? Are longer seatbelts and wider airplane seats a bad idea?

In my opinion, the thin person would never even think about accomodations like that. When I lost weight, I simply stopped worrying if the seat belt would fit around me, because I knew it always would. On the other hand, I am a firm believer in throwing away your fat pants, because hanging onto them means you're giving yourself implicit permission to get fat all over again. So suddenly I don't know what I think. What do you think?

Smoked Salmony Nibbly Things

2007-03-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

British celebrity Myleene Klass popped up in my mailbox today saying she "couldn't cope being a size 8." I clicked on the link fully expecting to read that she would rather be a size 6. I was anticipating my reaction already, which is that people should be the weight they are most comfortable at. I wouldn't judge her for wanting to be a 6 rather than an 8. But that's not what she was saying.

"I have gone against the accepted wisdom that the best things happen to women when they are at their thinnest. When I was at my smallest I was most unhappy. I was in a miserable relationship and my career was nowhere. The best things have happened to me when I am most natural and curvy."

So even though I've never heard of her, I found that refreshing and figured I'd post it. Also, there are plenty of bikini photos in that article, and she looks absolutely fabulous.

Breaking News

2007-03-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Anna Nicole died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, according to the autopsy report (PDF). I don't know what all the medical terminology means, but it looks like she didn't have a gastric bypass at any point, and TrimSpa didn't kill her either. Poor Anna Nicole.

There is a pair of red lips in the right lower abdominal quadrant. Two red cherries are on the right mid pelvis. A “Playboy Bunny” is on the left anterior mid pelvis. The words “Daniel” and “Papas” are on the mid anterior pelvis region. A mixed tattoo on the right lower leg and ankle represents: Christ’s head; Our Lady of Guadalupe; the Holy Bible; the naked torso of a woman; the smiling face of Marilyn Monroe; a cross; a heart and shooting flames. A mermaid on a flower bed with a pair of lips underneath it laying across the lower back.

Sad.

ETA: There may be something going on with her heart. CNN didn't provide the separate cardiopathology report, and the coroner allegedly "saw something that looked a little bit unusual" in her heart.

A Fat Rant

2007-03-22T10:06:00.001-07:00

Here's a video that's currently making the YouTube rounds, and it's really worth watching if you want to see a beautiful, kickass woman speak up on behalf of fat girls everywhere.

Thanks to Wendy, who was the first person to send me the link.

Not Fat, Just Retro

2007-03-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Angelina of Dustpan Alley searches through her vintage patterns, and finds something interesting—no matter what The Devil Wears Prada would have us believe, a size four isn't necessarily the "ideal" body size. In fact, it was once (and may again be) quite a bit larger.

"Here's something to note: a size eighteen in the nineteen thirties was considered average and medium and today that's a size fourteen. A plus size. But no woman back then would have been ashamed to be a size eighteen. When magazines published patterns they always made it a size eighteen. So if a body measuring 36-30-39 is a size fourteen today, why on earth would any woman consider herself over weight at that size?"

And while we're on the subject, Lisa Fashionista offers a report on her quest to find plus-size vintage clothing. If you have any other tips, feel free to let us know!

Evil Genius?

2007-03-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton are going to be counselors at a weight loss camp for a week, as part of the next season of The Simple Life.

"Sending Richie, the poster child for eating disorders, into a 'fat camp' is just plain obscene, not to mention dangerous. 'Proper eating' consists of more than laxatives and Red Bull, and Paris is no wellness champ either unless, of course, your idea of 'wellness' involves mixing a line of blow with Strawberry Quik to balance its bitter aftertaste."

It's kind of a genius idea in its own way, though. Two people who know nothing about health and who stay thin thanks to drugs, teaching the youth of tomorrow. Let's just hope the youth of tomorrow is... not all that impressionable.

Anna Nicole Memorial... Marshmallows?

2007-03-19T13:20:00.002-07:00

Here are two rather bizarre tributes to Anna Nicole Smith: Michael Levitt's Rest in Peeps (Anna Nicole has been sculpted out of marshmallow peeps and is featured on the cover of Peeple) and this sad sparkling clown painting by Rene Garcia, Jr. I don't know which one is more unsettling, so I'll let you decide.

Thanks to Kaylin for the links!

Damn that Coco Chanel

2007-03-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

We often talk about chubby women being desirable in the past, but I tend to think of the nudes in Ruben paintings, not the 20th century. I sometimes forget that in the first half of the 1900's, women built like Olive Oyl were teased for looking like boys. Angelina collects vintage sewing patterns and has noticed a striking difference in the sizing changes over the past decades. It's no secret that vanity sizing has come into play, with size 0 being the size 6 or 8 of yesteryear, but she also makes a fantastic point:

So if a body measuring 36-30-39 is a size fourteen today, why on earth would any woman consider herself overweight at that size? ... If Jean Harlow were alive today she would not have fit in a size two dress. Today we would call her a plus sized gal. But back then women were desperate to have her figure. But not quite as desperate as men were.

You're not a bad person because you're a size 18, you were just born 100 years too late. We're totally retro.

Oh, Lettucecup

2007-03-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

Rachel "Lettucecup" Zoe, celebrity stylist to the stars, has long been linked to various blind items and gossip tidbits like this one on Nicole Ritchie's MySpace a while back. (What 35 year old raisin face whispers her order of 3 peices of asparagus for dinner at Chateau everynight, and hides her deathly disorder by pointing the finger at me, and used her last paycheck I wrote her to pay for a publisist instead of a nutritionist?)

Zoe has also famously been accused of pushing diet pills on her clients. Stars who've signed on with Zoe and gotten dangerously thin include not only Ritchie but also Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, and Kiera Knightley. Circumstantial evidence! My favorite kinds!

Rachel Zoe did an interview with the New York Times denying the diet pill allegations:

"Sounding by turns wounded and willful, she added: 'I’ve never touched a drug in my life. Until recently, I didn’t even know what crystal meth was. And I haven’t known the name of a diet drug since Dexatrim in the ’80s. The only person I’ve told to lose weight is my mom.'"

It's amazing that she hangs out with Lindsay Lohan and doesn't know what crystal meth is. I mean come on, how disingenuous can you be? In other words: I don't buy it. Also, she's kind of a bitch to her mom, isn't she?

F-Word You, Good Housekeeping

2007-03-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

While skimming the archives of my newest blog find, the F-Word, I ran across this entry, discussing the newest issue of Good Housekeeping with Kate Winslet on the cover.

The cover quotes Winslet saying "I don't worry about weight anymore." Of course I applaud that statement, but it indicates that the focus of the article is--as usual--on Kate Winslet's weight. I mean my god, she is thin. She is gorgeous. She is perfect. She is fine. And yet her weight is constantly being harped on; it's exhausting. And the F-Word pointed out the other irony, so typical of women's magazines:

"[W]hile Winslet offers a ray of sanity in this thin-idolized culture that should be lauded, the magazine’s sing-it-sister copy is hopelessly rendered moot by the larger, overshadowing print above: 'The No-Hunger Diet: Stop starving, start losing.'"

Sigh.

Stand By Your Woman

2007-03-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, an obese woman who didn't realize she was pregnant gave birth to a son. This article discusses the hateful comments that have been directed at this woman on a newspaper website due to her size, as well as comments made by the woman (April Branum) and her fiance(Walter Edwards II) in her defense.

"'I just glanced at the comments, and I was, like, "whatever,"' Branum, 39, said in a recent interview. 'Being big all your life, you expect it. I'm sure there are more people who think it but just don't say it.'

Walter Edwards II – her fiancé and the baby's father – reacted less nonchalantly, calling The Orange County Register to complain about the hateful, uncensored comments being posted about Branum, whose obesity likely prevented her from being aware of the pregnancy. "If I could reach through my computer and strangle them, I would," Edwards said.

With Branum's story, readers commented on her sexual relations with her fiancé, her eating and exercise habits, and her abilities as a mother. Some comments were removed by staff because of a policy prohibiting vulgarity and personal attacks."

Some people have cancelled their subscriptions due to these comments, but April Branum herself seems too busy with her newborn to be bothered too much. There are pictures accompanying the article. And really, no matter what you think of the parents, that is one cute baby.

Viva España!

2007-03-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Major retailers in Spain have decided to ban skinny mannequins in their stores. Eat some tapas, mannequins!

"[T]wo major changes, announced in January, are in the works: Stores run by four big names will start replacing window-display mannequins so that none is smaller than size 38 (size 6 in the U.S.). And designers will standardize women’s apparel so a given size will fit the same way no matter who sells it…. To get a better idea of the shapes of Spanish women’s bodies, the government is employing some heavy technology. Using laser-fitted booths that can take 130 measurements of a body in 30 seconds, the Health Ministry is fanning out across the country to assess the sizes of Spanish women."

Seriously, this sounds really cool. Especially the part about standardizing sizes—I think all of us, fat, thin, or in-between, can relate to that frustration.

Thanks to your friendly neighborhood anonymous commenter for the tip!

"I Don't Eat"

2007-03-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was watching the Oscar pre-show last month on E!, and caught a refreshing conversation. There were two hosts, one thin and the other disturbingly super-skinny. Here's a paraphrase:

Thin: You are so thin! It's amazing! How do you do it! Do you eat?
Skeleton: Not really.
Thin: (surprised laughter)
Skeleton: I'm really tired of these actresses saying "I eat cheeseburgers all the time!" It's such a lie. I'm always on a diet. I never eat. All I've had today is a cherry.

It was just an offhand piece of banter but it totally stuck with me. I love that she's admitting that in order to achieve looking like a skeleton, she has to not eat. Simple as that. Ever wonder how many calories the average celebrity consumes? Snarky Gossip hypothetically breaks it down for us:

GWYNETH PALTROW: Mother-of-two Gwyneth has followed a macrobiotic diet for years. Recently she adopted a diet prescribed by celebrity health guru Dr Joshi. s well as dairy, red meat and alcohol, she is banned from eating wheat, tomatoes, peppers, fruit, sugar and gluten. Typically she eats celery sticks for breakfast, lentil soup for lunch and salmon with brown rice for dinner.
One portion celery sticks: 10 cal.
One portion lentil soup: 150 cal.
One portion grilled salmon: 127cal.
One 200g portion cooked brown rice: 216 cal.
Total: 503 cal.

Other celebs on the list include Renee Zellwegger, Kate Winslet, and Victoria Beckham. Found via Fitness Fixation.

Ohmigod Again, You Guys

2007-03-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

There's a new and satisfying coda to our story of the sorority that kicked out all of its minority and overweight members: they've been permanently kicked off the DePauw University campus.

"'We at DePauw do not like the way our students were treated,' DePauw’s president, Robert G. Bottoms, said in a letter to the Delta Zeta sorority. In addition to [an] apology, the sorority posted statements critical of the women forced out of the DePauw chapter and of faculty members who supported them… Dr. Bottoms cited the sorority’s decision to publicize that criticism as contributing to his decision."

Thanks to Kaylin for the tip!

Star Jones Is A "Skinny Bitch"

2007-03-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

The upswell in traffic from people searching for Star Jones tells me that something's brewing with our favorite llama lookalike. In fact, she has a new job at Court TV, and her old friends at The View discussed it today. Rosie even graciously congratulated her:

"We want to wish Star Jones congratulations. She just got a new job with Court TV and she looks beautiful," Rosie said. "She looks wonderful and we wish her all the best."

It was Joy Behar who called her a skinny bitch. But forget all about that, did you see the picture attached to that article? She's definitely uber-skinny and looks like she's had her boobs done. I think she looks better a little heavier but who am I to say? I will say that the ruffled sleeve monstrosity she's wearing is not doing her, or me, or anyone with eyeballs, any favors.

Dear Nigel Lythgoe: I am fat and I have sex and get naked. A lot. Thank you.

2007-03-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late to the party with this, but I've been really bothered by the fact that Frenchie Davis was unceremoniously kicked off the second season of American Idol for topless photos on the internet, while X-rated photos of Antonella Barba emerged that show her topless while actually engaged in the act of sex (Granted, not according to the Clintonian definition, but we'll go with the definition of the current White House administration, shall we?) and yet we were still subjected to weeks of her tone deaf warbling until America collectively spat her out.

One argument is that Davis was paid for modeling while Barba is just a cheap date. But what is also interesting is that Davis claims that she disclosed the existence of the photos to AI producers from the start, while I somehow doubt that Barba disclosed her night of too many Flirtinis with her date and his camera phone.

Davis is black, plus-sized, and immensely talented. Barba is white, looks like a Bratz doll, and has marginal vocal ability. While there have been black idols and overweight idols that have gone quite far, do the producers prefer their Idols lumped into one of two categories: either you're a sex symbol or you are nontraditionally attractive yet powerfully talented. And while it is possible to be sexy and talented (see Clarkson, Kelly), please don't remind the nation that fat people have sex.

Is it justified that Frenchie got shown the door while Antonella continued to perform each week? Am I just being over-sensitive to fatism and continuing to show my bias toward plus-sized Idol contestants? Would Mandisa have been kicked out if candid photos had surfaced of her giving her man some oral pleasure?

Model Thinking

2007-03-09T16:17:00.000-08:00

Catching up with Too Fat for Fashion, I came across this post meditating on the thin ideal, especially in the modeling world:

"People genuinely believe what they're saying; people believe clothes look better on the thin, the slim, the tall. I sometimes believe it, even though I 'know' differently. How have we learned to see this way, and how do we learn to see differently? One cover girl or one plus-size model isn't enough, because they will automatically look 'wrong' set amongst other bodies of a thinner type. "

The whole blog post is great, and at the moment, I have nothing to add. I just wanted to make sure you didn't miss it.

Fatty Talk Keep Talkin' Fatty Talk

2007-03-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Anabell sends along this thought-provoking question from Diet Blog: do you participate in Fat Talk?

"Some intriguing research shows that college students - males and females - know that when women are in a group of other women who are fat talking, that they are supposed to join in to say negative things about their bodies. And, there is pressure to do so."

On second glance, I don't think the statistics are so convincing, since only 40% of male and 51% of female students identified this pressure, hardly an overwhelming majority. However, from anecdotal evidence, this rings really true. Women bond by complaining about their bodies and sometimes it seems that anyone who doesn't complain "can't relate." I've had fatty talk conversations. Have you?

Champagne Tastes

2007-03-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

The Budget Fashionista is reporting new designer plus-size clothing lines by Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. I haven't found any pictures, but one commenter reports:

"I saw the first pieces from the Calvin Klein line, and I'm disappointed. Nothing new or inventive, although the pieces looked like they were nicely cut. The colors were boring, nothing like the sharply tailored pieces of Calvin's 'regular' line. I'm hoping that the Michael Kors line will be better."

I am interested to find out what sizes the "plus-size" line covers, and to see what the clothing looks like. Oh Michael Kors, first Project Runway and now this to make me love you. I forgive you for tanning yourself until you look like an Oompa Loompa.

WLS Patient Dies

2007-03-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

This is just a little news item, but it is sad.

"Renee Williams, the 841-pound woman thought to be the largest ever to receive gastric bypass surgery, died Sunday night of a massive heart attack. Williams, 29, had undergone the increasingly popular solution to morbid obesity on Feb. 20 and was thought to be progressing well in the week and a half thereafter, said officials at Houston's Renaissance Hospital, where she had the surgery. But hospital officials today announced the sudden turn of events."

Wow, she was only 29. Here is a little article about her before she had the surgery, explaining how she gained the weight. (She was bedridden after an accident with a drunk driver crushed her leg.)

Cognitive Dissonance is a Good Word For It

2007-03-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

"Dissonance" therapy addresses, amongst other things, the media's thin-biased bullshit. This, in turn, helps to alleviate the symptoms of eating disorders. A crazy coincidence? Somehow, I don't think so.

What is this "Sushi" You Speak Of?

2007-03-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

Everyone! Be on alert! You may soon find yourself invited to enjoy sushi with friends at a sushi bar or restaurant! Are you ready? Are you ready for health? For sushi is the healthiest of all meals, and is something even the squeamish can enjoy. Say halleujah, the squeamish! Your diet is saved!

I love sushi (so much), and I loved this article for its earnestness, and I love it the most because who doesn't want to hear that sushi is the perfect diet food? Communists, that's who.

Wanna Be On Top

2007-02-28T17:04:00.001-08:00

Tonight! The premiere of season 8 of American's Next Top Model, the show that has nothing at all to do with the real modeling industry in any way whatsoever.

I am excited for this season, because there is not one, but two plus size models joining the hopefuls, and maybe somehow, being together and having each other to eat ham with will stop the usual plus-sized model's fate on this show, wherein she goes from being praised for her spirit and beauty to being told she has lost her "spark," after spending weeks living with 11 skinny girls and not fitting into designers' clothes and being hated by photographers.

Maybe this time, the plus size girls will stage a coup. Viva las booties! Should be a pip.

What do you think? Will they make it past the early weeks?

Obese Eight-Year Old

2007-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

An obese eight-year-old (stories I've read place his weight at between 189 and 210 pounds) is in danger of being taken away from his parents. According to the BBC:

"The eight-year-old does have a bike and a trampoline which he uses, but he has to stop after around 10 minutes because he becomes out of breath and can vomit. He has difficulty dressing and washing himself, misses school regularly because of poor health and is a target for bullies."

I have to say that I do place some blame on the parents here. The mother has said:

"Connor had a mouthful of apple once and he didn't like it... He refuses to eat fruit, vegetables and salads - he has processed foods. When Connor won't eat anything else, I've got to give him the foods he likes. I can't starve him."

And per CNN:

"Connor's mother said he steals and hides food, frustrating her efforts to help him. He eats double or triple what a normal seven-year-old would have... 'If I didn't give him enough at teatime then he would just go on at us all night for snacks and stuff.'"

Two major problems jump out at me. One, "a mouthful of apple once"? That's her idea of trying to create healthy eating habits? It sounds like she's just spoiling him, quite frankly, allowing him to eat whatever he "likes" which, of course, is crappy processed food. And secondly, the "snacks and stuff" he steals and hides should not be in the house in the first place. I mean I don't know if he should be taken away from his parents; that seems rather extreme. But these parents clearly need some better strategies in dealing with their child.

This story has been turning up all over the place, but Clarrie sent in the tip to Big Fat Deal. Thanks, Clarrie.

Irony

2007-02-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

So, the New York Times article I linked to in yesterday's post said "Three years ago, Jennifer Hudson’s best-known fashion statement was a pantsuit that Simon Cowell, the resident acerbic of “American Idol,” compared to a roll of aluminum foil." Of course, as Ian pointed out, it was ironic when she showed up on the red carpet wearing a jacket made of aluminum foil.

But hey, at least she wasn't dressed like an AIDS ribbon. And she looked awesome in her sing-off with Beyonce--that red dress was smokin'.

Also, raise your hand if you think Norbit was the reason Eddie Murphy lost his Oscar last night. I completely believe that.

"Leading up to the Oscars, some speculated that the recent release of Murphy's lowbrow, cross-dressing comedy 'Norbit' would injure his Oscar prospects. The 'Norbit' producers hesitated over releasing it in the middle of Murphy's Oscar campaign, but director Brian Robbins said it was Murphy who insisted on releasing it on schedule."

I thought he deserved the Oscar, but part of me was happy he didn't win it. Up yours, Norbit.

You're Gonna Love Me

2007-02-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

In honor of tonight's Oscars, here is a delightful article about Jennifer Hudson's style transformation since the days of American Idol. (I don't remember that pink outfit, but holy god.)

"No rail herself, [Hudson's stylist Jessica] Paster said that 'working with a girl that’s curvy has been a dream for me. She likes herself, so she’s not one of those freaks who is like "Oh, my God, I’m fat. Oh, my God, I can’t wear that"... she knows when she looks good in a hot dress.'"

I can't wait to see what she ends up wearing tonight; I'm sure she'll look amazing. I also love that instead of a pre-Oscar party, she had a "praise party" at her church. We're rooting for you, Jennifer!

Thou shalt have no fat idols before me

2007-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

As anyone who reads Weetapidol could already tell you, I have an automatic fat bias toward talented plus size girls. So when I automatically fell in love with Jordin Sparks, I thought maybe it was because she was not the standard product of the Hollywood machine. And then I even wondered if she was plus sized at all, because maybe she was just a size 8 standing next to a bunch of size 0s, like Allison's model during the recycling challenge on last season's Project Runway. However, then I learned that Jordin's a Torrid Model Search winner, so she is wearing their clothes, which start at size 12. And then I worried that it was my fat bias making me think she was more talented than she is, since I am completely and utterly in love with Lakisha too.

But then I remembered that the only way to get onto the stage next to Ryan Seacrest is if you have enough real talent to overcompensate for a Rubenesque figure (ha! Oh! I am funny). Instead of worrying that I am undeservedly cheering for fat girls, I should probably be irritated that talentless goat singers like Antonella "Adult Content" Barba are being taken seriously just because they look like Bratz dolls.

It probably makes me shallow, but now that I've sorted that out, I'm really more interested in finding out where Lakisha and Jordin are getting their outfits for the show. SO CUTE!

Ohmigod You Guys

2007-02-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

In the comments to the previous post, Jenn alerted us to this article, about an Indiana sorority named Delta Zeta that had a reputation of being "socially awkward" and responded by kicking out 23 of their members.

"The 23 members included every woman who was overweight. They also included the only black, Korean and Vietnamese members. The dozen students allowed to stay were slender and popular with fraternity men — conventionally pretty women the sorority hoped could attract new recruits. Six of the 12 were so infuriated they quit."

Of course the sorority is claiming it was "mischaractarized" and had something to do with fundraising or something. Brava to those six "conventionally pretty" women who quit. And what does that say about the other six, who stayed in? So much for sisterhood.

Mo Pie And Anne's Totally Honest Product Review Part II

2007-02-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

Part one of our product review is right here.

Part Two: Anne's Outfit

Asymmetric Tunic

Anne:
So I received the asymmetric tunic in black, and immediately liked it on first glance. It's a nice heavy fabric, as most of Igigi's fabrics are, so it felt substantial and expensive, and it drapes really well, skimming the body but not clinging. There is a bit of ruching along one side, which makes the blouse very curvy and fitted - my tits looked magnificent, and my waist tiny, which is something I am always one hundred percent for. But what about the asymmetry? you ask. Where oh where does that come in? Good question! I reply. It appears in two places, and one place is far, far better than the other. The neckline is an unusual kind of slash, an off-kilter v-neck that is not deep at all, but sexy for being unique and unexpected. The hem, that's where we find the further adventures into asymmetry, and what ultimately confuses me about this top. The blouse is certainly tunic length – on one side. The other side, that's a little under hip length. And that means that you've got a bit of belly hanging out the bottom, if you've got a bit of belly, since the hemline cuts right along that area, and it is not flattering. That leaves you with a kind of -- flap, thing of fabric on the other side that looks like a flag, or a handkerchief, or something else not particularly attractive. It is a weird, gimmicky-feeling choice in styling to make, it constantly distracts me, and it drops the top from an A+ down to a B+-ish.

Mo:
I am totally into those asymmetric necklines—my favorite H&M sweater has an asymmetric neckline—but the asymmetric hem is a problem and I'll tell you why. It falls into the same fat-girl-design trap as bathing suit skirts. It's like a little Flap of Distraction. "No, I'm not fat! If you find yourself looking over here and you think you see some fat, just look at the waving little Flap of Distraction and be lulled!" I hide my fat swimsuit thighs (and my laziness about bikini waxing) with boy-cut swim shorts, because I feel like that sad little swim skirt is just trying way too hard. Ditto the Flap of Distraction. It looks fabulous on the model in the photo though, I have to say. Sleek and interesting, not flappy. So now I don't know what to think.

Brigitte Dress

Anne:
The second item of clothing was the Brigitte dress in ocean blue, which is way more teal than the photograph shows. I did not wear it on our date, because one does not wear a top and a dress at the same time. But I did wear it on Halloween, when I went as a devil in a blue(teal) dress. It's made in that standard Igigi heavy-feeling fabric, and lined well, so that it smoothed out the bumps and was Slimming. It felt a little short, to me - coming right above my knee, which is a difficult feat, considering that I have stumpy little legs. The length made it feel a little babydollish in not a great way, since the waist was high, dropping down from a weird cinched bosom that was not particularly flattering, especially with the ties hanging down. I certainly I wasn't crazy about the sweetheartish-neckline that felt kind of 80s to me. This is marketed on the site as a cocktail dress, but I am not sure Igigi's designers have the same definition of "sophisticated" as I do.

Mo:
Now I personally thought you looked fabulous in the dress. I loved the great fit. And by "great fit" I mean "your bosom." The gathers are, I think, so flattering. And the color was great, very rich, rather than a cheap, whoreish sort of teal. But if you didn't like them—see, that's the thing. How you feel in it contributes so much to whether you can pull it off. I feel that your bosom—I mean you—pulled it off, though.

Anne:
My bosom pulls things off all the time. My bosom is kind of a whore. Overall, though - Igigi's stuff is really well-made, really expensive-feeling and well-tailored, and there's a lot of attention to detail -- I think if you like a piece, and how it fits you, it is definitely worth the price, which is sometimes steep. But it goes back to aesthetics, I guess. My aesthetic and Igigi's aesthetic do not quite line up, in their casual clothes. Their ball gowns, though? They are pretty much flat out fabulous and rich-looking. I wish I had more balls to attend.

Mo:
That's what she said.

Not Alone

2007-02-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

Bumping this post to include the link to Beth's blog, A Sense of Scale. Thank you for sharing your story. (For other resources in dealing with binge eating disorder, check the comments.)

According to a new study, binge eating is a more common eating disorder than anorexia and bulimia combined, and it affects more than 1 in 35 adults. 10 to 15 percent of the obese population suffers from binge eating, as did the author of this article. Binge eaters also have higher levels of anxiety and depression than those who do not binge, but are equally overweight.

"I learned where the few all-night mom-and-pop shops were located so I could pick up the evening’s supply on my way home from work. Then I would spend the night eating nonstop, first something sweet, then something salty, then back to sweet, and so on. A half-gallon of ice cream was only the beginning. I was capable of consuming 3,000 calories at a sitting. Many mornings I awakened to find partly chewed food still in my mouth."

Yet somehow, binge eating is not classified, formally, as an eating disorder. My theory is that binge eating makes you fat, and therefore far less sympathetic. People look at an anorexic woman and think how sad, she clearly needs help; whereas people look at obese women and think she is a "fat pig" who has no self control. And yet anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are all eating disorders and all deserve support and treatment.

Thanks to Jen Wade for sending along the article.

Fat People: Stop Being Happy.

2007-02-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Anne Diamond, a British television personality, has a column in the Daily Mail, called "Why you can never be fat and happy."

It shouldn't - but fat demeans you, even in your own eyes...I was already divorced, but it is at this stage that many people turn away from their partner, and turn instead to the fridge. Outside my family, the closest relationship I had was with a packet of Hobnobs.

When you're fat, you dread getting dressed in the mornings because you hate all your fat clothes, and you dread going to bed at night feeling a failure because you've eaten a Malteser.

Because that is what it all boils down to. Fat people spend their entire lives hating themselves, wearing stretch pants and t-shirts and being ashamed to be looked at. Her experience struck some nerves with me, but I have spent a lot of my fat life deliberately working against every single thing she said, and I have ended up happy. It is hard to be fat, but Anne Diamond, you just made it harder on yourself.

The moral of the story: What's really demeaning? This article.

New Obesity-Fighting Game

2007-02-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

This game somehow sounds a lot less fun than Dance Dance Revolution. (Which I do not yet own, because there are seven thousand versions of it and I have no idea which is the good one.) Anyway, this is not DDR, it is something else.

"'Body Mechanics,' teaches youngsters the disadvantages of obesity while involving them in play. At the opening of the game, Neuro, a Yoda-like wise man appears who narrates the game plot and requests gamers to join the team of superheroes who fight against the Evil Coalition of Harm and Disease... The fighting takes place inside the body of Jack Decayd. If the villains of the Obeez City are not contained, 'Jack will die soon.'"

Okay, at first I totally thought that was the "Evil Coalition of Ham and Disease." I would totally play a game involving evil ham, so get on that, game developers.

Mo Pie And Anne's Totally Honest Product Review

2007-02-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

As you may be aware, the savvy marketing team at Igigi sent out some items of clothing to various bloggers for them to try and send back. Anyway, they sent some things to me and to Anne, and now here we are to review them!

In order to conduct our review, we put on our Igigi outfits and went out to dinner at Lime, a delightful little small-plate venue in San Francisco. (I had a fantastic Mojito. I feel that's important to record.) I wore the Camilla top under a black blazer from Target with the Palazzo pants. Anne wore an asymmetric tunic top and probably some pants or something. Here is part one of our two-part series.

Part One: Mo Pie's Outfit

Palazzo Pants

Mo:
The first item I'd like to discuss is my black pants. They have two layers of fabric--I don't know what you'd call that--are they lined? I know nothing about fashion. They are elastic waist "palazzo" pants. I thought they would be comfortable, and they were. However, the heaviness of the fabric and the elastic of the waist made me feel--and there is no politic way to say this--as if I were wearing "fat pants." When I was at my heaviest, I had a couple of pairs of billowy black pants with elastic waists. The elastic waist made them feel like "I give up" pants, and they reminded me of being too fat to wear "real" pants. I will admit this is totally on me. I am sure there are thin women out there who wear elastic waist pants. Or--wait--are there?

Anne:
I can't imagine elastic waist pants being anything someone would put on, frankly, and billowy pants still less something a fat girl should be putting on. I'll admit I found the two-layered pants a little weird - they looked a little bit like the kind of thing you stuff a Mother of the Bride into, with a sequined tunic on top. They only came down to your ankles - which is the fault of your long and gorgeous legs, really, and not the pants, but still mitigated the effect the designer was going for - a long, flowy, romantic and dramatic silhouette, I think. Even though I am kind of making fun of the pants, because flowy and romantic and dramatic is kind of ridiculous, they did achieve their goal - your legs looked totally poetic. The fabric also looked quite rich and expensive. But again, the styling felt a little old, a little fat-girl, as you said, and I have to wonder why Igigi doesn't make pants in lengths - it's the reason I'll never buy a pair from them. That, and all their things are wide-legged. I am wide-legged enough.

Mo:
And yet I think the wide leg thing is great on some people. Especially if you're bigger on top and narrower in the bottom--what's that shape called? The opposite of a pear. An apple? A lollipop? A Tyrannosaurus Rex? I really was in favor of the idea of big wide-legged pants--I love flare jeans, for example--but the elastic was the killer for me. And obviously the length; for those of you who don't know, I am 5'10" and they were just that little bit too short.

Camilla Top (blue)

Mo:
The screened-on lace shirt... my first reaction was that having that fake lace on there was like wearing one of those T-shirts with a tuxedo painted on it, or a big swimsuit cover-up muumuu with a picture of a bikini-clad body. (Those are so sad.) However, I really did like the shirt. I got a lot of compliments on it (until I pointed out the fake lace and then they said "wow, that's fake?" and looked closer and kind of laughed at it). I like the shade of blue, the square neckline, and the sheer sleeves. And now that I know (thanks to Product Anarchy) that the fake lace is a Christian Lacroix homage (Lacroix, sweetie, Lacroix), I am back on board with it. It is perfect under a blazer during the day (not too low cut) and then I can take the blazer off at night (sheer sleeves made it saucy). Still, if they had one for $20 more with real lace, I would totally buy that one. The fake lace makes me feel ambivalent and funny inside.

Anne:
The fake lace still kills me. Ha! Sorry, I was just remembering. I am not sure I can entirely get behind the dogs-playing-poker-on-velvet aspect of it, but I have to admit, it really did look smashing under the blazer you paired it with. The neckline was flattering, and the color did great things for your eyes. The length was right, and it was just fitted enough. I was not crazy about the shirt sans blazer, however -- the neckline cut for which I do not have a name was a little, again, old-fashioned, and the sheer sleeves left me cold. I think I saw too many sheer sleeves at the old-school Lane Bryant, which always screamed to me "My arms are too fat to show! My gauze astounds and bewilders you!" I would have liked this top a lot more with a square neckline and solid sleeves.

Mo:
I think the blazer over it is the right call. My favorite outfits involve blazers and tops paired with jeans--that's probably the college professor in me. But that being said, I liked the neckline and enjoyed the sleeves. Perhaps I am just too astounded and bewildered by the gauze to be objective.

[Stay tuned for Part Two: Anne's Outfit]

An Intelligent, Insightful Documentary

2007-02-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

And the Film That Fills Me With Rage (see also: The Unmentionable Film) is rolling on, racking up the dollars of the stupid, even as the reviews come rolling in.

Happily, they say the things you'd imagine should be said about the movie; This review not only says them, but says them brilliantly.

A Perfect Body

2007-02-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

In case any of you were forced to see That Unmentionable Film this weekend and need your brains cleansed, here's a Flickr photo that nita pointed me to. The caption is a response to women with anorexia, and reads:

"I wanted to tell them that a perfect body is the one that is fully loved. A perfect body is a body that can perform kindness freely. And such body needs nutrition. Perfect bodies feed on love and calories. Preventing one´s own body from being nourished is trying to make oneself evident for the lack of purpose. It´s a selfish act, in my opinion. For our bodies need energy to make this world peaceful, plentiful and joyful for everybody."

Thanks to Flô, the photo's author, for the sentiment. "A perfect body is one that is fully loved." Now that I want on a T-shirt.

A Girl Can Dream

2007-02-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

Another article about employment discrimination against the overweight. It does have the usual depressing statistics about the overweight being fired more often and paid less and "we don't want a fat receptionist" and all that. However, there is a small ray of hope:

"When two competing candidates are equally qualified, often it is not their appearance that ultimately hurts the overweight candidate, it is his or her self-confidence...if a candidate is really outstanding, their size will not be an issue."

It would be nice to think that the discrimination isn't as bad as we fear, and that we are the only people who stand in our own way, wouldn't it? Who knows, maybe it's even true. Thanks to Kari for the tip.

OTC vs. WLS

2007-02-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

I always like to direct you to interesting debates in the comments, and while there are always a lot of good comments being posted in prior posts, the current hot discussion is right here. Susan writes:

It seems to me that some people tend to recoil in horror at the thought of dealing with poop, but will gladly sign up for major, life-altering surgery. (And from my reading, WLS patients can also have problems with "dumping".) I've suggested to quite a few people that they should at least give Xenical an honest trial before opting for WLS, but they won't hear of it.

So what do you think of medications like Orlistat and Xenical as an alternative to surgery?

Kate Winslet: Still Awesome

2007-02-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

She is threatening to sue a British magazine that alleged she went to visit the Chinese Healing Institute in order to try and lose weight.

"I will continue to say what I feel about this issue of women being thin and emaciated. It's just out of control. I know I'm a role model to young women. It's a role that I take very, very seriously and I would never want anyone to ever think I was a hypocrite in doing something like going to a diet doctor, for goodness sake. I mean, it's really, really ridiculous."

Yes, she's still awesome, still gorgeous, still fabulous, still my fantasy celebrity girlfriend.

The Kind Of Self-Love That Won't Make You Go Blind

2007-02-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

To counteract the grotesque previous post, may I point you to the Valentine's Day celebration going on at Snackie's World? The idea is to make an "I love myself" post on your blog. In the comments of each post, people can chime in with passionate love for the blogger in question--in this instance, you.

However, putting a little spin on this idea, I invite you to post your own self-love in these comments. I like to hear that people love themselves on Valentine's Day! So bring it on: what do you love about yourself?

And in the spirit of love, I will say that I love anne and Weetabix. They are amazing writers, fabulous dressers, delightful blog contributors, and great friends. And I also love all of you readers and commenters (anonymous comments are enabled again, by the way) who make this such a special place to spend time online.

Thanks, y'all.

Two Gross Things

2007-02-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

1. That unmentionable, revolting film is number one at the box office.Complete with totally offensive anti-Asian jokes, too! In case Mickey Rooney's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of your favorites.

"Murphy plays Norbit, Norbit’s girlfriend, and the Asian man who adopts him. As the Asian man, not only does Murphy wear yellow-tinted skin, but plays up the old Asian male stereotype, complete with poor Chinglish accent...I know Murphy playing a cast of characters is classic Eddie Murphy, but in this case, I’m not excited to see Murphy play two stereotypes (Asian male and overweight Black female) on-screen with the express purpose of mocking them both."

2. According to her nanny, Anna Nicole insisted on underfeeding her baby to make her "sexy."

"Ms. Marshall knew that the correct amount of baby food was 3 ounces every 3 hours ... Ms. Marshall insisted that the maximum I was to give was 2.5 ounces."

Wow. I no longer feel bad for the baby. She's bound to be better off, no matter who the baby daddy is.

Do You Think You're Sexy?

2007-02-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

Science proves that confidence is key in a series of experiments.

"They had an overweight woman in a bikini, and one of them said, 'Do you think I'm sexy,' and one of them said, 'Do you think I'm fat?' And the results were that people responded yes to whatever it was. So in essence we're walking around with a sign around our neck saying, 'I'm sexy,' or 'I'm fat.'"

I don't know how scientific any of this really is, but the article is full of good advice. I myself will try to stop obsessing over my fat roll, Flappy, immediately.

The TrimSpa Connection

2007-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

This morning I got an email from reader Heather, who said:

"As soon as I heard that AN was pregnant, my immediate thought was 'I hope she goes off the Trim Spa until she delivers'. When I heard that she had died, I instantly wondered if the TrimSpa was in any way involved. There is no doubt in my mind from the assorted coverage of her, that she had some kind of a substance abuse problem. I know my own personal side effects of TrimSpa (heart racing, jittery, etc). If you combine TrimSpa with whatever other substances AN was taking, I would imagine it would eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. I am curious as to your thoughts on the matter as well as the thoughts of the other readers of BFD. "

I did a quick search for TrimSpa this morning to see if there was any news. And there is plenty. Here is a sampling:

TrimSpa's "Be Envied" tagline is kind of unfortunate right about now. I never actually envied Anna Nicole Smith, but right now I think nobody else does, either.

TrimSpa is moving forward without Anna Nicole. Their ads will feature "ordinary people."

Anna Nicole's fridge was "…stocked with cans of Slim-Fast, yogurt, the nutritional supplement Miracle 2000, French’s Worcestershire Sauce, spray butter and an array of prescription medications, including methadone." There was also a box of TrimSpa next to the fridge.

Here are the photos of her fridge from TMZ.

But were the photos faked? "They staged photos, such as putting TrimSpa and Slim-Fast in a refrigerator to slight her… It was like grave robbery ... I thought it was cute to put the Slim-Fast in the refrigerator. Sick is how I described the placing of the methadone."

TrimSpa won't survive this crisis. (Says expert.)

So like I said, plenty of news about TrimSpa—but as to whether it contributed to her demise, we'll have to wait for the official autopsy results. In the meantime, feel free to speculate away in the comments.

May experience adverse side effects

2007-02-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

This is sort of oldish news, but the FDA approved an over the counter form of Xenical/Orlistat last week. Called Alli (I'm assuming this should be pronounced like "ally" and not like "Muhammed Ali"), it will be available this summer.

I've taken Orlistat. The upside? I lost about 35 pounds over the course of six months. The downside? There are definitely some crazy side effects, such as almost shitting oneself after a particularly rich meal (and by "almost" I mean "yes"), not to mention the fact that the drug also discourages the absorption fat-soluable vitamins and my hair started falling out at an alarming rate.

The real reason that I quit, though, is that once I calculated the cost of each pill (my insurance didn't cover it) I was always mentally bargaining: did an Egg McMuffin, which only has 7 WW points, have enough fat in it to justify a pill or should I save the $2 capsule so I can have a Whopper for lunch? I decided that I was treating it like a "get out of jail free" card when it came to calories and it wasn't a healthy balance, so I stopped taking it.

Is this method a wise choice for reasonable weight reduction? Do the side effects mean nothing if you can indulge and still lose weight? Will we start seeing models shopping in the Depends aisle?

Gah!

2007-02-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

This story is a couple months old, but Back in Skinny Jeans re-linked to it today and I hadn't read it before. A 12-year-old girl got liposuction because she wanted her father to see her "looking slim and pretty in a dress before he dies." I can't say it any better than BiSJ:

"There is absolutely no reason for a 12 year old to get liposuction to lose weight, and there is no reason for parents to allow such a dangerous procedure on a young girl who is still growing and developing. Brooke is in 6th grade for crying out loud. Aren't there some kind of laws or standards on cosmetic surgery on growing children. If not, there should be. Liposuction on a 12 year old to lose weight is truly horrifying."

In fact, I can't think of anything to add, as I am too fraught with horror to type.

I'm Going With Bad Idea

2007-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I hear about projects in the works and am convinced that they will fail miserably. Sometimes I am wrong--didn't we all think the U.S. Office would be a terrible idea? So I am trying to be open minded about the fact that Kirstie Alley is going to play the vicar in the U.S. version of The Vicar of Dibley. But really, Dawn French is a comic genius, and Kirstie Alley is a nutty Scientologist. See the difference?

"The plot premise will be shifted slightly so that Alley, 56, is cast as a preacher returning to the small town where she grew up as a rebel. In the British version, Dawn French is a newcomer as vicar in an Oxfordshire village."

So it's basically going to be an entirely different show. An entirely different, very bad, show.

Where Have I Been?

2007-02-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

I apparently missed the news that our own Pasta Queen, frequent and fabulous commenter on this very blog, has landed a book deal! That is absolutely awesome news; I love to see virtual friends finding success. Congratulations, PQ.

The Anna Nicole Smith Memorial Post

2007-02-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

She is gone. Yes, as in dead. The Big D. My money is on a drug overdose, by the way. (As a friend pointed out, losing all that weight... however she did it, since we know TrimSpa is a scam... might have weakened her heart. But I bet she was taking enough drugs to kill anyone.)

And that poor, poor little baby--though she might be better off than with Anna Nicole and Howard K, both reportedly addicts. I guess they're going to have to put a rush on that paternity test Anna Nicole was trying to evade... which I'm sure will show that Birkhead is the father. And that underage girl who was suing her (and TrimSpa) is out of luck too.

Maybe I just want a tutu

2007-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

I've been fascinated with ballet since I was a child. I even had a pair of pink satin ballet slippers and concocted a homemade tutu out of ribbon and a bunch of tulle. I wanted to take lessons, but my mother was always quick to remind me that you had to wear leotards and tights. I suppose she was trying to protect me from potential taunting (rather than consciously introducing body shame), and I probably quickly admitted that I didn't want to endure that.

The Big Ballet formed in 1994 and set out to deliberately and, above all, self-confidently challenge accepted social standards in a world where the pursuit of slenderness and beauty seems obsessive. The dancers courageously and imposingly prove that grace, elegance, charisma and nimbleness is not the demesne of the "thin", proudly presenting their voluptuous yet surprisingly sinuous and flexible figures.

They're about to tour in the UK and as such, they are getting some mixed press, the kind that uses a lot of words like "hefty" and "straining seams" and mentions that it takes four guys to lift one ballerina. Are the fat jokes the lure for the audience and by the end of the show, the payoff is changed perceptions?

A quote from a troupe member in the Daily Mail, (Dear God, the headline calls themSugar Plump Fairies):

It's hard being teased your whole life then finding the confidence to go on stage and perform in front of so many people, but now I have it and I am so happy. We hope we are helping to change the public perception about larger people and encourage big children to take part in sport and dance.

I choose to ignore the rest of the irritating stuff and focus on that, mostly because it gives me hope that I can still learn to arabesque en pointe. And this picture makes me really happy. Rock on, ballerina!

Dear Big Fat Deal

2007-02-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, a comment comes along that breaks my heart. Here is one such comment from Me101:

"I am the fat one in my group of friends, i am also the ugly one. I am 20 years old, and I have never had anyone tell me I am pretty or attractive...I hate myself so much, but none of my friends seem to notice....i hate being me so much it hurts, being the 'fat one' means no one guy has ever looked at me and found me attractive, they just look at my thinner prettier friends and want them instead."

I obviously don't know what you look like, Me101, but being a size 18 on top, 22 on the bottom, does not make you ugly or undesirable. Look at all the fabulous babes on Fatshionista (their livejournal community is here) who are rocking their curves. Plenty of women of all sizes have found love, plenty of men enjoy big beautiful women, and you will get plenty of attention for your own special brand of beautiful, if you can learn to love yourself.

So here's my advice, even though you didn't ask for it. Buy some cute outfits from Torrid that will make you stop envying the outfits of your friends and make you start feeling good about yourself. Understand that your fat isn't the problem--the fact that you don't see your own beauty is the problem. I know some guys will gravitate to your thinner, prettier friends, but some of them will gravitate to you as well. I know from experience. And hey, you can always go find some friends who are the same size as you are, cover yourselves in glitter, hit the town, and see what happens.

Readers, any more advice for Me101?

More on Size Zero

2007-02-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

British magazine Stella and model agency ICM are "joining the fight against size zero" by putting on a competition for ladies size 12 - 16.

The winner gets "introduced" to ICM, a thousand pounds (the money kind), and possibly a ham.

And while there are great quotes that go on about "reflecting the true size of women in this country" and "size ain't nothing but a number, baby," and "mmm, mmm, mmm, bootylicious!" and "size zero is an evil force of evil that must be stopped before there is more evil," and so on (quotes may have been paraphrased, somewhat), I can't help but think that "introduction" is going to go nowhere, and the number of size 12-16 models at ICM will increase by zero. (Zero! See what I did there?)

Anyway. Am I just too cynical?

Another "Fat" Celebrity

2007-02-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

This time it's Tori Spelling being referred to as "an endless food pit" and a "shameless glutinous [sic] beast." Yes, Tori has dared to gain weight while pregnant. I am deleting celebrity terrorist from my bookmarks immediately, but if you want to see a photo of this disgusting creature who is actually allowing herself to eat while pregnant, you can feel free to follow that link.

Then again, there was some speculation recently that she was the subject of a blind item about drinking while pregnant. If that's true, I promise I will feel an itty bitty bit less offended.

New Weight Loss Blog

2007-02-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

It's still in the early stages (no logo yet, very austere design, still have not gone back to worship at the feet of the BFD poster who gave me the idea for the blog's title) but here it is: the successor to Mr. Ointy, Contents May Be Hot. At least I've got a Technorati sidebar going on. That's good, right?

Size Zero Spice Bans Size Zero Models

2007-02-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it looks like Posh Spice, who is herself probably a size negative zero, has banned size zero models from modeling her clothing line!

"Victoria wants to give out a positive image that you don't have to be ultra skinny to look good. Many of the models on the catwalk make young girls feel insecure about their own bodies. Victoria doesn't want to be accused of giving young girls a complex about their image and putting pressure on them to be as skinny as her."

Well, I really can't argue with that. In fact, I kind of admire it. But I think it's hilarious that the woman pictured next to her is the so-called "voluptuous" model. She's what, a size 2? Yeah, BBW alert! Thanks to emily for the link.

Tyra Banks Weeps for the Plight of the Fat

2007-02-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

After she stops posing like a dipshit and making it all about her - I've got to give her props.

Now if only Cheetoes had negative calories

2007-02-02T06:27:00.000-08:00

West Virginia, the state with the highest prevalence of obesity among its children, will introduce the video game Dance Dance Revolution as part of its curriculum, based on an insurance company's study.

A group of kids, aged 7 to 12, did 30 minutes of DDR five times a week while a control group did not play DDR. The control group gained an average of 6 pounds during the 24 week study while the DDR group maintained their weight. I can't find anything indicating that they monitored BMI or body fat. Considering that most 7- to 12-year-olds will grow over six to seven months, if they maintained their weight, it's very likely that overall, they lost fat and gained muscle while going through their natural growth spurts during this time.

Anecdotally, I've watched my friends playing this game (hello, I am lazy) and thirty straight minutes will, quite frankly, kick your ass. And this lady credits the game with helping her lose 95 pounds over the course of several years.

Prior to the study, most of the children reported feeling awkward about participating in gym and physical activity at school. Following the study, children from the group reported feeling more confident and willing to try other exercises.

So, not only are kids of all sizes rocking out to DJ Sammy and Gwen Stefani, but they are feeling better about themselves and learning that it feels good to move. And the only cost to the school is a few X-boxes and a couple of dozen dance pads.

I'd like to see a "You Are Fat" billboard achieve that.

Smokin' Doobies With My Brothers

2007-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

Even though marijuana makes David Brent "go to munchie city," and even though the coffee shops in Amsterdam very shrewdly sell chips, cookies, and candy along with all that hash, there is new evidence to suggest that it might actually help you lose, as well as gain, weight.

The cannabis plant has 70 different cannabinoids in it and each has a different [e]ffect on the body... Some can stimulate your appetite, and some in the same plant can suppress your appetite. It is amazing both scientifically and commercially."

Even though this drug would be derived from a plant, which is nature and therefore good for you, the knee-jerk reaction to marijuana in the U.S. pretty much gurantees that you'll have to go to Europe to get it. As if I needed an excuse to go back to Amsterdam.

(Did you notice that I worked references to both the UK and the U.S. Office into this post? Ten points for me.) (And thanks to Anica for the link!)

Quality & Equality

2007-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

[Administrative note: I have been getting a ton of porn spam in the comments which I can't really deal with from my desk at work, and have disabled anonymous commenting for now. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I hope you'll all still comment away.]

I was flipping through the radio yesterday on the drive home and I caught a couple of minutes of this guy's show. He was telling a girl that only fat and ugly women like the show "Ugly Betty," so she must fat. She is 5'6" and weighs 135, and he said she had "junk in the trunk" and "should" weigh 125. (I love how guys like this think they have the first clue what 5'6" and 135 looks like--or that the same height and weight looks the same on all women.)

The caller said that she didn't think she was fat, and that also he was sending a terrible message to young girls because "we have more to offer than how we look." (Which is, of course, the message of "Ugly Betty.") His response was that "men don't care" and that "high-quality men who are rich, successful, and wealthy" (yes, he said both rich and wealthy) "we" (yes, he said "we") "don't care what else you have to offer." After a few more minutes where he patted himself on the back for "telling it like it is" I switched it off in disgust.

Sure, this chick is fat like Tyra Banks is fat. Obviously this guy's schtick is to be a sexist blowhard asshole, he's not the first and he certainly won't be the last. But the interesting thing to me was that he was really emphasizing "high-quality" men as being successful men with money. I had this sudden realization that perhaps the pressure that women have to be thin might be equivalent to the pressure men have to be successful and rich. I always think men have it easy, but maybe they don't; it's just a different kind of pressure in a different area of their lives.

Of course, I know that these type of "high-quality" men exist, and they don't want women to weigh more than 125 pounds or whatever. And I am sure there are plenty of "high-quality" women who are into that sort of thing. But there are also rich and successful career women, men who don't define themselves by job title or bank account balance, and men and women of all shapes and sizes who find each other and love each other for what they are, not for their adherence to some totally imaginary ideal. Thank god we've got Match.com and America Ferrera to help us figure it all out.

'Cause silicone parts are made for toys

2007-01-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

I had no idea that Kelly Osbourne was interested in appearing in Playboy, but damn, I sort of wish Hugh Hefner wasn't being an ass about it. I choose to believe that he's commenting on the fact that she has a unique brand of attractiveness that might not be appreciated by the average Playboy reader, unlike than the vanilla plasticized Playmates that he normally uses. And I also choose to believe that this is not a comment her size, because damn, she's totally hot, in a Sophie Dahl pre-Trim Spa (NSFW) kind of way.

Dear Hefner,

I would totally buy a Kelly Osbourne issue. I might actually read the articles too.

Sincerely, Weetabix

PS. Aren't you 80? How much airbrushing do you need?

The billboard orders you to drop the Krispy Kreme

2007-01-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I can count on, there's going to be something in the news about saving the fat kids. If it's not the fault of the schools, then the parents are to blame. A $250,000 public awareness campaign will be launched in Boston tomorrow and check it out:

One billboard shows an overweight child's lower legs and feet on a scale next to the words, "Fat Chance," along with a list of the health risks of obesity. A second billboard shows the back of an overweight child and asks, "If that's your kid, what are you waiting for?"

Because if there's one thing this world needed, it was more media images telling overweight kids that they are doomed. Wait, there's more.

...the images may be jarring and even insulting to some parents. "People are concerned that parents may become upset by it," said Green. "There is the risk of turning some people off, but I'm hoping it won't, and will be the first step toward developing awareness if their child is obese."

This entire argument seems to be "You clearly didn't understand the first 24854 messages that it's not good to be fat, so we'll just say it again in a different way." And maybe shaming parents will work. Maybe kids are like puppies to be swatted on the nose with a newspaper. Maybe BF Skinner was wrong and avoidance learning is better than positive reinforcment of desired behaviors. Maybe I just haven't been told that I'm fat enough times for it to really sink in.

America's Next Top Blog Post

2007-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I go looking for stories; sometimes people send me stories; sometimes I stumble across stories as I go about my life. And last night I spotted a story in my referral logs: this site was getting a spike in traffic from people searching for "Tyra" and "fat" and finding this post. What happened, I wondered? Had Tyra put on another fat suit?

Here's what I've been able to piece together. Tabloids published pictures of Tyra Banks in a swimsuit. Gossip websites posted the pictures. Tyra Banks fought back.

"'I don't want to sit in front of you and be soap-boxy and fake and say, "I love myself, I'm beautiful, it's great,"' says Banks, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall. 'I still feel hot, but every day is different. It's when I put on the jeans that used to fit a year ago and don't fit now and give me the muffin top, that's when I say, "Damn!'" In other words, yes, she has put on weight, though not nearly as much as recent tabloid stories have suggested. 'I've made millions of dollars with the body I have, so where's the pain in that?' she says. 'If I was in pain, I would have dieted. The pain is not there - the pain is someone printing a picture of me and saying those (horrible) things.'"

So did her spokespeople.

"She's saying yeah, she's put on a little weight but she's at a healthy body weight and a healthy size and her big concern is young girls who look up to her, saying, "We think you are so beautiful and love that you are not a size 2"... What are they going to think if they see [her] picture being called these horrible things? Espinoza said that Banks knows she contributed to this image of perfection during her years modeling. Now she wants to be honest about all the work that goes into looking that good and what she really looks like. On "America's Top Model," Banks doesn't pick excessively thin women and deliberately chooses models of all body sizes... [she] acknowledges that she is not a model anymore and doesn't have to adhere to those standards."

She's also going to be on the cover of People Magazine (this fabulous blogger has posted a photo of the cover). And next week, Tyra will be talking about it on her show. And there you have it, my friends! If the people come here seeking answers, I will find them.

Sad But True

2007-01-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

We all think of McDonald's as bad-for-you fast food, but how many of us put Starbucks into that category? It's interesting to think about the fact that Starbucks's "cool cache" keeps us from thinking of it as fast food. This article peeks behind the green curtain, as it were:

"I said no thanks to the virtuous sounding no-sugar-added banana walnut coffee cake after learning that it has 480 calories and 30 grams of fat... And to put this in prospective, the much-maligned McDonald's Quarter Pounder weighs in at 410 calories and 19 grams of fat."

I know from years of cruising DWLZ that basically every pastry there, even the ones that sound healthy, are terrible for you. (I had no idea that no-sugar-added thing was so bad, though; I have had the no-sugar-added carrot loaf on numerous occasions. No more, though. I might as well have that 10-point blueberry scone I really want.) And I drink nonfat sugar free hazelnut lattes these days. And they are delightful.

Via Starbucks Gossip.

Bodacious

2007-01-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

BODacious™ Magazine (link probably NSFW) – it’s everything you ever wanted to know about the larger, curvier lifestyle, from the women who live it, to the guys that love it. It’s a high gloss adult print magazine for men and women. It's the first magazine of its kind depicting BBW (Big Beautiful Women) in a light so similar to the mainstream magazines that it would be hard to tell the difference, except for the fact that in our magazine we feature Full-Figured Women. It has a flavor and style never before met, or seen in the magazine market for publications featuring larger women....each issue is packed with thought-provoking articles, evocative fiction, straightforward editorials and up-scale erotic photography. Sprinkle in a sense of humor, a touch of madness and just a pinch of naughty is nice, and you’ll have one of the most talked about magazines in the mainstream market today.

So, talk to me about it. It says something about my own scarred psyche that the first thing I thought (or worried about) was that it was a magazine mocking fat chicks or the people who think they're sexy, or that it was a creepy fetish magazine. But it seems legit, and maybe even celebratory. What do you think?

Somehow Seems Like A Bad Idea

2007-01-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

An obesity drug for dogs!

"The Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug of its kind to combat canines' fatness. The liquid drug, Slentrol, by Pfizer Inc., manages obesity in dogs by reducing appetite and fat absorption to trigger weight loss.... Adverse reactions associated with Slentrol include vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite. No serious drug reactions or fatalities occurred during Hickman's study, but seven of the treated dogs experienced vomiting, four had soft stool and three showed signs of anorexia during the first two weeks."

Can't you just walk your dog more and feed him diet food or something? Seriously?

In other dog news, Katharine McPhee got a creepy bald Chihuahua that she's posing with in the new Entertainment Weekly, and now I kind of hate her.

Golden Girls

2007-01-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Two of our favorite fabulous people won Golden Globes last night: Jennifer Hudson and America Ferrera. First of all, they both looked fabulous and are not in any way fat. (Jennifer Hudson has lost weight since Dreamgirls, and America Ferrera is curvy and petite. Did you see how wee she is? And look how gorgeous. I was so happy to see these girls (and Ugly Betty) win awards last night. I think Ferrera's speech said it all:

"It is such an honor to play a role that I hear from young girls on a daily basis how it makes them feel worthy and lovable and that they have more to offer the world than they thought."

God bless that girl. First the pants movie, and now this! (ETA: Exactly.)

Hot Shopping Tip

2007-01-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

For those of you who, like me, got paid today, Torrid is having a 50% off clearance sale. Did I get Demeter "Laundromat" perfume for $6? Yes I did. Did I get olive green tights for $2? No I did not, because they sold out as I was checking out. Did I get a glittery teal tube top for $9? Yes I did, because I went into a sort of fugue state; I don't know what I was thinking. So act now.

An E for Effort

2007-01-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

When I first saw the headline "In Obesity Fight, Many Fear a Note From School" and skimmed the article, I thought they were suggesting that they were receiving grades based on how fat they were or weren't. It's not, but still. I'm not sure if I'm glad that I grew up before this practice of listing a kid's BMI on their report cards or now when there are supposedly so many fat kids that administrators report that only the extremes are getting teased. As Mary said in the comments on the Too Fat To Adopt post, "I think it must be harder now to be the fat kid than ever before, and frankly, it was bad enough."

Honestly, this shouldn't be a shock to anyone. That was always my reaction when someone would look at me and say "You're fat." Nice news flash. And the sky is blue. The kid knows that they're overweight. The parents know the kid is overweight. The article opens with an anecdote of a six-year-old traumatized by the school's verdict and refusing to eat and while it was undoubtedly mentioned to make everyone worried about giving six-year-olds an eating disorder, it just reminds me of so many well-meaning adults who seemed to feel that if you just make someone feel bad enough about themselves, they'll choose to stop being fat. You know, I was only slightly overweight until I decided that since I was considered a fatso already, I might as well eat some junk food and at least enjoy myself.

I'm certainly not suggesting that we all stick our heads in the collective sand(wich) but man, is it appropriate for a school to make these kinds of distinctions? Especially when the same school is handing them a burger and french fries with a milk shake for lunch? Do you guys think this is going to help or harm those burgeoning relationships with food?

Kelly Clarkson Sued

2007-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

The makers of four weight loss pills were sued by the FTC today for making false claims. I shudder to think of the spam I will get if I actually put the names of the companies in here. I will disguise them! They are: Zenadrine EFX, Fourteen-A-Day Weight Smart, CortiNeverheardofit and Anna Nicole Smith.

"[T]he FTC investigation found that the marketers of [one of them] had a study that said those who took a placebo actually lost more weight than those taking the pill. 'They not only didn't have studies to support the claim, they actually had a study that went the other way.'"

I also heard that one of these products markets the ingredient known as Kelly Clarkson, but the article didn't mention it.

Fainting Dieters Delay NYC Subway

2007-01-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to CoryGlen for alerting us to this article about the New York City subway. Apparently it's being delayed because of dieters overdoing their new year's resolutions:

"Sick subway passengers, most of them dieters who faint from dizziness, are among the top causes of train delays, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority."

Should I not laugh? That's pretty funny. Especially since I just spent five minutes trying to figure out how I can consume fewer than 1,300 calories today. Just a reminder that extreme diets are never a good idea: permanent lifestyle changes are. Maybe I'll go for a walk instead.

Pass The Cabernet Sauvignon

2006-12-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

I predict we'll soon be hearing about The Wine Diet everywhere. A researcher believes he has identified the chemical in red wine that can provide significant health benefits (and it's not resveratrol):

"Essentially, drinking wine that was high in procyanidins improves the function of the linings of blood vessels, protecting against the danger of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, dementia and possibly some cancers...His nutrition plan leans heavily towards fruit, vegetables, nuts and berries, and away from sugar and saturated fats."

He recommends two glasses of wine a day for women, and three for men. Can I get a HELL YEAH?

Another Manifesto

2006-12-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

How could I not link to a blog named Tiny Cat Pants? But it's also an eye-opening entry, and well worth reading.

"The whole diet and beauty industry thrives on our willingness to suffer, our willingness to accept that suffering is an acceptable everyday state for women to be in... the whole point seems to be to look as if you're thin and hairless with perky boobs and a perky bottom and long legs effortlessly. Or almost effortlessly, because lord knows that women who just naturally meet the beauty standard can be met with some cruelty, because, of course, they haven't suffered."

Like I said, the whole entry is a fabulous manifesto, and well worth reading. Thanks to Rosemary for the link.

Too Fat To Adopt

2006-12-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

Due to the large number of foreign individuals wanting to adopt babies from China, the Chinese government is tightening the adoption rules.

"Those who qualify under the new rules are parents aged between 30 and 50 years, who are married and have had no more than two divorces between them, US adoption agencies said. Gay couples, people taking medication for anxiety and depression, and those with a body mass index (BMI)... of more than 40 will be excluded."

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm sure this criteria will exclude a lot of people who would make great parents--whether it be a single parent, a couple who has had bad luck with divorces, a person on Prozac, or what have you. Still, as for the weight thing, a BMI of 40 is not super low. It makes sense that they will want the people who are reasonably young ("under 50" is not exactly unreasonable) and healthy, all other things being equal. So... I don't know. What do you think?

Your Body Is A Wonderland

2006-12-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

Of all the "bad" things that I can find to eat or drink, the one thing that makes me feel the most guilt is a can of Coke. I guess because there are no real redeeming qualities. At least a caramel macchiato has milk. At least a chocolate-chip cookie is in solid form. A can of Coke is just perfect, frosty, good, bubbly sugar. But now my guilt has been validated by this article, which asks the question "What Happens To Your Body If You Drink A Coke Right Now?"

"10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down. "

My guilty feelings have increased exponentially, yet I kind of want a Coke now anyway. Via Pop Culture Junk Mail.

Tidbit

2006-12-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

I love this model at the Jahqoi website. Yet somehow she looks very unhappy in that winged bolero jacket.

A Poached Chicken Breast in Every Pot

2006-12-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Branching off of the comments on Mo's last post, how much are taxpayers willing to pay to prevent kids from getting fat? According to a Cornell study, a LOT. New York taxpayers surveyed are willing to put their money where their mouth is, to the tune of $700 million or $50 per taxpayer, in order to reduce the incidences of childhood obesity by half.

The reasoning from the survey is that taxpayers are driven by the avoidance of potential cost of obesity-related health problems in the future. However, according to a report by economist Susan Lee on NPR's Marketplace, this is twice the amount of money actually spent by taxpayers on obesity-related health problems. From the commentary,

One explanation is that people wildly overestimate the cost of eliminating childhood obesity. Or they grossly overestimate the amount of savings in lower health care costs. Or maybe, as the study argues, they are driven by the spirit of altruism.

I would think it would be enough to understand that the status quo of fried chicken sandwiches and milkshakes in our school lunches is not acceptable and that we want our kids to be healthy by making sure they have low fat nutritious lunches, healthy snacks and lots of physical activities, but apparently not. Maybe the answer to why really comes down to Lee's closing statement, where she sneers "Why else would people be willing to pay extra to make sure that no kid looks like a tub of lard."

Tub of lard? Really? We're going there? Just...wow.

I Bet Michael Richards Hates Us Too

2006-12-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

Prejudice against fat people affects their wealth, says researchers. Overweight people have an average of half the assets of people with normal BMIs, and that includes everything from increased health care costs to having a harder time getting jobs to an inability to "marry up" the social ladder (which was the most interesting one to me; I really hadn't thought about that before).

"[T]est results showed that bias against blacks and the overweight was about equal, but that while people rarely admit to race bias, they freely admit to weight bias. 'There is no social sanction against saying you don’t like fat people.'"

There is also a test you can take to measure your race bias and your weight bias. I scored as "a moderate automatic preference for Fat People compared to Thin People." and for "European American compared to African American." So I'm a thinnist and a racist. Great!

Big Fat College Credits

2006-11-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

Fat Studies, coming to a campus near you? Maybe.

According to this article, it's an emerging field (although you know that some copy editor almost had a stroke avoiding "growing"). However, as Stephen Balch says, "Ethnic studies, women's studies, queer studies - they're all about vindicating the grievances of some particular group.... But if the purpose is to vindicate fatness, to make fatness seem better in the eyes of society, then that purpose begs a fundamental intellectual question."

I attend one of the colleges mentioned in the article but had never noticed the course on obesity, probably because I never look at the courses offered outside of my program. The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee professor is described as being skeptical about the "war on obesity" (I'm assuming those are air quotes attributed to the professor, not the writer, but it's not really clear) and the idea of a professor who has a combative agenda for an entire semester does not sound appealing. Also, speaking from experience, those UWM deskchair things that are definitely foot soldiers in the war on obesity, with or without air quotes.

Is the study of fatness in an academic institution as legitimate as Native American studies or GLBT studies? Are such courses just trying to justify being chubby or encouraging diversity? After reading Mr. Balch's quote above, does it justify kicking him hard in the groin more only if you subsitute the word "black" or "gay" for "fat"? Would you sign up to go to Fat Class?

File Under: Oh God, I Hope This Is True

2006-11-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

Remember how Tom Cruise grew "concerned" that Katie was getting too fat before the wedding?

If you hated him just a little more after that, this will be your favorite headline today: Tom Cruise gets too fat, wears a girdle under wedding tux.

Awesome.

Fabulous Multiplied

2006-11-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

As some of you have no doubt noticed, we are fortunate have a new poster on board: the incomparable and inimitable Weetabix. She joins the equally delicious anne, who is back from her surgery, dropping pounds right and left, and posting merrily away. If you ever wanted a style guru, at any size, these are your women. (Definitely not me—right now I’m wearing a neon pink sweater I saw on the Jerry Springer show. Seriously.) Anyway, some awesome posts from both of them in the last couple of days, so scroll down, comment away and make them feel welcome.

We Are Legion

2006-11-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

While not all Old Navy stores carry plus sizes, once they hit 100,000 square feet or so, Gap Inc generously allots a dark back corner to the sizes that end with X. After making a purchase online last Friday, I was given the opportunity to fill out a survey. It seemed as optimistic as sending off a message in a bottle, but what the hell? I wrote:

Speaking for plus size girls everywhere, we have money and want to spend it! Give us more options and choices, like the ones in standard sizes.

A customer service consultant identified only as "Shelly" responded to my concerns. Sort of.

While we are eliminating the plus line from some Old Navy stores, we are not discontinuing this line of merchandise, and we apologize for any disappointment. We are constantly evaluating and re-evaluating our business, and customer feedback like yours is a vital part of the process. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. The Old Navy plus line will remain available at select stores and online at oldnavy.com.

I can't find anything online about brick and mortar plus size departments being eliminated, but apparently plus sized shoppers should cherish those dark corners while we still have them, because there's yet another rack of itty bitty ironic screen printed tees just aching for that real estate.

This One's For Mo Pie

2006-11-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

Ian Callum, the Scottish engineer who designed the latest Jaguar XK:

"...a Jaguar should be sensuous and voluptuous, very sculptured and when I was thinking about it Kate Winslet came to mind.

"Kate Winslet is my ideal woman. She is naturally a very shapely woman, very British with an underlying integrity and ability. Like a car, she has got substance, she is not just a pretty face.

"So I designed the new XK body with her in mind. The interesting thing is that so many woman find sensual cars more appealing as well.”

(Oh, how can you not love her?

"Not that she is overimpressed with Jaguar’s efforts. Winslet complained that she would have liked to be involved in the design. “The headlights are too small. They will have to go. And it needs a bar under the dashboard with pink and blue neon lights, umbrellas and pineapples.

“And wings,” the mother of two added, warming to her role as car designer, “like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And inflatables, so it can go in water. I absolutely think I shuld get a free car.”)

What's The Word I'm Looking For? Oh, Right! Fuck You.

2006-11-27T13:39:00.000-08:00

"Egotastic," an "entertainment blog," has posted pictures of Tyra Banks in her bikini. The headline? "Tyra Banks Bikini Pictures Are Not What They Used To Be." The copy? "Once upon a time, Tyra Banks used to be hot, and Tyra Banks bikini pictures would have been a very welcome sight. Sadly, those days are gone."

Excuse me? Pardon me? The hell?

Tyra Banks has an enormous head and she is irritating for so, so many reasons, but she has quit modeling, she has started eating, and even though she's no longer model-thin, she is looking - how you say in Top Model speak? Fierce. And her man? He has got very nice shoulders.

Suck it, Egotastic.

A Study In Contrasts

2006-11-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

This:

versus this:

We Know, Nicole

2006-11-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

Nicole Ritchie did not get gastric bypass, she says:

"Anyone that knows anything about this surgery would know that legally, you must be at least 100 pounds overweight to even have the surgery done, and is a serious, life-changing procedure; not one to throw around as a joke or a rumor."

Of course, as we all know, it's totally Sara Rue.

And Not A Little Bit Scary

2006-11-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

This week’s Comment of the Week is from Vincent, in this post, who writes… well, you should really go read it, but I will excerpt:

“I am a guy, who has a girlfriend qualified by some as a ‘fat pig.’ … Today, no-one dares insult her, as they know that I suffer from a tragic lack of tolerance for pricks and bitches. I have, once or twice, had to beat up someone rather badly, but apart from that my girlfriend, who is smart, cute, very funny and at times silly, now have the confidence and self-esteem of a greek godess. (A fair comparison, if I may.) In the beginning, people would often ask me what the hell I saw in her. (I'm a looker myself…) She is, after all, a complete nutter, clumsy and whiny. She is rude, confused, emotional, lazy and sometimes quite mean. I would then answer, ‘Well, yes. And I adore all those things about her.’”

Vincent, thanks for your post, but you scare me a little bit. You beat people up? “Pricks and bitches”? Your girlfriend is lazy, confused, and mean? You seem to think we’re going to applaud your attitude, but I don’t really know what to make of this. (Read his whole post before you respond, though, I feel like I left out some mitigating statements. Maybe.)

Checking In With Star

2006-11-16T17:54:00.000-08:00

How is Star Jones doing these days? She and her gay husband are getting divorced, right? Or did I make that up? Was that "Al is with a man!" thing just in the Enquirer? Is my Britney-and-Kevin gossip spilling over? (Speaking of which, did you hear that her family staged a "Divorce Kevin!" intervention? It happened after she came to his CD release party and he apparently treated her like dirt. Nice, Kev.)

Where was I? Oh yes. Star Jones. I didn't scroll down past the first awesome comment: "She looks like a Flavor of Love contestant." That may beat out "she looks like a llama" for my favorite Star Jones sentence to date.

Un-Blind My Item

2006-11-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

I love celebrity gossip and blind items, and I visit a few websites that attempt to solve them. (I got this one via that Crown Princess place, but it's originally from Page Six.)

"WHICH young Hollywood starlet had secret gastric bypass surgery, but then lost too much weight? During a recent four-day stint at a health clinic, she was actually having an operation to remove the bypass."

After hearing speculation that this referred to Sara Rue, I had to go find some pictures, because I had no idea she had lost weight. She lost weight and went blonde, in fact. Here are before and after pictures. And since that's a really unflattering "before" picture, here's a better one.

First, I totally buy that this blind item is about her. Second, if she wants to go all Reese Witherspoon for the sake of her career, I guess more power to her. I can't imagine that looking like yet another generic Hollywood blonde would be helpful, but let's face it, I'm probably wrong. Thirdly, I am depressed to have lost one of our hot, young, sexy, curvy-chick role models. And finally, I think she was way cuter before. But then again, we all know that girls-who-look-like-me are totally my type.

I've Seen Them In Amsterdam

2006-11-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

I was really hoping that this article would be about fabulous, trend-setting, in-the-know, plus-sized prostitutes. But no. Can somebody find me that article, please?

Wide Screen: The Office

2006-11-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Character: Phyllis Lapin, played by Phyllis Smith.
Credits: A very short list; she was the show’s casting director before being cast herself.
Plot points: She has been the butt of Michael Scott’s insensitive humor (When she offered to cheer for the office basketball team, he said: “Bleh, that’s worse than you playing.”) and also the victim of his attempts to cheer her up after a joke has been made at her expense (“I think Phyllis is gorgeous… The only thing I’m worried about is getting a boner.”)
Stereotypes: Phyllis the actor used to be a cheerleader, a burlesque dancer, and a ballet dancer. Phyllis the character was a basketball player, won the gold medal in Flonkerton in the office Olympics, and received a Dundee award for “Bushiest Beaver.” I’m gonna go with none.
Sex/Romance/Attractiveness: She is currently engaged to Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration, a Tom Arnold-looking guy who is successful, showered her with gifts on Valentine’s day, and clearly adores her. Arguably the only healthy romantic relationship on the whole show. She also had a one-night stand with someone in the office, but we don’t know who.
Fat jokes: There have been jokes about Phyllis being matronly and frumpy, but flat-out fat jokes, I don’t think so. There was a line in a Michael Scott-made video about “what it’s like to walk a mile in Oscar’s shoes, or try on Phyllis’s pants” accompanied by a slow-mo shot of Phyllis sitting down, but that was more about Michael’s ridiculousness, not Phyllis’s size.
The bottom line: I love Phyllis. As Kelly Kapur might say, I love “Phyllis the character, Phyllis the person, basically anything awesome.”
Rating on the offense-o-meter (10 being that Eddie Murphy abomination): 0
But how's the show?: If you know me, you know that I’m completely obsessed with The Office. It’s the best show on television and if you’re not watching it, you’re missing out!

When You Eat The Entire Box Of 100-Calorie Packs, It Is Less Effective

2006-11-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Since this article is from October, you may have to do what I did and Google the title to find it online. But it's well worth reading! It's about a book called Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, by Professor Brian Wansink. Apparently, his research contributed to the concept of those 100-calorie packs of chips and cookies that are so popular these days. The whole article is a really interesting examination of why and how we eat.

"Although people think they make 15 food decisions a day on average, his research shows the number is well over 200. Some are obvious, some are subtle. The bigger the plate, the larger the spoon, the deeper the bag, the more we eat. But sometimes we decide how much to eat based on how much the person next to us is eating, sometimes moderating our intake by more than 20 percent up or down to match our dining companion."

Thanks to Beth for the link!

One More Item

2006-11-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

I'd also like to congratulate Britney Spears on her miraculous weight loss. Now that was definitely some dead weight, right there. I can't wait for the Smoking Gun papers, can you?

She's A Brick House

2006-11-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

It's difficult to tear my eyes away from all the completely thrilling (to me)political coverage to talk about weight again. Is there any way I can talk about the election? Did we get any awesome overweight people into Congress that I can write about? Is that a stretch? Oh, okay then.

In that case, did you see House? From the Television Without Pity recaplet by Sara M:

"A man weighing over six hundred pounds comes to PPTH in a coma. Fatty-hater Chase doesn't see the point in treating the guy, but Everybody-lover Cameron comes to his defense and insists on getting him an MRI even though he exceeds the weight limit... Chase says they should just a wait-and-see approach with George because he wants all fat people to die... George goes blind and refuses to let them test him for any obesity-related conditions, insisting that his condition isn't related to the fact that he weighs six hundred pounds, and in the end, he's right: he actually has terminal lung cancer. "

I'm not sure what this had to say about overweight people, but I figured I'd throw it out there for your thoughts, in case you'd seen the episode. Or we can talk about Rumsfeld resigning!

Ham On

2006-11-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

BFD contributor and all around fabulous person anne is having weight loss surgery today. You can read all about it over at Plork, but I can tell you that for her, it has not been an easy decision or an easy process. Like, at all. I knew almost nothing about weight loss surgery before, except that Star Jones has had it on the downlow. But as we speak, my darling and sexy friend is going through it. I completely support her choice as being the one she felt was right for her, and I know you will join me in wishing her a speedy (and sexy) recovery.

Update: She is out of surgery, in recovery, and the surgery went well! I have been on pins and needles all day, personally, and figured I'd share the joy. Thanks for all your well wishes here and there.

Mamastop

2006-11-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

You may have heard that Kirstie Alley went on Oprah in a bikini to show off her slimmer body. She said:

"I think women -- I don't think we ever feel like we're good enough. We don't feel like we're thin enough or pretty enough or smart enough or work hard enough. And we are good enough… The bikini thing is neither here nor there, other than the fact, you know, I am 55 years old. So I thought -- come on, we are all good enough. And we look good enough. And we are not our bodies.”

Go Kirstie, right? Well, I got an anonymous e-mail from a reader pointing me to this entry from a pair of allegedly famous bloggers named Amalah and Sweetney. Their message:

“Listen, I want to be supportive of other, ehh, big boned ladies like myself being all proud of their bodies and shit, but heyzeus christmas people, I feel like the image of that woman’s monster-sized thighs may be appearing in my nightmares for a long, long time to come.”

The e-mail I got said:

“I don't want to start any kind of flamewar, but I do I feel disappointed that the post seems to be inviting their primarily (I'm assuming) female readers to bash another woman for daring to show thighs that don't pass societal muster… Maybe I am misinterpreting the post, but I am disappointed enough to stop reading them both, let alone their joint venture of mamapop.”

I personally think that if that entry is any indication, the allegedly famous Mamapop bloggers are not very good or funny or thoughtful writers. I love what Kirstie said, and that Mamapop entry just proves her point. Why are women always the ones cutting each other down, anyway?

Be My Fat Friend!

2006-11-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

This is more of a Fatty McBlog-esque post, since it’s not a link or anything, just a thought I’m throwing out there for the sake of some conversation. I think that if this turns out to be some sort of regular feature, it needs some kind of pithy name. Maybe we can call it Friday’s Usual Coffee Klatch. You know, just for the acronym’s sake.

Anyway, I work at a company with over six hundred employees, so it’s a pretty busy building with a lot of turnover. There are definitely plenty of people I see every day that I’ve never seen before or that I don’t know, so the following thing happens to me frequently: Every time I see a woman who is on the larger side, my immediate gut reaction is that I want to be friends with her. I smile warmly and I wish that I had an excuse to talk to her. I completely assume that I’ll have lots in common with her, that we’d make awesome friends, and also that she’ll like me better than the average person might.

This strikes me as a little weird and unfair and judgmental on my part. On the other hand, I guess we are drawn to people who resemble us physically—whether it’s according to race or body shape or type of clothing style, or any other markers, chosen or not, that we display to the world. But do you know what I mean? Does this ever happen to you? Do you think I'm totally a bad person now?

Harshing My Gnarls Barkley Mellow

2006-11-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

On the radio this morning, I heard a parody version of Gnarls Barlkey's "Crazy" that is about a fat chick. It's called "Gravy," I think. At least the chorus is "she tastes like gravy." It's all about a guy who thinks a girl is skinny when he drunkenly picks her up at as bar, but then he discovers she's fat, but it's cool, because she'll do things skinny chicks won't do, but woah, is she ever fat! He has to roll twice just to get off her! Ha, ha! As Michael Scott would say (I'm now 2 for 2 on The Office mentions), it's really lame. And offensive. So... double lame.

Fat Friends

2006-11-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

There's a BBC show called Fat Friends that I'm interested in watching; it stars some of my favorite people such as Josie Lawrence (from Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Allison Steadman (Pride and Prejudice) and Martin Freeman (The Office, my friends. The Office.

"Fat Friends follows the dietary ambitions of eight characters and delivers a few psychological truths about our obsession with obtaining the perfect shape."

According to this, it premieres tonight on BBC America. According to this, it will arrive "in 2007." Has anyone heard anything about this show? It's news to me.

And while I'm on the subject of The Office, kind of, the American version has an awesome plus-size female charater in Phyllis. I need to have a Celebration of Phyllis soon. She deserves her own post.