Great time at the gym this morning. I made my shift at the stair machine fly by watching an episode of Garth Marenghi's Dark Place on my Ipod. That I find the show hilarious is probably a little telling of my own mental peculiarities. Nevertheless, I found myself laughing out loud at times- which was probably a little disconcerting to those around me and practically guarantees I'll have the gym to myself tomorrow.
Moving on...
I scanned the NY Times article highlighting the "Fatosphere" this morning. The message was of self acceptance among overweight bloggers; citing a trend towards abandonment of dieting and exercise in favor of just "getting on with life".
Hmm, alrighty then.
I guess I'm OK with that- the whole self acceptance thing. I mean, I am fat and I accept that I am fat. I realize that I was fat yesterday and I'll be fat tomorrow (though slightly less). OK. But you know what? I also accept the fact that I don't have to stay fat if I decide to do something about it and I refuse to impose acceptance of my fatness on anyone else. For ME my fatness is the result of a lifestyle choice and does not warrant any special consideration, rights, privileges, or concessions based solely on that choice or the physical manifestation of that choice.
I ate too much. I moved too little. I became fat. Now I'm eating less, moving more, and losing weight. It's a more difficult lifestyle but one I'm embracing because my health, mood, and outlook are improving as a result.
A quick peek at the onboard dictionary reals:
acceptance |akˈseptəns| noun - agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation : acceptance of the teaching of the church. Approval or favorable regard : the options proposed by the report gained acceptance. Willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation : a mood of resigned acceptance.
Hmm, I'm beginning to percolate now. Does my fatness or dieting or any of this require the acceptance of anyone outside of my own skin? Oh hell no. As a matter of fact, I've decided to reject the entire notion of "self acceptance" as well. From this point forward I "accept" nothing. Things as they are now are temporary. Things will be as I make them to be. I will continue to set goals and design my life's outcomes and work toward the betterment of myself and those around me. Acceptance is better left to those whose lives have reached their apex- for I have yet to see the top. For me, self improvement is getting on with life while acceptance comes only at life's end.
Don't get me started on "self-esteem".
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I just came across your blog...how inspiring! Great for you that you are living in the knowledge that - as you say - "Things as they are now are temporary. Things will be as I make them to be." Let's hear it for perspective and will-power and positive attitude!
It seems to me that a lot of life's seemingly unsurmountable mountains could be scaled with thinking like yours!
Thanks for the dose of inspiration and reality on a day when I truly needed it.
I wish you the success you deserve for all your determination!
Oh well said!
That resonates with me. I accept that I am fat but I also accept that I am changing it.
Interesting to hear about the fat acceptance movement from a guy's point of view. I think it's been more women than men really involved in taking this movement so far.
Guys are less tolerant, it's true. If a friend is fat, they'll point it out and make jokes, while a girl would NEVER dream of doing that (to another girl's face at least).
I have been fat for too many years. But now I am doing something about it. I'm trying not to concentrate on it though. I'm trying to get fit instead and the weight is taking care of itself. Losing weight is a side benefit of getting healthy. Check out my blog entry on Why Diets Don't Work
I just stumbled across your blog... you made very good points. Fat acceptance is okay, but I definitely accept I don't like it and am trying to change. Loved hearing your take on the whole fatosphere/fat acceptance thing.
Thanks for the encouragement, Gina, Andrew and Mary. Good observation, Mamacita. Genders do react very differently to weight issues.