I had recently read a post on Tumblr that included the quote, “EATING SUGAR DOES NOT CAUSE DIABETES.  It just doesn’t.  You cannot eat your way to diabetes.” And it blew my ever-loving mind! But then, then I made the mistake of saying that exact quote aloud, to my friends. You can guess what the response was. Sadly, I hadn’t researched it and was given a giant shutdown by my nearest and dearest and with nothing to back myself up, I fell silent. You know that had to be hard for me. Ha! But seriously? Why isn’t this information out there? Why do people believe that fat = diabetes? Because it’s bullshit if you ask me.

Last night my husband and I got into this conversation again and again I explained my side of it and while he admitted he didn’t know much about diabetes (he has an aunt with it, she’s thin), he still held to the myth. In fact he said, “You or I could have it right now and not know!” to me, straight-faced. I was gobsmacked. WTF?! I explained that I know I don’t have it for two reasons: I have been tested every fucking time I walk into a clinic/hospital/doctor’s office simply because they take a look at me and demand the fucking tests (I just know now, no matter what my ailment to fucking fast the night/morning before the appointment). Also, no one on either side of my family has ever had it. Simple as that. My dear husband then pointed to the foods we eat and the foods I grew up with. HELLO? NOT GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED!!! Also, not good enough for him.

I don’t want to start a fucking debate or shit storm here. I honestly, just want the TRUTH! I understand lifestyle and environmental factors vary, but seriously, is everyone at risk? I don’t believe that my fat will suddenly cause me to have diabetes, but it bothers the shit out of me that he thinks it’s possible. UGH! Please, give me information, experiences, links, anything!

Here’s what I’ve found (but still reading through):

http://www.diabetes.org/
http://fa-diab.com/home.html
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/diabetes_index.html
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Diabetes

Please do not attack anyone, you will be removed permanently! Use your manners, have some respect for your fellow humans and let us all discuss this openly and honestly, together!

Thanks. Y’all rock! (In case you didn’t know!)

We’re all busy people just struggling to keep our own minds together lately and then lo and behold: The holiday season arrives! UGH! How do you maintain the relationships you have and even nurture new ones? Plus, everyone’s broke as a joke and the immediate challenge of the holidays is heartbreaking. These have helped me and my own sanity lately:

• Tell someone you love them, out of the blue, unprompted and do not expect a response. Just do it!
• Smile & say, “It’s so good to see you!” and mean it, every time!
• Send someone a thank you note once a week. Even if it’s for something silly or seemingly unimportant. (Handmade is best.)
• Hug someone you would normally give a handshake to. Just throw yourself around them (not in a creepy way, please) with love.
• Offer a helping hand to a stranger or acquaintance. Especially if they haven’t asked.
• Host a holiday card making party! Tell your friends/family/neighbors to bring their own decorations, glues, glitter, etc and you’ll supply the card stock. Double points if you make it a potluck, too! Get one of those plastic party tablecloths to protect your table. (If you can’t afford this or your living arrangement makes this impossible, consider teaming up with someone else or make postcards instead. Tip: Buy cheap postcards at a drugstore or thrift shop and just redecorate the front.)
• Host an indoor picnic! Everyone brings something, very informal and you don’t need a better excuse to enjoy some cheap wine & cheese!
• Write a friend a letter. It doesn’t have to be long or well thought out, just grab some paper and tell them about your day or write a haiku or something. They will enjoy the arrival in their mailbox and cherish the thought that you were thinking of them.
• Email someone once a week to tell them you’re grateful to know them even if you’re not in touch as much as you’d like to be.
• Go to the web sites of all of your favorite places (restaurants, craft stores, anything!) and sign up for the email list! You’ll get crazy-good coupons and can always invite a friend when it’s BOGO time!
• Hate walking your dog alone at night in the cold? Buddy up with a neighbor or check out your local meet up group! You can take turns making cocoa or tea!
• Sign up for Google Voice so you can give one phone number out without having to give out any of your actual phone numbers! Saves time, safer and you can even have your voice mail messages transcribed and sent to your email! Sweet!

Do you have a sanity saving tip? Tell me all about it! <3

Are you watching Big Boy Fashion? Not only is Bruce, the owner/blogger, posting mad-rad photos of fatshionable guys daily, but also compiling a retail clothing list for big guys! Rock on!

Have you tried The Daily Booth, yet? I have been taking a pic of myself every day (almost) but I’m not yet sure what I’d like to do with them. I had an idea in mind when I signed up, but I’ve sort of forgotten. Ha!

How To Eat Healthfully During The Holidays — Free 60 Minute Teleclass! As always, Go Golda Poretsky!!! If you’ve never heard of Golda & what she does, well don’t hesitate! I was fortunate enough to attend one of her “How To Feel Sexy At Any Size” teleclasses and thought it was great, especially for those new to Body Acceptance. Check out her blog, too! I love her weekly affirmations!

Brace yourself before reading, but you must read this from bigfatblog.com about how it seems nearly okay to kill a fat person.

Saw these (awesomeness!) on Tumblr.com:

“This is not just a fat people’s issue, and it doesn’t have a physical face. My fat body does not engender consumerism or over-consumption. My fat body is not an epidemic. My fat body is a combination of genetics and shame breeding compulsion and failed diets adding pounds I wouldn’t have gained had my parents known how to encourage me to love my body as it was. It’s also the empty calories of a standing in line for government cheese, working class, meat and potatoes, latchkey kid, TV as my babysitter kind of youth. My fat body is also a warrior that carries my tender heart safely through a world that judges it every single day. My fat body is not a signifier or a dark omen. It is not part of the fall of mankind. My fat body is mine and only I know its story. This is true of all fat bodies and lumping those of us with them together and calling us an epidemic is both insulting and dangerously oversimplified.”

“Self-loathing is not a fucking character-builder. It doesn’t make you stronger. It doesn’t make you better. It’s just an ever-deepening, creepy-ass trap; a trap that is a huge moneymaker for corporations that do not have and never will have good intentions. You’re not disgusting. You’re not freakish. You’re not ugly. And you’re never going to be perfect. And holy shit, that is so okay.”

As for me? Today, this is in my head and that is alllllllriiiiight!!!

(Shakes head realizing exactly where my personal dance-style is rooted! Ha-ha!)

What’s on your mind? Tell me all about it! =0)

This weekend I was too tired & sick to do much of anything, but luckily it was raining and it all worked out to a cozy Sunday on the couch with the puglet and husband and the heater all working in harmony with the Cooking Channel to give me nearly all the comforts I could ever ask for. I do love the Cooking Channel! I just discovered it a couple of month ago, but it was love at first sight, honestly.

Sunday morning after a bite to eat and some fabulous espresso drinks, we headed home and I literally curled up with the pup on the couch. We snuggled in for a full day of cooking shows. The first few, I believe, were three episodes of “Two Fat Ladies” and oh how I had forgotten how much fun their show was to watch. I remember my grandma watching them and talking about it. I remember watching a couple of episodes with her long ago and generally enjoying myself (cooking & baking is a new found love for me).

The title alone is so radical and just smacks of you got a problem with it? To put the word FAT in the title of a show? WOW! And the ladies themselves were such a hoot to watch working together in the kitchen. Not only that, no, they also ride a motorcycle (one in the sidecar) and one episode ended with them doing a bit of a spin-out…Fabulous!

At one point Jennifer Paterson burst into song as she was cleaning up a counter. I turned to my husband and said, “Well, at least you now know, when you die, this will be my future without you!” because y’all! I totally burst into song all of the damn time at home, especially while cooking! Too funny!

While they were hardly afraid of calories, they were often seen as a bad influence on the Brittish diet for their use of butter and lard in their dishes. Paterson often ended an episode by smoking a cigarette and having a nip of something alcoholic. Glorious!

It did make me a bit sad though, as I knew one had died. In fact it was Jennifer Paterson, of lung cancer. On her death bed, she called Clarissa Dickson Wright asking for a tin of caviar. When she arrived though, Paterson had already passed away. “Dickson Wright said that after Paterson’s funeral, she ate the caviar as a tribute.” (Quoted from wikipedia.)

I just fell head over heels all over again for these “Two Fat Ladies” and cannot imagine what it would be like had they debuted now. *sigh* I have come to see them as radical revolutionaries in the Fat Acceptance movement. Intentional or not, they are among my fat heroines, for sure.

This post from LifeOnFats.wordpress.com made me realize that we must arm ourselves in a positive way against those that would have us hiding or shaming ourselves. While getting through to any major news outlet is nearly impossible (corporate sponsorships and all) there must be a way for us to turn those unsolicited dieting tips into a positive moment. So here’s what I propose: A neat & handy card, like a business card, only with a positive message and a website for them to look into if they so choose. This way they can simply go about their business OR they could see what it is that has you so happy and not wanting to diet! This is my first draft, please comment with your suggestions:

This was it’s not super confrontational. When they give you a diet tip or other such nonsense, simply hand them the card…or better yet, say, “Oh! I think you might like this!” and then hand them the card. Maybe it will feel less defensive that way? I don’t know. Just a  first draft and I am open to other options, for sure!

If you do like the card as is and would like the pdf for your own use, comment and I will email it to you! Yay!