Are you a PROUD BBW? own it ladies

Kk: The first time I was a BM, I had just lost weight, & the first thing the woman at the bridal shop said to me when we were all choosing our own tops (we were wearing separates with the same skirt) was: "Well, you should avoid anything strapless because you know, you have VERY BROAD SHOULDERS." I just thought it was kind of funny/ridiculous at the time, but it could have been really hurtful.

Still, I don't want to hijack--Antonette & dai both make good points, both about how "overweight" women are treated by the media and how subjective "overweight" really is as a category. A woman who is 64 pounds above the cut-off for "normal" weight for her height makes 9% less than a "normal weight" woman of the same height in the US, all other factors (education, etc.) being equal. People treat women VERY differently based on weight, and it even translates into pay and promotions. That's a big part of what makes it hard to ignore messages about weight--they're so strong and pervasive.

If you haven't seen Joy Nash's "A Fat Rant," y'all, I strongly recommend it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA

My main point being, I have had people openly say that I "look like a man" bc I have narrow hips & relatively broad shoulders (and possibly because I dress like a drag queen, which I freely acknowledge & in fact embrace), and that's often hurtful--but it's not affecting my quality of life the way a 9% pay cut would. And for darn sure, after I lost 50 pounds, random people--clerks at stores, strangers on the street--were WAY nicer to me, smiled at me more, etc. It shouldn't have made a difference but it did--there's a reason that Nash in the video I linked above makes a big point of telling people to smile at everyone, but especially fat people.

I'm interested in people's opinion of the word "fat." Friends of mine prefer to use it, saying it's silly to act as if it's automatically an insult; it's only an insult if we treat it as one. But it definitely has a lot of negative associations for a lot of people, & we have other terms like BBW that are constructed as positive identities.

We are who we are. We wouldn't be on here if SOMEONE didn't think we are hot and basicly that is all that matters... Do I want to be a smaller size, heck ya because I have JRA and don't want to be in a wheelchair if I don't have to at the age of 27 so the weight has to go but no matter what I'm sexy because I know who I am and if the rest of us don't start embracing that, who knows where the media is going to take us next!

A Fat Rant... loved it!

So worth the almost 8 minutes of my time as I don't really watch videos online lol. Glad I took the time for this though. It's what every fat (and non fat) person needs to know!

Self Love & Live life!

....and I have no problem with the word "fat", it's just another way of labeling something, describing something. I don't get caught up in that (even when it comes to the 'n' word) because I am to busy living my life to worry about what you want to label me. I know what I am and am not.

Do I wish I was smaller. Absolutely. It it because I'm ashamed of the way I look? Nope. I want to be smaller because I remember that I just felt so much better when I weighed less. It's about having more energy. And when I had more energy, I just "did more". I could go for walks and not get tired and winded. I want to get back to that. I want my chest to be smaller (And thankfully I'm getting some big-time help with that in the morning at 7:10 when I go into surgery) And I'd like my "jelly roll" to be smaller, but I can't blame that on anything but my massive lazy streak. It really is about wanting to be healthier so that I can be around for a lot of years. I want to grow old with FW and I think I have a better shot at that if I'm eating better and living a healthier lifestyle. Here's a pic of me, btw.

Thank you, Cabell so much for posting that link. I have never seen it (until today) and I'm going to share that with the girls in my group.

Cabell, thank you for your compliment. That made my day. I was just thinking I really like your total look too. :-)

We really do have some beautiful women on WW!

My FS calls me JUICY BOOTY for a reason!

I've yo' yo'd from size 12/14 to 18/20 for the past 6 years. I'm 16/18 right now. My FS likes the fact that my boobs and butt are bigger LoL He knows if I go back to 12/14 my boobs are going bye bye because that's the first place I lose! The only place I'm self conscious about is my tummy. I don't mind meaty thighs and butt!

1st - Me and FS on Thanksgiving

2nd - Me and FS's friend on New Years

3rd - Engagement Photo

@kk... like you, I was discriminated against for being too thin. I was well into my mid 20's before I could keep my weight above 105 for longer than a month. Now I'm up to 125 and mostly feel good about myself. I too, went through the accusations of eating disorders, skeletal comments, Ethiopian jokes, etc. It made me self conscious and uncomfortable in my own skin. I used to wear baggy clothes and hunch over a lot to hide my size. Even now, I have to remind myself to stand up straight.

The media focus should not be on weight at all, but on healthy living and feeling good about oneself. I'm glad there are so many women here who feel good about themselves... no matter what size we are!

I am larger than I have ever been in my life and Still FS thinks I am beautiful

@nc if you said fat is for punks it wouldnt bother me personally...The pick i posted with skinny is for punks is a bbw pride pic...as i stated before IF i offended you personally i apologize...on the real weight has nothing to with being confident its about whats on the inside i have been called fat & other discriminating names & it doesnt bother me at all because those people dont know me as in my personality...Why does the saying skinny is for punks has to be derogatory??? I look as it as my self saying skinny is for punks cause as a plus size person we tend to catch more hell than thinner women as you cant be plus size & be weak cause society will eat you alive. Yes skinny people get picked on too but the reality is it is more common for a heavier person to be ridiculed. Even if you are picked on because you are skinny have you had to deal with being told you cant ride this, or get on that, There is a weight limit for this??? There is no way i could have surivived & be as confident

CONT. If i was a punk about my weight. Sometimes we can read a statement & assume a person means one thing when in reality they mean something different. This is just my opinion

Michelle, my FH cracked me up a few days ago. I showed him a then and now photo of Jennifer Hudson and he just says, "Oh that's a shame. Where'd her butt go!" He likes the plump darker ladies.

Thats the same thing i said wtf what happen to her...lol but at the end of the day as long as she is happy thats what matters. I love the "dreamgirls" jennifer hudson

There was a magazine cover where I'm pretty sure they photoshopped her waist even slimmer than it already was and it annoyed me. Let the poor girl have some curves...lol!

I never saw Dreamgirls yet. I'll need to add it to my list of movies to watch on a rainy day.

Girllll let me tell you i just watched the first time & fell in love with it i have several wedding songs from that movie...my 3 youngest daugters know the whole movie lines & songs...lmao

Aww you ladies are so pretty!!!!

Hey ladies i love everyones curves. and my measurements are 36 32 50 and here is my pics

Halloween 2008

In Pajamas in 2008

One month after I had my son

Sry, I dont have any really good pictures,

You ladies ALL look great. i'm so proud of us. We need to own who we are and stop letting people or the media tell who what is beatiful.