Must Read: A Weight-Loss Skeptic Discusses Losing 60lbs

Check out this Alternet article HERE by Greta Christina. Here personal blog is HERE. I love this chick, seriously. She's been mindfully engaged in losing weight in keeping with "my feminist ideals and my resistance to body fascism." She's also keen on underscoring how evidence based research on weight, health and successful weight-loss influence her body-acceptance philosophy, but also supports her endeavors to lose weight. In other words, fat-acceptance and losing fat aren't necessarily contradictory. Fat Acceptance is mostly about embracing the full humanity of fat people--mooing at them on the street, sidelining them socially, making jokes at their expense and of course, institutionalizing their oppression by supporting discriminatory policies (such as charging them more for Health Insurance as the State of Alabama tried to do a few years ago for their fat employees) is wrong and thus fat-acceptance folks (who may or may not be fat) should work toward equity for the fat in the public square (and the tv-sitcom). Greta Christina and Jennette Fulda are the two well known(ish) figures who both discuss fat-acceptance AND weight-loss for health (and who have both lost significant amounts of weight) while also remaining allies to the fat community.

Currently, I've lost about 40lbs, though I intend to lose more and I may slip into the "passing as thin" territory in another 40lbs, but I will always be fat-identified. To me, that means working toward fat-acceptance and evidence based health advocacy. I've said it before, I don't think you need to be thin to be healthy, but I don't think that it is right to say that morbid obesity doesn't have an impact on your health either--obesity impacts your health over time and although I or my friend over here or over there, may have a healthy blood pressure and blood lipid panel right now, overtime, the chronic wear and tear of obesity leads to general declines in health and mobility. These are general facts, but obesity does not diminish my humanity or the humanity of my fat brothers or sisters. Working for walkable, livable cities/towns; subsidized fresh fruits and vegetables (and de-subsidized corn/soy/meat) as part of agriculture policy; flexible work schedules and pro-health policies in work places that aren't discriminatory; truly UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE--these are the kinds of policies that will help to erase the "obesity crisis," not another weight-loss competition show. Health is collective as well as individual. Peace

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Charlie Sheen's Former Madam: Lindsay's A Drug Addict, Charlie Just Likes To Party

Radaronline Reports the comments of Heidi Fleiss:

She said: "Look, people need to leave Charlie the f**k alone. Do they really expect him to go to church when he is not working?

"He is the highest paid actor on television -- on a really popular show -- and he always delivers by turning up on time and putting in great performances, and that's all that matters.

"There is no comparison with Lindsay Lohan because she is not functional and is an addict with a sickness - I should know because I've been to rehab several times too.

"It's not as if we see Charlie smoking a crack pipe or anything, the guy just loves to party, and people just don't seem to want to accept that.


I don't agree with her opinion, but many people have the thought if a person is successful then you can't have a problem. As long as people are successful they don't want to address destructive behaviour.

Oprah: Depression Made Me Eat 30 Pounds of Mac 'N' Cheese

US Magazine reports, after the failure of her movie "Beloved" Oprah states:

"I ate about 30 pounds worth," she reveals. "I'm not kidding! It's the only time in my life I was ever depressed. I recognized I was depressed because I've done enough shows [to know], 'Oh, this is what those people must feel like."

I feel bad for her, but for all realness I couldn't afford the cheese on 30 lbs of Mac & Cheese.

Lisa's 8 Week Winter Jump Start: Week 2 & 3

I have been gone shy. Sorry for the delay in post.

Successes

1. 14 days in a row of vitamin

2. Mindfully walking to reach 10,000 steps a day.

3. 1/5/11 done 3.4 lbs

4. 1/12/11 done 0.4 lbs

Total lost from start 3.8 lbs for a weight of 246.6

I am more motivated to keep weight going down to prepare to look awesome on Spring break.

Carrie Fisher New Celebrity Spokesperson For Jenny Craig

Fisher -- who weighed 105 lbs. while making the Star Wars triology and at her heaviest, ballooned up to 180 lbs. -- says she's struggled with her weight for the past three years, and hopes to lose 30-pounds in 2011.

Fisher will appear in Jenny Craig's new advertising campaign that launches in February 2011.

We will see how this goes. So for now I will just wish her luck.

Biggest Weight Stories of 2010

Since I linked yesterday to Jezebel's Photoshop Hall of Shame gallery, I thought I'd also share this link to their "The Biggest Weight Stories" of 2010. Jezebel does a great job of covering both the social injustices committed against fat folks and a balancing of health-related articles or health-trend pieces. They are very balanced on this--they have a strict anti-body-snarking policy, but they aren't HAES fundamentalists. Most of these articles, we at FFFB linked to or discussed ourselves during 2010, but they all bear re-hashing.

Women Laughing Alone with Salad

This is hilarious, its a gallery of stock photos of women "laughing alone with salad" or fruit/veggies. Seriously, what's so funny? Is salad really that charming? Its just like those tampon ads with women jumping around in gauzy white skirts--so cliche that after a while, you're wondering? "Why arent' I thrilled to be alone with healthy food?" "Why don't I feel like wearing white while menstruating...isn't that the ideal to strive for in period protection?"

Anyway, checkout the gallery HERE.

Photoshop's Hall of Shame

Checkout Jezebel's gallery of the Best & Worst of Photoshop's Hall of Shame HERE. I don't know why every time I see these side-by side comparisons, I'm still shocked. Its all fake people! But how "they" (they being the overlord masters of the image industry) choose to photoshop individuals is culturally significant. Take, for example, the lightening of Gabourey Sidibe's skin or the cinching of Christina Hendricks' waist or the air-brushing out of wrinkles or even smile lines. These things don't happen in a vaccuum and it isn't just about air-brushing out a pimple or a scar--its erasing race, body-type and age. Let's not also forget that in many instances, the photoshopping of images produces non-human bodies--limbs missing bones, limbs missing period, necks incapable of holding up oddly large heads, etc. In order to "idealize" these people are made into cartoons.

Lisa's 8 Week Winiter Jump Start

So school is out. I have more time to focus on health. For this Jump Start I will focus on healthy habits and not weight loss.

Here are the two major goals I am focusinig on for Week 1-3:

1. Yoga twice a week.

2. Multi-vitamin daily.

Starting Stats 12/29/10:

Weight: 250.4 lbs

Arms: 15.5 in

Hips: 53 in

Bust: 48 in

Waist: 43 in

Thighs: 29.5 in

Book Review: Badass

Badass: A Hard-Earned Guide to Living Life with Style and (the Right) Attitude by Shannen Doherty (Hardcover - Nov 2, 2010)

This was a tongue-in-check self help guide. The main focus points are:

• ownership of actions
• integrity
• self-esteem
• self-respect

The book is full of pictures of Shannen and top 10 lists. So it was a quick easy read.

The book was inspirational to me. It gave me the idea not to take myself so seriously. It endorsed my life internal dialogue of "live your life with our regrets".

I respect her take on the book by only describing her experience and not doing a tell all book about her ex-cast mates.

Upcoming Post in 2011

In 2011 Lisad00 will be posting on the following:

• Vintage Beauties
• Jump Starts
• Book reviews

I start an 8 week Jump Start tomorrow so be on the look out.

Sweetest Proposal: Sir, you're doing it right!

Check out this video a man made to propose to his girlfriend--they've been together 10 years and yet the energy and love shown through this video is as fresh as puppy love.

Madonna's Gym: First of Her Franchise in Mexico City

So, have you heard about Madonna's new project? She's opening a gym in Mexico City--a Madonna Themed Gym--and she's looking to expand (ala Gold's Gym or similar). Yes, ladies and gentlemen (gay gentlemen presumably), so you will be able to over-develop your upper-arm muscles like the Doyenne of Pop, her Madgesty. Apparently, early on they had problems with proper permits, but that has since be rectified.

According to her personal website, she's hoping to open "Hard Candy" Fitness Centers around the world. They will be high-rent, luxury gyms with top-drawer facilities and presumably snooty staff (okay, I made that last bit up).


From here website:

"Throughout her career Madonna has been devoted to fitness and well being and has worked out in literally hundreds of gyms around the world. As a result, she has a strong vision on what the ideal exercise, dancing and work out environment should be."

Also from the website: "Chris Dedicik, Hard Candy’s Managing Director commented, “Hard Candy Fitness is a one of a kind experience merging fitness with entertainment. We are dedicated to exceeding the expectations of our members.” Hard Candy Fitness members will experience the very best in innovative training methods including private, group and dynamic training including traditional classes such as Zumba, Latin Moves and Cardio Kickboxing as well as new programming designed specifically for Hard Candy Fitness. The fitness center will also include a Bike Studio, a Mind Body Studio featuring The Great Wall, where members can practice BarWorks, Sculpting, Capoeria and the newest trends in Yoga. It will also house a healthy alternative Juice Bar/Cafe. The lavish locker rooms built with the finest materials will be a sanctuary for members who will be able to relax in sauna and steam rooms. Members will also benefit from state of the art cardiovascular equipment with personal viewing screens, more than 60 pieces of strength equipment / free weights and the best group fitness, functional training accessories and brands including PreCor, Hoist, Free Motion, Nautilus, Hammer Strength, StarTrac, AbCoaster, and TRX suspension training."

I wasn't able to find anything out about the price per month (or annual price--don't high-end places often charge for the whole year at the get-go?). One thing is clear: Madonna is an excellent business woman and this is another cog in her empire. I'm not sure if I would ever sign-up for a high-end gym, let alone a Madonna themed high-end gym (is $$$ really worth it to avoid the riff-raff of gym-going folks?), but I will admit that her music is excellent to work-out with. So, what do you think readers? Will her venture succeed?

Bethenny Frankel "Used to Get Drunk and Binge," Then "Starve"

US Weekly Magazine reports:

"I used to get drunk and binge on everything in the deli, and then do a juice fast or starve, then do it all over again," the 40-year-old Bethenny Getting Married? star tells the January issue of Redbook (on newsstands December 21).

But when the natural foods chef learned she was pregnant with daughter Bryn in 2009, Frankel was determined to not overeat "out of emotion."

Well it seems that Bethenny Frankel is getting real about how she stayed thin. I am glad she now has a more balanced way of eating. I hope other can learn to change their ways before they do permanent damage to their bodies.

Prenatal Pole Dancing

Prenatal Pole Dancing DVD from Christina Applegate

So, I've seen this clip around the interwebs today. Its pretty funny, but the reviews seem to be mixed. Do you think that this video is saying 1. pregnant women can't be sexy or 2. the need for women to be sexy on all occasions, even during the later stages of pregnancy, is ridiculous and all part of the pornification of everyday womanhood. I'm going with the later interpretation, but I could probably be persuaded otherwise. What do you think readers? 1 or 2 or something else. Let us know in the comments!

E-Waste: Do you know how to recycle your old electronics?

So, do you know how to recycle your old electronics? I don't, but here's a resource guide from the UN and an accompanying article that talks about the impact that electronic waste is having on our shared environment. Apparently developed countries are shipping their e-waste (and the toxis that accompany them) to developing world countries. One local source for help with recycling e-waste is through e-stewards who will help you recycle and properly dispose of e-waste, you can find one near you HERE. Honestly, how often do you throw out your old computers, tv's, etc? Its not that often, so why not recycle? Peace

Ed Helms on Marathons

Jokes.com
Ed Helms - Marathons
comedians.comedycentral.com
Funny Jokes Funny Videos Daniel Tosh Stand-Up

Don't Do That, Seriously!

I can't embed the video, but HERE is the link. This is a short segment from The Boston Channel about the latest new dieting craze: injecting pregnant women's pee for weight loss (oh, also you have to go on a 500 calorie diet). Is it the diet or the pee? Probably the 500 caloried diet, but devotees apparently experience less hunger due to the pee injections. Its expensive, about $565 for six weeks worth of pee. There's research suggesting that this is bullshit (also cited in the link), but if there's one thing about diet culture I know: if it seems crazy, somebody's gonna try it (and maybe succeed for a while) but for most, its just another way to lose your money, not your fat. What I want to know: how is it legal to distribute bodily fluids for sale? What are the safety procedures? Are the urine donors screened for infections that can be spread via urine? I'm asking these questions, not because I support this concept, but because people are desperate to try anything to lose weight. I would hate to see someone get a debilitating or deadly disease because of a scam. Seriously people, don't inject yourself with urine. Just don't do it.

There's An Ap for That

Pretty soon there will be an Ap for your smartphone that allows you to "snap" a picture of what's on your plate and it will assess how many calories you've consumed, based on photo-recognition software. Crazy right? I'm sure that the first Ap will have tons of bugs, but after 5 years of beta testing, I bet this could work. Now the question is: do you want it?

Interested In Being Exploited? You Might Be In Luck!

Hey there plus sized readers, interested in being exploited? Are you FABULOUS? Do you have problems with boundaries? History of public drunkenness and/or shopping addiction? You're in Luck! VH1 is now casting full-figured women for their new reality show. Same casting folks as those who did Jersey Shore, so you know it'll be classy!

Here's the run-down from their website HERE:

You’re big and beautiful and know how to own it! You’re phat, fab and chic and have the big and bold personality to match. You’ve got the style, sex appeal and sass to get noticed without being a sample size.

Time to show the world that big girls have more fun!

VH1 in association with Doron Ofir Casting and Left Right Productions is now casting the hottest, most bodacious, voluptuous single women who are at least 21 years old and appear younger than 35 to represent the BBW’s in a brand new docu-series that will show a long-awaited glimpse into the ultra-fab world of big girls! If you have your cake and eat it too, we want to hear your story.

Whether you’re nightlife’s A-list, a full-sized fashionista, big and business savvy or singlin’ and minglin’ with L.A.’s hottest, we want to meet you!

Step aside skinny bitches, the spotlight isn’t big enough for the both us.

Big girls don’t cry… they freakin’ party!

Email BigGirlsClubCasting@gmail.com with your Name, Age, Phone Number and 2 recent photos.

For Our Jewish Readers: Happy Chanukah

Chanukah begins tonight, the festival of lights, rejoice! This morning on NPR I heard an interesting story about how Chanukah was popularized in the late 19th Century in America (and then later among European Jews) by two Reform Rabbis out of Cincinnati. Of course, its an ancient holiday, but the present incarnation, including presents, was a way for Reform Jews who were part of an integrationist movement, to partake in a winter holiday much in the way that 19th Century Christians began to celebrate Christmas (also a lesser holiday at the time, Easter remember is historically the significant Christian holiday) in its present, Dickensian-sentimentalist fashion.

Picky Eaters Might Suffer from Eating Disorder

According to an article at Life Science, picky adult and picky child eaters might actually suffer from an eating disorder, rather than just be annoying brats. "Selective eating disorder, more commonly known as very picky eating. Instead of having a couple foods they'd rather avoid, the way most of us do, people with selective eating disorder feel there are very few foods they are even capable of eating." So, instead of say, avoiding onions or disliking beets, those with selective eating disorder will only eat very very few things--like one man quoted as only eating crackers, peanut butter, grilled cheese and chocolate milk. Everything else, according to this patient looks like "a plate of barf." Its not just "stubbornness," but extreme food aversion. Some of the treatments for selective eating disorder mirror the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD because many of the thought patterns that develop around food are similar to those who ritually wash their hands over and over or engage in other obsessive behaviors.

As with anything dealing with food, there was quite a lot of backlash in the Jezebel comments that covered this issue (well, honestly, backlash on both sides--quite a few "picky eaters" came out of the closet to combat the "just eat it" crowd). When you read about patients like the man described above, limited to four foods and not possibly getting the kinds of nutrient you need to thrive, its very sad and treatment needs to be taken seriously. Same for all eating disorders, which now account for 4% of all children's hospitalizations. But the general trend toward indulging "picky eaters" or more accurately, the encouragement of all children to become "picky eaters" through the proliferation of "children's foods" --you know, mac n' cheese, grilled cheese, chicken fingers (no bones EVAR), fries and general crap--is a very bad development. In France, French children eat "food," not adult food, not children's food, but "food"--same for India. We pathologize food, advertise it, brand it, plastic wrap it, etc. I'm sure that their are children (& adults) with OCD or selective eating disorder, but in cultures where its expected that children eat what they are prepared, and what their parents eat, it is probably easier to identify and deal with. In our culture, "picky eating" is almost an expected phase...that can turn into a lifetime of poor eating habits, nutrient deficits and familial conflict. My brother was a picky eater and he's a picky adult eater--he's never really grown out of the "kids menu" mentality and that sucks, but at least he recognizes that its bad and tries to get his daughter to eat a more varied diet. I'm not saying, starve your children until they eat what's given to them, although I know one person that worked for (a friend wouldn't eat what her mother made, so instead of giving in and making her something else, she had to stay at the table until she had at least three bites...she refused, went to bed hungry, then the next morning they put out the same meal...she finally gave into the those three bites and she's a varied eater to this day.) It sounds really tough, but watching my poor mother make three separate meals, one for my picky-eater brother, one for my vegetarian sister, one for my dad, me and her was exhausting. Now looking into picky eating--is your kid or are you adverse to certain foods because you might be lactose or gluten intolerant? These are avenues of exploration that need to be traversed, but the best way to prevent picky eating is to only serve your family one kind of meal and expect everyone will try it. Expectations often predict behavior, but spreading awareness that sometimes picky eating is actually a full-blown eating disorder (or could develop into an eating disorder) is crucial in our conversations about food, food culture and eating REAL FOOD.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: Bad Girls Club Kristen Kelly Says 'I Could Have Been Raped'

Radar Online Reports: Kristen Kelly from the Bad Girl's club reports that she was drugged during the wild behaviour that got her kicked off the show.

Kristen stated:

"I was victimized, somebody put a something in my drink, somebody could have hurt me, somebody could have killed me. I could have been raped."

"This is a very serious situation. People are date raped and drugged everyday. Every night when you go out, you really need to protect yourself and you can't think you're invincible like I did."

I don't condone the antics of the Bad Girl's Club, but Kristen does have a point that partying has its dangers. Every person going out needs to be mindful of their surroundings, "friends", and beverage consumption.

Just Watch

Aids PSA Topsy from Human Music & Sound Design on Vimeo.

Here's Selinah, a woman afflicted with AIDS. She agreed to be filmed once a day for 90 days. This is part of a program to help show that treatment for HIV/AIDS really works. Warning: it might make you cry, but in a good way. Right now, there are some really harmful rumors at work (in the US as well as abroad) that it is the HIV drugs that makes people sick, not HIV. Even the former president of South Africa trumpeted this concept (South Africa: An estimated 5.6 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country.¹ It is believed that in 2009, an estimated 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS.² Prevalence is 17.8 percent among those aged 15-49, with some age groups being particularly affected. ³ Almost one-in-three women aged 25-29, and over a quarter of men aged 30-34, are living with HIV.)

This video and other outreach programs like it are helping to dispel the harmful myths that 1.) HIV isn't the cause of AIDS; 2.) those infected with HIV in developing countries "can't be responsible enough" to take the expensive drugs that help HIV patients in developed nations lead almost normal lives.

Peace

Notre Dame's Punt in the Probe of Lizzy Seeberg's Sad Death

Melinda Henneberger reports on the hypocrisy of cheering on a sports teams when one of its members is under suspicion of a sexual assault that lead to a suicide.

The author is correct that as a society we must separate reality from hero worship. We cannot participate in hate and cover ups to preserve the reputation of our heroes. If people do wrong we need to hold them accountable.