MovieChat Forums > To Be Fat Like Me (2007) Discussion > Addressing an Issue

Addressing an Issue

posted 17 years ago by brennafizz83
3 replies | jump to latest

I've read a couple of posts talking about the rediculousness of putting a thin person in a fat suit and expecting them to learn anything because they can remove the fat suit when they've had enough. While I agree that it is completely unrealistic to believe that a skinny person can learn how it feels to be fat from wearing a fat suit, I have to say that fat people can remove their "fat suits" if they get tired of being fat too.

Before I get a slew of people bashing me for being cold, I want to let you all know that I am fat. Not just overweight, I am clinically obese, and I come from a long line of clinically obese women. Losing weight is certainly nowhere near as easy as pulling down a zipper and stepping out of a suit, but it IS as easy as eating sensibly and exercising. The problem with weight loss is finding the willpower to do this. I know how hard it is. I am currently on a diet plan and exercise routine. I've lost 35 pounds so far, and it's been a very slow, annoying process, and it's going to take a very long time before I have a body I can be proud of. However, if I fail, I cannot blame society.

Believe me, I wish that society didn't judge me negatively for being fat, but society does, and the only thing I can do to change that is to not be fat anymore.

While it is true that some skinny people are naturally thin and can eat whatever they want and lay on the couch all day and never once gain a pound, the vast majority of people with attractive bodies work hard to maintain those bodies.

No, I don't think thin people can realistically learn what it is like to be fat just from putting on a fat suit, but I also don't think we fat people should complain about being fat as if it's a situation we are trapped in and cannot get out of because it's just not true.

[–] KateMSimp 17 years ago

First I would like to congratulate you on your weight loss. But I am going to have to disaggree with you on the ability for some people to lose weight, it is a very difficult process and some people are not able to go through it without help. I wish that society would change becuase not everyone is going to be skinny and obviously everyone isnt, they shouldnt blame people for being fat, its not their problem. I think that if someone were to wear a fat suit they could get incentive, but will never truly know what it is like to be fat, because like you said they can take off the suit, we cannot (and yes I said we, I too am overweight, but I don't think that people should judge me because of that, they should judge me by my personality if anything)

[–] brennafizz83 17 years ago

I do agree that losing weight is extremely hard...I'm not denying that for a second, and I myself have had more failed attempts at weight loss than I can count. Societal pressure alone is not enough to encourage weight loss...if it was, we'd all have runway model bodies. Weight loss can very rarely be acheived (long-term anyway) unless you are doing it because it's what YOU want for yourself...not what others want from you. It took me so long to make any accomplishments in that area because I enjoy fast food and sitting on the couch watching Buffy much more than I enjoy salads and exercise...it's only been recently that I decided I want a healthy, attractive body more than I want a Big Mac...but all along, it has been MY choice.

I am very big on personal responsibility, and I have never blamed my weight on anyone...not on my mom for always having potato chips in the house o constantly bringing home pizza for dinner, not on McDonald's for serving fattening food, and not on my friends for letting me order cheesesteaks and fries when we go out. The only person I have to blame is ME.

I agree 100% that society should not judge a person's worth based on how much that person weighs. I would love to be able to walk down a hall and hear people laughing without automatically wondering if they are laughing at my fat ass or be able to put on a pair of shorts and a tank top in the middle of summer without thinking twice about it. I wish that people would realize that being fat doesn't automatically mean that I am not worthy of the same amount of respect a thin, beatiful girl would receive.

Related sidenote: Vince Neil (lead singer of Motley Crue) once stated that he received more disrespect and negative judgement for the 40 pounds he gained once he got off heroine than he ever received for being on heroine in the first place...that is so completely sad and morally disgusting, but it is also completely typical of our society. I wish that weren't true, and I hope that someday it stops being true.

Anyway, to sum up, yes, weight loss is extremely hard, and I certainly understand why some people just can't find the willpower to do it alone, but the point is that it is ALWAYS our decision. If we want to be healthy badly enough, we will do it for ourselves.

Thanks for your reply :-)

[–] missedhalo 17 years ago

congrats on your weight loss, you are right, it's VERY hard to lose weight. I used to be overweight myself and had to fight to take it off, now i am average size (according to my dr NOT society) and now i get called anorexic and bulimic and ED queen, the list goes on and on...anyway it does go both ways and i've said it before...no one has the right to judge others until we ourselves are made perfect!