The Fat Positive Lounge

[istolurboxers38]

I love this thread. I am just now really learning to really love being comfortable in my own skin. I just recently joined a gym with my kids and we play raquetball and lift weights. It is really cool they support me and help me out in keeping track of the weights I lift so I can see the progress. I like being fluffy there is more of me to love

[Leigh]

I miss coming to this thread, I'm a big girl and damn proud of it too ......... my new attitude is take me as i am or don't take me at all

[nycfem]

That's great that you are learning to love being comfortable in your own skin! I feel so comfortable in my body when I am exercising and love to spend hours at the gym working out. It is great to realize how strong we are and work up a good sweat. That's very sweet about your kids!

I've never really played raquetball. Sounds fun!

Originally Posted by istolurboxers38

I love this thread. I am just now really learning to really love being comfortable in my own skin. I just recently joined a gym with my kids and we play raquetball and lift weights. It is really cool they support me and help me out in keeping track of the weights I lift so I can see the progress. I like being fluffy there is more of me to love

[Soft*Silver]

I use to love playing raquetball! But the action is too fast for me now and I hit with my bad arm, so no can play anymore. Someday!

We just got back from hauling huge boxes of every kind of hanger you can imagine, into the store's storage. And fixtures. So many diff ways to hang clothes! I got a special gold bar and chain so i can hang it off the ceiling high to hang my wedding and evening gowns. Beautiful!

I still have another load to do. The couple I am getting this stuff from were scrabbling so I had to call it a day. If I tried to do a second load I think they would have divorced,lol. Moving things out from one's dream crashing (she had to close down her store) is so stressful. So Monday I go back...

I was dancing with the mannequin's yesterday. Tralalalala....my own music, my own theme song...a cross between Rocky and Bambi's theme songs..lol

[Soft*Silver]

thanks to a wonderful benefactor, I was able to layaway two beautiful showcases for my jewelry. Not only am I selling store bought jewerly, I have local artists who are making/designing special lines for my store that cannot be purchased anywhere but in my store!

Here is what one of them looks like! They light up and lock!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

My Doctors Surgery has recently been taken over by a new set of GPs; there's a part of me this is nervous because they see my size and weight and automatically assume I'm unhealthy.

The precious GP at my practice was a locum covering for my old GP who has sold the practice after having a baby. He was insisting my weight was an issue on two grounds;
1. Was my blood work (he reckoned my Cholesterol would be high and my Liver Function Tests would be high also).
2. That I had Arthritis in my Spine.

He sent me for another MRI and I cheekily added to the request form that a copy of the results go to my Consultants.

My MRI test results do not show any signs of Arthritis at all! Both my Consultants showed me the scan of my Spine. What is clearly seen is my complicated form of Spina Bifida Occulta. My joints (including my Pelvis) are clear; meaning no sigh of deterioration leading to Arthritis.

Both of my Consultants have said that my Spine (despite my SB) is very strong and well looked after.

My blood results (except my Hb, RBC and Ferritin levels due to my Alpha-Thalassaemia, which are always in my boots, which are down stairs in the shoe cabinet, lol!) are well within normal and healthy ranges. My Cholesterol is 3.3 and my fasting Glucose Serum is 3.6. The UK range is 2.5 - 7.8.

My hope is that my new GP will see these results and not judge me on my size and weight!

I've always believed that being a BBW doesn't mean that the woman's health is bad. It's not possible to see what's going on inside our bodies, but, being fat is not necessarily a time bomb waiting to go off!

Mis Tia, Good Luck with your new venture! I hope the shop is a great success!

[nycfem]

So true! And I am so happy to hear your news. Thanks so much for sharing.

Luckily I don't have medical issues that require frequent trips to the doctor, but for those who do, many doctors take the easy way out of helping us, blaming weight on issues that have nothing to do with the actual issue. I wouldn't say I have a "fat positive" doctor per se, but he also has never used my weight as a reason not to successfully address any problem that I've had over the years. My weight is not brought up unless I bring it up. I'm thankful for that, and it's a big reason why I keep him! What a danger it is for all the people who have to go to doctors and hear the same trite diet advice and fat phobic, ignorant shaming, while treatable problems are left not addressed. It's no wonder fat people sometimes avoid the doctor because of this! Each of us is worth finding the right doctor!

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

I've always believed that being a BBW doesn't mean that the woman's health is bad. It's not possible to see what's going on inside our bodies, but, being fat is not necessarily a time bomb waiting to go off!

[istolurboxers38]

I have struggled with my weight most of my life. My parents were one that filled my plate and made me finish everything. I am so happy that the kids are participating in my new transformation. I dont want to loose that much or be a stick but become healthier. I have a hard time playing raquetball with my knee it has the arthritis and have to experiemtn with cortozone shots. Has anyone had those? I need to know what to expect. I told the doc I would try it once if it didnt help I wouldnt go back. I am trying to leave my old life and my past and become a new person. Does anyone else have a list of things they want to change?

[Soft*Silver]

when I had no medical coverage after first returning to Ohio, I went to a free clinic. I could barely move, the pain was excruciating. I shuffled. I couldnt sit for any period of time and actually had to lay on floors if i went places, if the time last more than an hour. Life was horrible for me and I was so depressed. I needed medication to ease the back spasms and to get me back on thyroid meds, anti depression meds, etc. medicines that would allow me to live without feeling like a walking tomb of pain.

I had a Dr at this free clinic who would not focus on my symptoms. He focused on my fat. He said he wanted me to lose weight before he would give me meds. I was told to give up all animal products and go on a vegetarian diet. That was all nice but I had no money for food at the time and was getting free food from the churches and veggies was not part of their plan. He scolded me everytime I came in. I wept often. I begged for meds. He gave me synthroid finally and that was it.

When i got into the Bureau of Vocational Rehab, BVR, my case manager took one look at me, picked up the phone and ordered my medicines for me thru that Dr and paid for them. If not for her intervention, he would have punished me forever for being fat. As soon as I had my meds in me and they were working, I started losing weight. I was more active and my metabolism increased. But it wasnt the weight. i had MEDICAL CONDITIONS that caused my pain. My weight didnt cause them!

I look back on those days and wonder how I survived. And its amazing I survived and how far I have come in a few years! Fatopia now! LOL

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

So true! And I am so happy to hear your news. Thanks so much for sharing.

Luckily I don't have medical issues that require frequent trips to the doctor, but for those who do, many doctors take the easy way out of helping us, blaming weight on issues that have nothing to do with the actual issue. I wouldn't say I have a "fat positive" doctor per se, but he also has never used my weight as a reason not to successfully address any problem that I've had over the years. My weight is not brought up unless I bring it up. I'm thankful for that, and it's a big reason why I keep him! What a danger it is for all the people who have to go to doctors and hear the same trite diet advice and fat phobic, ignorant shaming, while treatable problems are left not addressed. It's no wonder fat people sometimes avoid the doctor because of this! Each of us is worth finding the right doctor!

Thank you!

I’ve had Doctors in the past that have been more accepting of Plus Size patients. There is a trend in the UK in recent years where children and adults of normal weight and above are being targeted as unhealthy with no existing health issues.

A recent trend here is GPs being Fat phobic and using it as a prognosis for a person’s ill health. They have targets to meet on certain health issues; for every target they achieve they receive a large sum of money. Healthcare here has changed for the worst.

Back home, we have a 3 tier health system with those who can’t afford health care being subsidised. Unfortunately, a lot of health care professionals prefer to work overseas. When I decide to return home to live, I will be forced to lose weight, yet, NZ is one of the countries with the highest population of people who are Plus Size. The majority are Polynesian. Somehow, I’m expected to change my DNA and lose weight to live in my home country. It’s ludicrous!

[LaneyDoll]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

What is clearly seen is my complicated form of Spina Bifida Occulta.

I have this too!!! Do you find that when your back hurts, it hurts really, really, really bad?

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by LaneyDoll

I have this too!!! Do you find that when your back hurts, it hurts really, really, really bad?

When my back is in spasm the pain is unbearable! Then I need crutches to walk and I'm a hooligan on them! LOL! I have constant pain which is managable a lot of the time. I have a tethered Spinal Cord which caiuses further issues.

I'm fortunate that I have a strong back and I do a lot of Yoga to help with pain management. When I was a competitive swimmer in my teens, I would get severe cramp in my back and legs. I took up Iyengar Yoga which helped to relax my muscles.

May I ask; have you had any treatments for your SBO?

[Soft*Silver]

so my landlord STILL has not done the carpets but he has made me a key finally. Progress! LOL.

I got to spend an entire day with horses yesterday. if you know me, you know how much I love horses and need them in my life. Well, today I cant walk. I cant sit up. I am in so much pain but its glorious pain! People who knew me before my surgery all squealed over the weight I had lost.But then they all said, "gee, we thought you would get skinny"

seriously? Another round of "your surgery was a failure. Doesnt matter that I can breath and my stumach isnt coming out of my mouth anymore...geee...

so tomorrow I go into my store ("my store" omg..it sounds so good!) and start to put together my office. Photos, files, decor, etc. I need to make it my special place.

Maybe i am emotional...but honestly I just wanted to cry when i typed "my store"...

I am so glad I have this place to come to and talk about it too. It means so much to me that there is a group of people who understand and can relate to why this is so important to me