More than a handful : Rock your Rolls

So a week tomorrow i fly away on holiday with Tom, to see my parents for a few days over Valentines day.

(My folks live in Portugal and the idea was Toms.. i think my mum is convinced he is going to propose)

Anyway, I conquered my stupid fear of flying, last October when The Lord and I headed over to Portugal for a joint birthday present to ourselves and so he could meet my folks. I’d been scared of flying for years and to be frank, I didn’t get to see much of my parents because of this. 

Long story short, with the right person by my side, I LOVED IT.. i mean really LOVED IT.  

So now i am getting ready to jet off again and you know when i get my fat ass on board i will be hollering (nicely) for the fatty belly belt. (My size means i can’t sit in the front row as you’re not allowed to use the belt here but thats not too much both as u don’t get a window view.) 

Now before some muppet starts heckling about Fat Rights. My CHOICE is that i would rather land alive and in one comfortable piece than not being restrained properly when i needed to because i was trying to prove a rubbish point. 

So sit in the rows i do but as a big unit i do think about the welfare of my fellow passengers. 

If my bulging booty is creeping out into someone else seats, damn straight that’s not fair, they paid the same as me afterall and i am taking up their space. So why do so many fat men and women get the arse about it?

If you are to fat to fit in the space provided, you need more space.. er go.. you need another ticket.  And before you ask, no skinny people or children should not pay less just because they don’t take up the designated space. Ahh the magic word designated. 

“oh but they should make the seats bigger” … don’t be stupid. Airlines are a business, not a fat charity. If they make the seats bigger, the costs go up. Either way, you are going to pay for it. And why should the majority pay for the minority? The seats in low cost travel for most airlines i have flown, are totally reasonable. Long haul flights are normally even more generous. 

What concerns me, is that it is done with tact. Let the hippo on the plane first (think like Noah) and  let them try the seat in privacy before everyone else, like when they seat anyone else with special treatment. When doing so, have a member of their party sit with them. See if the two of them balance out. If they do. Job done, no extra ticket. If you are still packing too big and you’re going to cause discomfort to others, then ask them to buy an extra ticket or refund what they paid and don’t let them fly. 

Believe me, if you are encroaching on my space, for the ticket i worked hard for to pay for, I am going to have a problem with it. I am not flying 3 -9 hours in discomfort for anyone, other than a peanut -  melon sized baby which is inside me. Or because Tom is farting. Sadly it’s a biological pre-disposition for him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12180526

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/we-cannot-afford-not-to-reform-nhs-says-david-cameron-2186428.html

In the UK we are lucky enough to enjoy state healthcare which is paid for out of the INCOME TAX paid by the working person. (I stress this point as I get infuriated by countparts who quote National Insurance as the source, IT’S NOT).

Our current Prime Minister is looking to reform our healthcare policies that outline what the NHS does and how it does it. A suggested outcome of this, that is being pushed around, is that those who lead an unhealthy lifestyle will end up having to pay for services. 

So, where do I stand… or should that be flomp?

I work hard and have done for many years, I paid to go to university and i have always paid my contributions both in tax and NI. I am at my least fittest in terms of climbing mountains and my most fittest in terms of stress levels. I am at my heaviest and my prettiest.

Firstly, if you can prove that the health issue i have, is a result of my lifestyle choice, then yes, i think to ask me to pay a reasonable amount is justifiable. Providing i have been prewarned by my GP that this is a potential future -who needs to learn manners-.

Part of this should involve regular health check ups, like one has with ones teeth. Then all parties are informed of current health situations - blood pressure,blood sugar, medication if applicable, smear/breast jiggle for lumps/ update on period regularity, etc -. 

I am a person and I am responsible. And if i chose to live an unhealthy lifestyle, i should not expect others to pay the tab. I pay for the food to go in my mouth and i will pay by my health - potentially/allegedly - if i sit on my bottom and don’t exercise it off. 

There is already legislation around smokers/alcohol dependants and transplants.

Where there is risk, there is responsibility.

The issue grows around those who don’t work.

They will end up getting treatment free, much like they do prescriptions on the NHS. This i think is fundementally wrong. If you are on state benefits such as JSA, ESA or DLA, why should you be able to claim full free medical care (based on the principal that the medical condition is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle)?

There are plenty of jobs out there (note i say jobs and not careers). Pay in to the  NHS pot and then you can take out. 

Regardless of ability to work, if you CHOOSE to live a way that you have been INFORMED will detriment your HEALTH then only YOU are RESPONSIBLE for the consequences, not the state. 

We are lucky, very lucky to have the NHS but it is abused beyond belief.  

However, as i pointed out at the beginning, in many ways i am mentally healthier and more stress free than i have ever been. My only reoccurring health problem is hayfever - pay for my own antihistamines, not NHS - and the only medication i take is the contraceptive pill - which again i pay for -.

I check my weight, blood pressure and sugar levels regularly. I have been for sexual health check ups, Body MOT’s, Smears, Breast checks. You name it, i take responsibility for my choices and i always have.

So i deserve +points over those who don’t. Being fat does not = lazy about health. Neither does having 6+ alcoholic drinks, every other weekend (binge drinking) or smoking. Especially is this is the only vice you have and you keep on top of it.

So, go ahead, charge me if my health needs treatment due to my improper care and attention, give me health check-ups and appropriate advice, and ensure that every single person is viewed the same and both negative and positive steps are taken into account. I will not complain.

The argument over what should be paid, well, that is another issue i need to look into further before i can comment. Eating disorders are a grey area and not one i think can be included in this debate.

I was reading a forum on a Fat Positive community site,  about a plus size woman who wanted a Pro Fat* slogan T-shirt for all the people who gawk at her in the street. 

For some, it is harder be comfortable in public that others, whether it be to confidence/esteem issues, restrictive moment or how big they are and where they wear their weight. 

But is antagonising people who may just simply be surprised, not paying attention, attracted to, registering her as a face the recognise or simply disgusted by the sight of a fat body, the way forward? 

I say antagonise, as these were some of the slogans suggested:

Yes I know I am fat, Do you know your a moron?

I am fat not stupid unlike you

 I’m fat but… your ugly

I can change if i want to but tomorrow you will still be ugly

I beat anorexia

Really… ???

How about, regardless of size, colour or whatever distinguishing feature makes us feel a little uneasy - and there by the automatic first thing anyone would notice about us…. STOP LOOKING AT MY NOSE .. - we pay more attention to what we are doing whilst out and about. Surely we left the house for a reason? 

I much preffered the eloquent, snazzy response of more relaxed members of the site:

Fat people are harder to kidnap.

I’m fat but my wallet is fatter.

I’m gonna eat you

It’s not just fat, it’s an investment for more sensuality

Why did i pick these? Humor is simply more disarming and polite then full on attack. Attacking proves nothing, apart from you are on the same baby step as the person launching the offending staring attack and simply makes you look like the stereotype that they probably thought you were. Fat, miserable and unhappy with your body. Even if your not. 

Plus, if that is your best offensive T-shirt…. well… you are not going to win this point on playground tactics.

Better still, take off the boring T-shirt  and get something that makes you feel fabulous, so you don’t notice the gawkers. Being socially ugly is not a fat girl problem after all, so don’t own it!

*= Pro Fat is not insulting people with eating disorders or the not so well mannered person who is staring at you like a Cod. 

Drama ahead on the high seas of “Family Holiday”. The Lord and I couldn’t be more excited… there has been much Squeee-ing. We even have a little surprise planned. 

There’s been confusion over who’s paying for what.. Where we are staying in France.. what room space is required. Hopefully it’s reigned back in and we have our villa! I’ve spent hours on the phone to my dad telling him to book the place. 

Swimming Pool… Check. Hot Tub… Check. BBQ… Check. Games room… Check. Bar.. YES A BAR… Check. All rooms Ensuite… Check. Free Bikes… Check.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Work has been.. colourful.. very colourful and my sleeping pattern is shot. 

My ASOS and Schuh goodies arrived today which was very exciting. Sadly however… Fat Foot syndrome struck again. I have little feet, but could i get my feet in these shoes.. hell no. My instep was to high.. Slight error. 

When it comes to shoes, i advocate to try before you buy, and do this in an actual store. Unless you have the most normal feet in the world. I am not that girl. My feet are sometimes a 6.. sometimes a 7 apparantly.. but mostly a 5. They are wide.. and i can manage an excellent  5.4 Trotting Force with them. (Not quite a gallop).

 It is currently a bane of my fashion existence, this fatty foot syndrome. Specifically not being able to wear mid calf or knee high boots. Why is this relevant? It’s not.. i just want to!

My calves are the size of most Size 12 women’s thigh.. Something like 19 inches  at their thickest. Which is the equivalent of some Victorian corseted woman’s waist. However i can assure you, mine were created from pure pleasure and  definitely without the pain of binding. 

Pretty pumps are great and i am trying to get better at heels - i’m fine unless there is a gradient and then i am a big rolling blur of fatteh -. But Mid Calf boots… damn it. I used to cycled ALL the time as a teen, my favourite gym equipment were the rower and the cycles…. meaning my legs are thick opposed to fat. 

Maybe some jumping around like i’ve been tazed, in front of the Kinnect will help? 

What has this got to do with the Holiday in France? Nothing…. i just felt like a fashion rant :D Let your vent out and share your fashion stress or woes! 

It’s really only polite that I recite the trashy novel of my existence. Mills and Boon is just not my thing but I do enjoy living in the country and the occasional tumble in the high with my Lord Thomas. Yes, this small town, Scottish highlander bagged herself a Lord this year.

In my 28 years on this planet I have been as wide as I am tall, I’ve loved, lost, consumed insane amounts of ice cream and regularly travelled 400 miles just for a random nights out. I spent the millennium eve in a pub/field in the remote highlands of Scotland, slept on a pavement in Kinlochleven and had to renew my provisional driving licence - ten years! -. I’ve been to Uni twice, worked as a BT telephone operator for 100 and 999, a website designer and social worker.

In my womanhood I’ve never been smaller than a size 16 and at my largest a 26. I’ve been a gym bunny, diet fanatic but decided the money was better spent on fun times out, holidays, good food and of course.. Lots and lots of shopping! The embracing life and not scales theory, taking responsibility for what goes on with my body and therefore my life,by avoiding moaning about what I don’t have and what I am not, means I am genuinely very very happy. (best of all.. it’s free.. therefore.. more shopping.. or savings) I met the man of my literal wet dreams at the start of 2010 as I may have already mentioned and after a couple of frogs and at least 1 total bastard on the way.

I’m the youngest of 4 and last year my lovely and eccentric mother did a semi naked painting of me for my Christmas present… My dad talks to his cats - one is boss-eyes and the other can only walk in a diagonal line -. They’ve been married my whole life, mostly because no one else would be able to understand them.

I’m a Tom boy.. I like video games, rock music, mud, engineering, building furniture and hardcore science! But I’m equally a 40’s housewife, darning socks, baking cakes, bleaching net curtains, curling my hair and fixing my red lipstick. if only I could stand up long enough in heels!

I work full time, at a hostel for homeless people, providing advice, counselling and practical solutions to turn their lives around! I’ve worked with people from a range of background with a cornucopia of issues. Everyone one craves stability, even if it’s from a routine of uncertainty. Sometimes you just need a helping hand to show you what you didn’t know was out there or to help you to have faith in your own choices.

That’s enough about me for now, you’ll learn more as we go! If you eat the whole cake in one, you’ll have naught but crumbs for the rest of the week!

Apart from the obviousness that being overweight in Western culture - I speak only of what I know - is not the flavour of the day, week, month …decade. Squishy solace is often sought by like minded people online. An anomymous (if you want it) paddle in the pool of thought. 

There are a whole host of sites catered for Profat/ Adipositive thought. A few I can think of include

Dimensions

Curvage

Musing of a Fatshionista

The Adipositivity Project

Young, Fat and Fabulous

Chubble Bubble 

Fatshionista

FatNutritionist

Fantasy Feeder

Now a couple of these sites have a sexy/fetishy side to them, but don’t let that detract you from their community spirit. They aren’t sites just for raving hormones, intelligent debate does happen. Fantasy Feeder and Curvage are good examples of this. Let’s face it, fat does equal gluttony to a lot of people, and sometimes that gluttony is as attractive as the outside of your being. So don’t be naive and think fat just equals cuddly…. not to everyone! 

Different websites represent different schools of thought on matters fat. Dims is the political uncle… often ready for a bit of a scrap.. FF more the Minxy older Aunt, you know she has seen a thing or too, has wise words to give, but also you need to take what she says with a pinch of salt. Fatshionista is your very very very chatty Cousin and FatNutritionist is your funky slightly punky younger aunt with as much to say as her young daughter Fatshionista (her dad is likely to be some dishy rockstar FA).

The fashion blogs from Chubble, Fatshionista and YF&F cover different aspects of the clothes horse spectrum.

The FatNutritionist advocates eating in moderation, emphasis on taking responsibility for your body and eating what you want, both healthy and treat, to a sensible end.

As for The Adipositivity Project, this website is down right beautiful, with no other message to send then, look at these beautiful images. 

But these are just my musings…. get out there DoubleClickers and inform yourself!

Fat fashion, fat positive, fat acceptance and fat admiration are dusty and familiar topics in the Tombola of online journals and blogs. There are lots of voices to hear and colours to see, that cover a rainbow of Pro adipose discussion, well lets be clear..  I am certainly not limited to just that, but positive body image and taking responsibility for yourself, well I am all over that like a rash!

I have a big mouth and it’s not just for enjoying good food. 

I’m a hard working 20 something, with a keen interest in politics, science and technology, cocktail making, great sex, fun fashion, sport and playing hostess. 

Fatteh, is a deliberate spelling as it’s a state of mind not just a squishy body shape but as I am at my happiest, when carrying weight, it’s a given association for me. 

I can’t change your life, but maybe I can expand you way of thinking and possibly even your waistline.