fat

Yes, I am. Yes my oldest son is also probably, according to the ever changing charts. We know this. We don't enjoy shopping for larger clothes and being hotter in the summertime.

However the thing we least enjoy is being stereotyped about it. We are not lazy, nor do we sit around all the time and stuff our mouths full of whatever food is there. And I am so tired of seeing the crap that passes for medical research these days.

For example, the news ticker at the top of the screen states that obese kids miss more school. Not in my household. My kids go to school pretty well regardless of how they feel--that's the rule. I give them a "fake" sick day a year---you know, the one where they just don;t feel right, and they can't give specific symptoms, but yet they look green around the gills---at least until the school bus disappears. But the rest of the time they pretty well have to cough up a lung and fevered and throwing up blood or something before I let them stay home. It's down to---if you want to go to the doctor, you can stay home from school. This goes for the thin ones as well as my oldest. I'm the same way--I don;'t stay home from work unless I go to the doctor and they order me to.

I don't let size run our lives. We know that exercise is the best thing for us to reduce our weight, and I think one of the worst things a school can do is only require gym for one of the four years of high school. Chris has already had his, so now my challenge is to keep him moving when he is not in school. I know my limits on what my body will take, due to prior injuries/conditions. I also know that some of these conditions are exacerbated by my weight.

I have been reading the blog of a friend of my sister in law. This blog is called Jellyfilled. The articles she finds about how researchers think us fatties should be treated and what our supposed problems are are just amazing. From books that talk about, let's be honest now, a return to the Nazi way of thinking on those of us who are different from the desired norm, whatever that is, to articles that are meant to shame and denigrate those of us that are heavier than the size zero that walks the catwalk, the amount of crap out there is unreal.

Yeah, I get down on myself for my size. I am the biggest I have ever been in my life--however at the same time, I am also the most active and healthy I have been. And isn;t that good? I mean, I lowered my cholestoral on my own, eschewing drugs----the same with my blood pressure. Because I wasn't even 40 yet and did not want to be on a never ending, always increasing drug regimen. Because I have a husband and family who, although knowing the risks and beliefs associated with my weight, have been supportive and Ron especially has been instrumental in boosting my self esteem to where, let's face it, I may not like my size but I accept it. And I find that when I fight it less, I lose more weight.

So here's to me, and all those like me.....