Archive - July, 2008
From the You’ve Got to Be Freaking Kidding Me File
There’s an article over at today’s edition of the Star-Tribune.com for the Minneapolis-St.Paul area that just…words failed me when I read it. It’s about a new, experimental device for weight loss. This one is basically a ‘food pacemaker’ implanted to cut off the signals to the brain that tell you you’re hungry. Why do we need this? Well, the inventor, one Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin, who specializes in weight loss surgery realizes, as the article says:
…some people, no matter how overweight, can’t fathom the idea of having their internal organs snipped, tied or rearranged.
You’re right, Dr. Ikramuddin. I can’t fathom snipping or rearranging my perfectly healthy internal organs for a potentially short-lived cosmetic effect that could leave me with permanent health problems (WARNING: There’s a graphic illustration of human insides at the top of that article. If you’re squeamish, as I am, you might prefer not to look too closely at it).
Far better to pay the same amount of money (approximately $35,000.o0) to get a reversible implant and get the weight-loss benefits without the potential unpleasant side-effects, right?
Since this is a new procedure, there’s no telling what – if any – side effects will appear in this experiment. It might wind up being significantly safer, it may not. The jury is out and I prefer to remain cautious. I also prefer not to have an expensive elective surgery that is designed to change my brain function. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer not to mess with my brain by artificial means unless it’s absolutely necessary. Brain tumor? Yes, I think I’d agree to surgery in that case. Carrying more weight than some people think I should? I think that others are then thinking too much about my weight and need to mind their own business.
And once again, this solution to the ‘obesity epidemic’ focuses on the assumption that if we would just stop eating so much junk food all day, every single one of us would be magically thin. People who never question the fact that some people are naturally 7’3″ and others are naturally 4’10″ also never question the assumption that all people are naturally built to have the same BMI.
I don’t know about the rest of you (and believe me, I have no intention of asking because it isn’t my business), but I eat a reasonably balanced diet. I get a wide variety of foods in all the basic groups. I eat them in perfectly reasonable portions. I get moderate exercise pretty much every day. I’m still fat. I’m also still healthy. The worst illness I’ve had in the last ten years was a bout of pertusis (aka: whooping cough) from which I recovered handily once I got the proper medications. I don’t think I got pertusis from being fat. I don’t think any form of surgically-induced weight-loss, even in the form of an implant is going to positively affect my health enough to make it worth the expense, the hospital stay, or any of the myriad inconveniences it could potentially cause.
Of course, this is reversible…which means the effects are also probably equally reversible. In the meantime, those choosing the surgery will have the unsuperfantastic fashion accessory of the battery pack on a belt to work into their wardrobes.
Do we really need another ‘solution’ to the horror of fat people? No. We do not. What we need is better access to awesome clothes in plus sizes and more people to stop worrying so damn much about what other people happen to weigh.
Sales, sale codes, and a modelling opportunity
Here we are, my friends. Excellent Fourth of July weekend shopping!
AVENUE.COM: Enter code AV81184 for 20% off, through July 10. Also, get two tees or tanks for $10 if you click here.
TALBOTS is having their summer clearance sale, with deep discounts on most items. Additionally, if you spend $100 or more, you get another 20% off (until July 13). Remember, they sell both Woman and Woman Petite sizes.
KIYONNA.COM: Through July 8, enter code FIREWORKS08 at checkout, and you’ll get 20% off any item (except, for some reason, the “premium denim.”)
LIVE IN MIAMI? MonifC is looking for local plus-size models for their Miami Swimshow, July 19-22. Requirements: You must be at least 5’8″, wear size 14-16, and be toned (perhaps Francesca will address her thoughts about the requirements some other time). You do not have to be available all three days, but any day you are available, you have to be there from 8-6:30 pm. To apply, send a full-body picture (preferably in a swimsuit) and a head-shot to models@monifc.com, putting “Miami Swim Show” in the subject. And if you work in the show, please send a photo to us at francesca@shoeblogs.com! Good luck!
Reminder: Manhattan Meet-and-Greet!
Meet Francesca in person tomorrow night at The View, at the top of the Marriot Marquis in Times Square, from 7:30-9:30. See you there!
Highlights of the Fatoshpere
Over the past week or so, some great things have been written by our fellow bloggers of size. Here are a couple of the highlights:
The Rotund has a lovely reminder today that being kind to your body is part of being superfantastic…and keeping sane in a crazy world. Makes me want to make an appointment for a massage. In fact, I think I just might do that.
The Fat Experience Project is looking for your stories of what it’s like to be plus-sized in our world. The idea is to bring faces to the question of size acceptance. Go. Read some stories. Submit your own. Telling stories is important.
Junk Food Science neatly dissects a recent study claiming to prove that fat mothers who clearly eat nothing but junk food have fat babies who eat the earth and then die and it’s all the mother’s fault.
Big Fat Delicious has yet another example of the so-called Obesity Paradox to share with us all.
And if you need a good giggle, I highly recommend heading over to Shapely Prose and reading the thread on Spaghetti Language. There are some darn funny bits of prose in that thread.
The Big Question: Star Spangled Edition
So I’m trying to get myself all het up over American Independence Day this year. It’s not quite working out, and I am concerned.
I’m not worried about my inability to muster the customary excitement over celebrating the birth of the nation that has brought us inventions that add so much to my daily life (Diet Coke, The Federalist Papers, The Colt Single Action Revolver with custom mother-of-pearl inlay and scrollwork.) No, I’m worried because it is The Matchiest Holiday and I am allergic to matchy. When I saw that Herr Karl chose “God Bless America” as the theme for Spring rtw at Chanel, I quivered in my extended-calf boots. The sign of bad things to come.
So what’s the deal? Why do so many people who wouldn’t dream of wearing leprechaun socks in March or heart-shaped dealybobbers on their heads for Valentine’s Day have no problem going all yankee doodle dumbass in giant foam hats to celebrate the birth of the our nation?
Am I an old crabbity crab? Do I hate America, Mom and Apple Pie? Do I kick children and puppies and put eyedrops in the Communion wine? Of course not!* But I want to know what YOU think.
This week Plumcake wants to know:
Do you think wearing red, white and blue on the Fourth of July is a fun way to get in the spirit or is it just cheesy and painfully literal? And for those of you who really want to get into the meaty stuff…Is wearing an American flag disrespectful?
*My lawyer told me to say that.
