HomeHomehttp://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010-07-05T18:51:53ZSquarespaceMarcy's Take on Hugehttp://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/7/5/marcys-take-on-huge.htmlJessica2010-07-05T18:50:03Z2010-07-05T18:50:03ZCheck out the latest episode of "The Marcy Minute" for Marcy's take on the pilot for HUGE:

 

Are y'all gonna watch the second episode tonight? What do you think about how the show is portraying the character Nicky Blonsky plays?

 

]]>HUGE Opinionhttp://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/6/29/huge-opinion.htmlJessica2010-06-29T15:56:40Z2010-06-29T15:56:40Z 

 

Chatted via Facebook with some friends about HUGE during the show. I figured I would recap all of my thoughts here in one place:

Is it odd that I feel like I have some moral obligation to watch and critque "Huge"?!

Fat girl strip tease. Funny.

Watching Huge in HD is funny. All I can focus on right now is all the dust rolling around in their cabins! LOL!

I watched the interview with Hayley Hasselhoff this morning online and it is looking like they are just setting the scene, and hopefully will be more of a study in 'finding yourself'.. I dunno? I wanna be optimistic. 

I can't stand the whole "selling junkfood" angle. I don't sneak candy in my night table drawer... LOL

I think some of the issues that are gonna creep up are gonna include young girls watching this and not being able to keep in mind that this is Hollywood's version of a fat camp, and it's not real. Despite any desire by the creators to 'keep it real' or how much sincerity went into their original pitch of the show, it's gonna be warped. I just hope that there's enough 'realness' injected as a whole so that the 'plus community' doesn't just revolt. lol

Ten minutes left to tie it all up. Wonder how they'll do...

I think that you're right about how the characters are presented. Not all 'fat girls' are angry and grumpy, but of course there has to be the juxtaposition of Will vs Amber. It's like "all of us" out here just know what we would want a show like this to be like, or how characters 'like us' should be portrayed, but in the end, it's still just a silly tv show. I bet a lot of people are going to think that simply because the main characters are plus size that 'we' should be happy. I don't buy that.

Well, I hope the focus turns to body acceptance and living in a healthy way, and not just blatant 'I'm fat; get over it' attitudes. We need this young generation going through adolescents to be able to be happy and content with their body shape and size, but still work on living the best they can and being active and healthy.

Looks like most people who are tweeting about Huge and hash tagging it were feeling postive with the pilot, or at least intrigued enough to want to watch episode 2. Your thoughts, people?

 

 

 

]]>HUGE, Huge?http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/6/28/huge-huge.htmlJessica2010-06-28T15:46:11Z2010-06-28T15:46:11Z
Very curious about this show... Like I just wrote to a friend who posted this: "I'm still skeptical about the show, but I hope it turns out to be positive and isn't just taking advantage of the expanded media coverage of plus size models/celebs!" After seeing this interview, I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about how it will go. 

Regardless of it's true intentions though, there will be lots of talk and gossip I imagine. The "I'm gonna gain weight at weight loss camp" attitude of Nicky Blonsky's character is very interesting, and I know will drum up a lot of chatter. The whole notion of gaining or losing weight out of spite just reinforces facts we know to be true about eating disorders, particularly anorexia. Feeling out of control in your young life, and looking to your body and your eating as the only way to assert any sort of control is common play.

I truly hope this show can break through the setting of a 'fat camp', and get to real issues facing young women (and men) with regards to obesity, body image and self esteem. People in the media are going to take away what they want from this show, depending on the level of gossip their journalistic style dictates.
I am just hoping that there is enough positive coverage about this show and it's story, and it's actors to combat any negative press. Hmm..or is this just me being prejudiced; expecting there to be negative press? I think that it's safe to say that the time of TMZ, US Weekly and all the other flashy celeb gossip mags, there is going to be some bad press. Mainstream media loves to showcase random legs and asses in their summer issues, asking us to "...guess who's celebrity cellulite is this?", so it's doubtful that a show about heavy chicks will not garner the same cynicism and sarcasm. I just hope that I'm wrong!! 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/video/hayley-hasselhoff-stars-hugh-11032233

]]>How Much Do You Want to Weigh?!http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/6/8/how-much-do-you-want-to-weigh.htmlJessica2010-06-08T13:58:02Z2010-06-08T13:58:02Zhttp://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2010/05/meet-the-people-who-want-to-be-as-fat-as-possible.html

I'm a little behind in the times I suppose. This is not something that I want to give a lot of brain power to try to understand fully, but this is a blog/video/commentary on a woman who is working furiously to gain weight to be 1000lb. It is hard to discuss a top like this without injecting a hint of opinion! The long and short of it is that this woman is over 600lb already, has two children, and makes money off of a website where FA's pay $$ to watch her eat and 'move her body'. She is proud of how large her belly is, and believes that there is absolutely no recourse for her behavior, in terms of any weight related health issues she may face. Of course, she already appears to have mobility and breathing issues/difficulties.

I'm not so much worried with the issues this women's blog (not the 'gainer' but blogger Mia Freedman of AU) because there is always going to be arguing when it comes to body image issues and people thinking one way or another about morbid obesity and the views that it's OK to be as fat as you wish or just are. I just wanted to put this phenomenon out there for those of you who have not heard of it. Not sure how I had not heard of it until today! lol

I guess my real issue is that some people want to deflect, and say that Mia Freedman is the bad guy because she didn't moderate more of the rude comments people posted blasting this women who's on her weight gaining quest. Yes, saying mean things to fat people is mean. However, I think we need to look at the issue at hand that is more important:

At what point does body acceptance and fat acceptance become wildly dangerous? And, it's not just dangerous to this woman. She has a teenage son and a young daughter. I've seen that she 'wishes her children live thin lives'. How is that possible when she is clearly modeling an unbelievably extreme lifestyle choice?! Even NAAFA "opposes the practice of feeders..."

Where do you draw the line?

]]>I Have Awesome Friends!!http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/5/18/i-have-awesome-friends.htmlJessica2010-05-18T18:54:54Z2010-05-18T18:54:54ZA HUGE CONGRATS to my friend Magda Cardoso for completing *another* marathon this past Patriot's Day up in Bah-ston!! Magda has worked for PUMA for over 10 years, and teamed up with their Boston store to complete a treadmill marathon during the day of the Boston Marathon!!

She is an amazing woman, and amazing, supportive friend despite us living over 900 miles apart!

Check out this great video that PUMA put together about Madga's day!!!

xoxoJessieO

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgZhFHJnwrc&feature=digest

]]>SKORCH Magazine's January Issue is Up!!http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2010/1/14/skorch-magazines-january-issue-is-up.htmlJessica2010-01-14T21:54:07Z2010-01-14T21:54:07ZCheck out the first SKORCH issue for 2010 with my first big contributions to the fab digital magazine for all things beauty!

Over the months, I am hoping to bring you some great features on hot new make-up trends and brands, as well as a wonderful feature/photo spread on a dear friend and all the fab things she does!

SKORCH is the first plus size magazine to be signed with Zinio, the largest digital publication distributor (um, in the world), AND the mag will able to be purchased on barnesnandnoble.com. HUGE achievements!!

So, go and pay the measly $1 for your monthly fill of fashion, beauty and more!!

]]>Me today. (A look at what is *my life* as the year comes to an end.)http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2009/12/5/me-today-a-look-at-what-is-my-life-as-the-year-comes-to-an-e.htmlJessica2009-12-05T16:43:28Z2009-12-05T16:43:28ZMy brain is trying to fully digest all of the frakking cool things that are happening in my life right now. SKORCH, the new comedy wedding dinner theatre that is starting soon, and all of the great opportunities I have had to stretch my creative muscle via working on photo shoots lately. Being successful doesn't have to mean that I am on a Broadway marquee. That is all I thought when I was younger, hell it was my final quote in our senior yearbook - something about 'look out, someday you'll see my name in lights!'

Being successful today means:
*having children and parents in your class who love and appreciate what you do for them

*having a healthy, loving husband

*having opportunities to do what you love, even if it takes you over ten years to finally have the courage to believe in your talent to pursue them again!

I wrote a few months ago that I was having trouble defining myself. So, here's "me today".

I am Jessica.
I am:
*A kick ass special needs preschool guru

*A freelance hair and make-up artist in the Charleston/Myrtle Beach area

*The singing Italian bridesmaid in the (soon-to-be hotter than August in Myrtle Beach) new comedy wedding dinner theatre "The Godfather's Meshugunner Wedding"

*The newest Beauty Editor for SKORCH Magazine, the #1 plus sized fashion magazine

Truly, the only thing that will top any of these amazing job descriptions will be "Jessica, The Mom". Check back with me in a couple years on that one!

Most people spend so much time dwelling on past failures, or especially at this time of year, worry about what resolutions they will set for the new year. I am not doing either. I am happy with me today. I am even happier about what is in store for me tomorrow. I love my body. I love my husband, family and friends, and I love all the world has in store for Martin and I.

January 1, 2010 is just the day after December 31, 2009. Don't think that you have to completely redefine your life to make up for what did not go right 'this year'. I may not be done with my weight loss journey, but knowing that my goal of being a healthy weight is for the possible future pregnancy we hope for vs. 'just being thinner' helps me get up every morning.

Celebrate yesterday, celebrate today, celebrate tomorrow.

]]>2009 Healthiest/Unhealthiest Stateshttp://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2009/11/22/2009-healthiestunhealthiest-states.htmlJessica2009-11-22T15:35:59Z2009-11-22T15:35:59ZI posted the results of 2008's Healthiest/Unhealthiest states, and this year's results were just posted online.

So, Martin and I moved from the 3rd healthiest state to the 46th. I suppose it was a self fulfilling prophecy that I gained weight over the first several months living here. The lifestyle is just so different, and I just got caught up in the over abundance of restaurants down here.  I went from being calorie conscious and a gym rat, to an unemployed emotional eater in a matter of months. It wasn't good. I would gaze at pictures of "what I looked like last spring" and just dig my hole even deeper.

The good part now,is that over the past few months, I have gotten over myself and have realized that I can not remain in "vacation mode" while living here, or I would soon have been back up to my high weight of 325-350 from five years ago.  I never in my life have seen so many obese children (with corresponding obese parents). Our future child/children will not grow up this way. It is up to us to model a healthy lifestyle and positive body image/acceptance. And, yes, I am right overweight, but it is up to me to be happy with myself TODAY, and work to be a better version of myself every day going forward. I will be a happy, healthy weight when we decide to have a baby. Now is my time take control and help South Carolina move to being a little bit healthier.

New England states top this new set of rankings, while the South still lags.

2009 STATE RANKINGS
1Vermont
2Utah
3Massachusetts
4Hawaii
5New Hampshire
6Minnesota
7Connecticut
8Colorado
9Maine
10Rhode Island
11Washington
12Wisconsin
13Oregon
14Idaho
15Iowa
16Nebraska
17North Dakota
18New Jersey
19Wyoming
20South Dakota
21Maryland
22Virginia
23California
24Kansas
25New York
26Montana
27Arizona
28Pennsylvania
29Illinois
30Michigan
31New Mexico
32Delaware
33Ohio
34Alaska
35Indiana
36Florida
37North Carolina
38Missouri
39Texas
40Arkansas
41Kentucky
42West Virginia
43Georgia
44Tennessee
45Nevada
46South Carolina
47Louisiana
48Alabama
49Oklahoma
50Mississippi

 

]]>Lane Bryant "Double Coupon"http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2009/11/14/lane-bryant-double-coupon.htmlJessica2009-11-15T02:20:46Z2009-11-15T02:20:46ZA sweet double coupon deal for Lane Bryant for all my plus ladies out there! They take 25% off the whole purchase, and then it's a $25 off of $75, $50 off of $150, etc... coupon too! What a freaking steal! It's only good til tomorrow, so hop to it!

http://www.lanebryant.com/content.jsp?mkcl=455678&mkcl=455453&jrl=070004556780063007555&jrl=070004554539838001984&pageName=FriendsAndFamily1&mcid=email&sid=EM111309x203508&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1113&clk=84272

]]>Plus Fashions (A response to a blog post by 'lovenati')http://www.defeat-obesity.com/home/2009/11/14/plus-fashions-a-response-to-a-blog-post-by-lovenati.htmlJessica2009-11-14T13:30:41Z2009-11-14T13:30:41ZI originally posted this as a note on Facebook, but did not realize that I had not posted it here as well!


Plus Fashions
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 11:15pm

This has to be one of the best explanations of what is wrong with plus size fashions today!!:

"How many clothing lines exist for thin girls and THEIR varried body types? Thousands? The sexy club girl that shops at Bebe is NOT shopping at LL Bean, but you don't see Bebe coming out with cordoroy pants and snow boots. The boxy young asian girl with no tits who buys Marc by Marc Jacobs at Bergdorf isn't wearing Catherine Malandrino. Yet every plus line tries to fit the entire plus population. This isn't fashion. This is segregation. This is stereotyping. You're saying all fat girls are just fat, defined by their size. Here is your fat uniform, fat girl, go forth and be judged. Torrid comes the closest to defining their target audience, young, punk, and trendy...and even they could use a more specific fit model."

If this interests you, then check out the rest of this blog, and the rest of "love nati" on Skorch Magazine's blog page!!

http://skorchmagazine.com/lovenati.html
http://lovenati.com/page.php?id=632

Nati is soo accurate, considering there is NO consideration for chest, hip size/body shape. There is this assumption that all plus gals have quite the large rack. This is not always true. Some of us are bottom heavy (cough), and that's OK. But, it sucks to have stuff that fits your hips but is big in the waist. And, my all time gripe, is trying on a shirt that fits like a glove until you get to the hips, and then it's too tight. I once got a sweater at Old Navy, and was shocked at how well a large fit. Bought it, took it home, and then noticed that it was a maternity sweater. Turns out, I needed that extra hip room! No shame in having a hippy figure, damnit! I guess while I'm at this weight, however long it may be, it would be nice to be able to be fashionable and age appropriate, whatever "age appropriate" is for a 30 year old woman!?

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