Love yourself unconditionally, just as you love those closest to you despite their faults.
-Les Brown



Peter Harskamp, 1951 in The Hague, Holland

I do not understand these posts, honestly. Fat and happy? What about healthy and happy? I don't know....

Quoting Smartass *TNTC*:" I do not understand these posts, honestly. Fat and happy? What about healthy and happy? I don't know...."

Why not fat and happy? Is there something about fat that excludes happiness from the equation?

LOVE this! It makes so much sense. I mean, I wouldn't stop loving my daughter no matter what, so why should I extend less to myself?

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" Why not fat and happy? Is there something about fat that excludes happiness from the equation?"

No.... but why not promote healthiness and motivation to become healthy rather than justifying or glamorizing obesity?

Not trying to be a bitch, generally curious.

Quoting she nan igans:" LOVE this! It makes so much sense. I mean, I wouldn't stop loving my daughter no matter what, so why should I extend less to myself?"

Exactly!  

Quoting Smartass *TNTC*:" No.... but why not promote healthiness and motivation to become healthy rather than justifying or glamorizing obesity? Not trying to be a bitch, generally curious."

Because that supposition follows the theory that fat always equals unhealthy and thinness always equals healthy.

I'm all for health and talk about it in other threads but this is specifically for the promotion of self-acceptance... The acceptance of self without qualifiers. True self-acceptance is a glorious foundation on which happy and fruitful lives are cultivated.

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" Because that supposition follows the theory that fat always equals unhealthy and thinness always equals ... [snip!] ... of self without qualifiers. True self-acceptance is a glorious foundation on which happy and fruitful lives are cultivated."

I agree that skinny does not equal healthy, always.
But I also disagree that fat is ever healthy.

I still do not understand. But that's fine.

Quoting Smartass *TNTC*:" I agree that skinny does not equal healthy, always. But I also disagree that fat is ever healthy. I still do not understand. But that's fine."

Studies have shown that there are metabolically fit obese people who have adequate amounts of physically activity.

Basically, fat people are told that they should hate themselves and rage against their bodies in order to fix who they are. Fat people are berated with fat stigma and often feel that they deserve to be maligned. This stigma often creates negative health outcomes, because the stigma is internalized and self-hatred is culminated.
Self-Acceptance is a concept that is initiated in many therapeutic settings in order to provide a platform for change to occur. If someone loves and accepts themselves, they are then free to change what they don't like about themselves and keep what they do like. Why would someone take care of something they hate?

Fat and Happy is a promotion of mental health, first and foremost.

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" Studies have shown that there are metabolically fit obese people who have adequate amounts of physically ... [snip!] ... like. Why would someone take care of something they hate? Fat and Happy is a promotion of mental health, first and foremost."

When I was morbidly obese I would always stick with exactly what you are saying "I'm not unhealthy because I'm fat."
"I can be fat and happy"
"I am big and beautiful"

And I honestly though I loved myself. But I didn't. Nothing is as wonderful as enjoying your body, feeling energetic and actually BEING healthy.

I think this quote explains it well:

“If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation.”
― Jiddu Krishnamurti

Quoting Smartass *TNTC*:" When I was morbidly obese I would always stick with exactly what you are saying "I'm not unhealthy ... [snip!] ... I loved myself. But I didn't. Nothing is as wonderful as enjoying your body, feeling energetic and actually BEING healthy."

So, in your experience, when did you start loving yourself?

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" So, in your experience, when did you start loving yourself?"

When I quit living behind some brick wall I put in front of myself to convince me that being fat was healthy, and okay, and that I could be happy that way.

When I realized that I had endless amounts of energy, I only put things in my body that nourished me, and when I actually started being healthy. Because really... you don't know how your body feels at a normal weight, and with good nutrients, until you actually experience it.

Quoting Smartass *TNTC*:" When I quit living behind some brick wall I put in front of myself to convince me that being fat was ... [snip!] ... really... you don't know how your body feels at a normal weight, and with good nutrients, until you actually experience it."

So do you think that love for yourself occurred before the change or after the change?

I'm just curious.

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" So do you think that love for yourself occurred before the change or after the change? I'm just curious."

I would have fought anyone to the death that I loved myself fat.
But I didn't.
And I didn't know that until I lost the weight.
So HONESTLY not until I was ACTUALLY healthy.
But I had convinced myself that I loved myself back then too.