Dear Fat People – Don’t Feel Guilty About Getting Vaccinated

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been stories all over the media about higher weight people being at higher risk for COVID-related complications. Now vaccine rollout plans are being created and in many places in the U.S., including New York and California, higher weight people are being prioritized along with other high-risk groups for vaccination.

Of course there’s an outcry amongst fatphobes, but setting aside their predictable, bigotry-based whining, this is causing a lot of mixed feelings amongst fat people themselves.

The bottom line is that if you are fat and want the vaccine, you should not feel even a tiny bit guilty for getting it as soon as you are eligible. While the research is absolutely not clear about whether or not fat bodies themselves create higher risk, we know for sure that Weight stigma in medical care puts us at higher risk, and higher risk should mean higher priority for vaccination.

For a more complete explanation, you can click here to read my full piece about this!

UPCOMING ONLINE WORKSHOP:

The Role of Size Acceptance in Eating Disorders Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

My March workshop is about the important of Size Acceptance, including Fat Acceptance specifically, in eating disorders prevention, treatment, and recovery. We’ll  discuss how using a framework of Size Acceptance and Health at Every Size prevents eating disorders and provides practical, realistic options to help those dealing with disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as anyone affected by the damaging cultural messages we get about food, movement, and our bodies, to repair the damage these messages have done, and create strategies that support dealing with them moving forward, including through recovery journeys and beyond.

Plus an unlimited Q&A (I stay until all the questions are answered!) so you are guaranteed to get the information you came for!

Details and Registration: https://danceswithfat.org/monthly-online-workshops/
*This workshop is free for DancesWithFat members – login info is on the member page
Become a member here!
A recording is provided in case you can’t make it live on March 24, 5:30pm Pacific (or if you want to listen again!)

Like This Blog? If you appreciate the work that I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time tip or by becoming a member. (Members get special deals on fat-positive stuff, a monthly e-mail keeping them up to date on the work their membership supports, and the ability to ask me questions that I answer in a members-only monthly Q&A Video!)

Here’s more stuff you might like:

Wellness for All Bodies Program:A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective.  This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!

Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Non-members Click here for all the details and to register!
Body Love Obstacle Course

This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don’t happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn’t going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way – obstacles that aren’t our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00 Click here to register
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)

Book Me!  I’d love to speak to your organization (and I can do it remotely!) You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!

via Dances With Fat https://ift.tt/3smgi82

THIS FAT OLD LADY’S FAT FRIDAY – IS FAT AND FIT POSSIBLE

This fat old lady’s thoughts on the recent kerfuffle in the press due to a recent study.

THIS FAT OLD LADY’S FAT FRIDAY – IS FAT AND FIT POSSIBLE?

via Fatties United! https://ift.tt/3ulwIz6

Navigating Fatphobia in Healthcare

I recently had the honor (and fun!) of being a guest on the What The Hell Do I Eat podcast. We talked about how to navigate a healthcare system that is largely based on weight stigma and where fatphobia among practitioners is rampant.

You can listen to the episode (and other great guests as well) here!

For printable cards that you can use to help guide dialog with your healthcare practitioners, check out this post.

UPCOMING ONLINE WORKSHOP:

The Role of Size Acceptance in Eating Disorders Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

My March workshop is about the important of Size Acceptance, including Fat Acceptance specifically, in eating disorders prevention, treatment, and recovery. We’ll  discuss how using a framework of Size Acceptance and Health at Every Size prevents eating disorders and provides practical, realistic options to help those dealing with disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as anyone affected by the damaging cultural messages we get about food, movement, and our bodies, to repair the damage these messages have done, and create strategies that support dealing with them moving forward, including through recovery journeys and beyond.

Plus an unlimited Q&A (I stay until all the questions are answered!) so you are guaranteed to get the information you came for!

Details and Registration: https://danceswithfat.org/monthly-online-workshops/
*This workshop is free for DancesWithFat members – login info is on the member page
Become a member here!
A recording is provided in case you can’t make it live on March 24, 5:30pm Pacific (or if you want to listen again!)

Like This Blog? If you appreciate the work that I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time tip or by becoming a member. (Members get special deals on fat-positive stuff, a monthly e-mail keeping them up to date on the work their membership supports, and the ability to ask me questions that I answer in a members-only monthly Q&A Video!)

Here’s more stuff you might like:

Wellness for All Bodies Program:A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective.  This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!

Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Non-members Click here for all the details and to register!
Body Love Obstacle Course

This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don’t happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn’t going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way – obstacles that aren’t our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00 Click here to register
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)

Book Me!  I’d love to speak to your organization (and I can do it remotely!) You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!

via Dances With Fat https://ift.tt/3doajLL

Cold Cold Cold

It’s cold for the Seattle area, which is to say, below freezing for days at a time. Fortunately we don’t have to go out much – so far there’s been a few forays to the freezer in the detached garage, but that’s it.  We have power and hot water.

And yet I’m dressing differently. It’s colder around the edges inside, and also drier.

To cope with the drier air (from more forced-air heating than usual) I am moisturizing areas I normally don’t bother much with and switching to the heavier cream moisturizer that is mostly is for my feet and hands.  Basically if it itches or feels dry, it’s getting moisturized before I dress.  The long-handled lotion applicator is still my friend.

To cope with the cold, I’m wearing knee-length bike shorts above my knee-high compression stockings.  (Together it’s like leggings, and avoids the difficult-to-adjust-stockings-if-leggings-are-over-them problem.)  Then sweatpants, knit top, and hoodie or cardigan. I have sweaters that I could wear instead of the cardigan, but something easy to remove when I go to a warmer room or start on the treadmill is handy.

Hubs, meanwhile, has made two concessions to the cold: One, he’s wearing a long-sleeve shirts instead of short sleeves with his shorts.  Two, if he feels cold – such as in our sunroom – he adds his fleece robe over it all.

What’s your strategy?

Catsuits from Love Your Peaches can also be warm under clothing

via Living ~400lbs https://ift.tt/2NbPCIa

And Now She’s Gone

Just want to drop a recommendation for the book And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall. It’s a gripping thriller that made me laugh as I tried to solve the mystery within. Grayson, our protagonist, is trying to move from writing reports for investigators to solving her first case. It starts as a simple missing person case. Over time we realize that both Grayson and the woman she’s trying to find have reinvented themselves – but for very different reasons. The conclusion felt satisfying in Grayson’s success and hope of her future. Content warnings: domestic abuse, including some body shaming.

via Living ~400lbs https://ift.tt/2Z5YwcA

On my 2020 fat academic year in review

Welcome to my 2020 fat academic year in review. Presenting an academic year in review is useful in reflecting on how I did in the past year in meeting my goals, identifying areas of growth going forward, and being honest about mistakes made and my failures. As a middle career academic, this is an important yearly activity for me (you can 2018 and 2019 here). Due to CV19, it was a different kind of year. After Feb, there was no more travel, even within New Zealand. Events were cancelled, postponed, or moved online.

Two things stand out to me about this year: first up, I was pleased to be invited to examine two PhDs and one Masters. This is one of the best thing about becoming established in your field as an academic, the opportunity to work with emerging scholars. I have not had many chances to formally supervise Fat Studies scholarship, which is a downside of where I am located. But being able to come on board and evaluate work that these emerging Fat Studies has done was so exciting; I hope there is much more of this in my future!

Secondly, I am very proud of FSNZ20. Before the sickness came, FSNZ20 was supposed to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, in the middle of the year. We had to move it entirely online thanks to COVID, but the end result was glorious. We had over 400 participants from around the world, and still managed to facilitate engagement and networking in the cyber arena. I’m already planning for the next fully online FSNZ in 2022; watch this space!

Journal articles

Pausé, C. J. (2020).Ray of Light: Standpoint theory, Fat Studies, and a new fat ethics. Fat Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight & Society, 9(2), 175-187.   

Book chapters

Pausé, C. J. (2020). Like it or not: A dose of fat activism for the medical community. In J. Andrew & M. Friedman (Eds.), Body stories: In and out and with and through fat (pp. 177-187). Bradford, ON: Demeter Press.

Funding

Zip. Zip. Zero. Surprisingly, no one is interested in funding fat positive scholarship.

Conference

Logo of FSNZ20

FSNZ20 took place online in June with over 400 participants from over 24 countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Poland, Iceland.

Conference presentations

Zooming

Pausé, C. J. (2020, 8 July). Fattening scholarship. Closing paper presented at Fat Studies: Past, Present, Futures, Online [CV19].

PhD Examinations

Simpson, A. (2020). A fat chance in health. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Kotow, C. (2020). Big, beautiful affect: Exploring the emotional environment of BBW social events and its relationship to fat women’s embodiment. Unpublished PhD Thesis, York University, Canada.

Masters Examinations

Jolie, J. (2020). Body Positivity as Public Pedagogy? The Case of the #effyourbeautystandards Movement on Instagram. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Lakehead University, Canada.

Journal reviews

Fat Studies

Humanity and Society

Health

Invited seminars

A screenshot of @thisismeagankerr Instagram story about Camp Boom

Pausé, C. J. (2020, 8 November). In fat solidarity. Keynote [Camp Boom/Fat Camp], House of Boom, Silverstream, New Zealand.

Invited panel

Panel speakers and hosts of #FATFEB

Pausé, C. J. (2020, 15 February). #FATFEB Fat Babe Pool Party Panel. Fat Babe Pool Party [50]. Vunilagi Vou.

Invited lectures (Fat Studies)

Pausé, C. J. (2020, 12 May). Fat politics, nutrition, and you. 214.131 Introduction to Food and Nutrition [30]. Massey University.

Podcasts

Logo of Fat Girl Book Club; a fat fairy sitting on a pile of books

Radke, J. (2020, 26 November). Fat Activism by Charlotte Cooper with Cat Pausé [Audio podcast]. https://fatgirlbookclub.simplecast.com/episodes/fat-activism-by-charlotte-cooper-with-cat-pause Produced by Fat Girl Book Club.

King, H. (2020, 27 September). Fat isn’t a four-letter word. [Audio podcast]. https://www.planetaudio.org.nz/archive/the-c-word/fat-isnt-a-four-letter-word/668759 Produced by Planet FM104.6

Media

An image from the Barnett story of me standing over the radio console

Barnett, A. (2020, 3 Nov). When is the right time to use the word ‘fat’? Stuff [Online]. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/300147403/when-is-the-right-time-to-use-the-word-fat

Du Plessis-Allan, H. (2020, 12 Oct). Health researcher calls Judith Collins’ obesity comments “heartless”. NewstalkZB [Online]. https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dr-cat-pause-judith-collins-obesity-comments-heartless/

1News. (2020, 13 Oct). Judith Collins says obesity is ‘generally’ a weakness, urges personal responsibility over blaming the ‘system’. 1News [Online]. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/judith-collins-says-obesity-generally-weakness-urges-personal-responsibility-over-blaming-system

Barnett, A. (2020, 26 Aug). The strawberry dress saga: Tess Holliday calls out fashion for what it is – fatphobic. Stuff [Online]. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/122566689/the-strawberry-dress-saga-tess-holliday-calls-out-fashion-for-what-it-is–fatphobic

A screenshot of the Heritage article on The Spinoff

Heritage, E. (2020, 26 April). Fat activism in Aotearoa is having a moment. The Spinoff [Online]. https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/26-04-2020/fat-activism-in-aotearoa-is-having-a-moment/

Sommer, A. (2020, 17 Feb). How to stop being afraid of the word ‘fat’. ReNews [Online]. Retrieved from https://www.renews.co.nz/how-to-stop-being-afraid-of-the-word-fat/

via Friend of Marilyn https://ift.tt/3p6YqvD

THIS FAT OLD LADY’S FAT FRIDAY – NEW KNEE NEWS FOR FATTIES

This Fat Old Lady talks about a new study about knee replacement for fatties –

THIS FAT OLD LADY’S FAT FRIDAY – NEW KNEE NEWS FOR FATTIES

via Fatties United! https://ift.tt/3cLsqe8

Two Truths And A Lie With Larger Living

I had so much fun in my recent interview with Dot from the Larger Living podcast! We covered a lot of ground around fat activism, fat athletes, medical weight stigma, and being a funny fat girl as part of Fatch Comedy and more, and we had a blast doing it. Check out my interview and others including Isabel Foxen Duke and Elyse Resch at the links below!

You can check it out:

Online

On iTunes

On Spotify

UPCOMING ONLINE WORKSHOP:
The Truth About Weight And Health

There are a lot of beliefs, myths, and misconceptions that float around when it comes to the relationship between weight and health. In this workshop we’ll discuss them from science and social justice perspectives.

Details and Registration: https://danceswithfat.org/monthly-online-workshops/
*This workshop is free for DancesWithFat members – login info is on the member page
Become a member here!
A recording is provided in case you can’t make it live on February 17, 5:30pm Pacific (or if you want to listen again!)

Topics will include:

• What the research says about weight and health
• Why do so many people, including doctors, say that weight loss will make you healthier? (And why are they wrong?) 
• Common issues with the research around weight and health, and how to spot them
• How to discuss the research with skeptics
• Answers to the questions
  • But what about fat people’s effect on my tax dollars?
  • Can you be fat and healthy?
  • Shouldn’t we treat fat people like we treat smokers?
  • Does being fat cause health issues?

Plus an unlimited Q&A (I stay until all the questions are answered!) so you are guaranteed to get the information you came for!

Like This Blog? If you appreciate the work that I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time tip or by becoming a member. (Members get special deals on fat-positive stuff, a monthly e-mail keeping them up to date on the work their membership supports, and the ability to ask me questions that I answer in a members-only monthly Q&A Video!)

Here’s more stuff you might like:

Wellness for All Bodies Program:A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective.  This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!

Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Non-members Click here for all the details and to register!
Body Love Obstacle Course

This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don’t happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn’t going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way – obstacles that aren’t our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00 Click here to register
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)

Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)

Book Me!  I’d love to speak to your organization (and I can do it remotely!) You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!

via Dances With Fat https://ift.tt/2N2tJL6

Hi there, February

January both took forever and was a blur. Insurrection. Impeachment. Inauguration.

On the personal side, I had used all 18 months of COBRA by the end of December 2020, so I started new insurance in January. Thanks to Washington state expanding Medicaid via the ACA and me earning … basically a pittance in interest and dividends … we are now on free insurance. Much better than the $1440 we paid per month for COBRA, but new insurance means notifying doctors.

Per the new insurance website, I expected that my endocrinologist wouldn’t take my insurance and that I would need a new one. I did NOT expect my asthma specialist’s office would not even make an appointment with me, since my asthma doc was listed as “covered” by the state. In the meantime I made an appointment with the lung doc (pulmonologist) who treated my pulmonary embolism, and she’s agreed to manage the breathing meds. This is good! Breathing is important!

I’ve also had to work through new insurance with pharmacies. My local pharmacy works with both the old and new insurers, so that’s cool. The one item I get through a specialty pharmacy? Where the specialty pharmacy is owned by the prescription insurance company? Yeah, no. Fortunately I was able to call the (old) specialty pharmacy and get them to forward the script to the new specialty pharmacy. There will probably be questions and such from the new specialty pharmacy, but that’s for another day.

Anyway. Hello there February. Hopefully things will work out.

via Living ~400lbs https://ift.tt/3jgXi7t