I've had it with Kirstie Alley

I've had with Kirstie. First, she wants to convince me that life will only be good if I am thin, and now she wants to drag sweet, innocent Valerie Bertinelli down with her into the chasm of self-hatred. Grrrr.

Like it's not bad enough to be bombarded on a daily basis with marketing images telling me that my luscious self isn't as beautiful as my husband tells me that I am. Harumpf, I say and Codswallop (whatever that means). A fashion industry dominated by men who aren't interested in women, certainly not women with curves, is trying to convince me to fit my body into clothes that are designed for women who look like boys…Preposterous!

Kirstie and Valerie look great to me. They are smart, funny, talented women with wide hips and big smiles. But no, they have to live on shakes for lunch and chemically processed pseudo-food in bags that get boiled for dinner. Ugh. And why would they do this? They suffer in order to be thin. This is not for me. As I have already stated, "I would rather have delicious lunches than execute one hundred crunches."

Health professionals agree that diets don't work. When you reduce your caloric intake your body thinks that you are starving and slows your metabolism in order to store fat more efficiently. Yes, when you diet your body becomes better at storing fat. In addition, you lose both fat and muscle in equal amounts because your body sacrifices muscle in order to provide the energy that is missing due to reduced caloric intake. And then when you gain weight back it is all fat and no muscle.

I have heard some statistics (don't ask me to cite references -- I'm a blogger not a librarian) that suggest if you want to lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off then you should lose 10% of your body weight a year and keep it off for a full year before you attempt losing more weight. So if you weigh 200 lbs. lose 20 lbs. and keep it off for a year. You will weigh 180 so then lose 18 lbs. and keep it off for a year. You will weigh 162 so then lose 16 lbs. and keep it off for a year and you will weigh 146. Most dieters are so desperate to get thin because of their body shame that they are willing to stop eating so they can lose weight rapidly. They then gain back more than they lost, which is unhealthier than being fat, active and happy.

Businesses looking to make a buck have always suggested that there is something wrong with you the way that you are and that you won't be right until you use their product. This is ok with me and it's what marketing is all about. But when companies are shaming women about their body size into starvation diets in order to sell energy pills, diet shakes, and "food" in a box -- ladies we really must take a look at why we continue to buy what they are selling...both literally and figuratively.

All in all I really think that women are turning over their power. We doubt our attractiveness. This we do all on our own and we have no one but ourselves to hold accountable. The diet and "health care" industries have found the perfect way to control women. We are weak and can't think straight when we are hungry.

A life of deprivation is not for me. I won't be trading in a meal for shakes and I won't give up my slow stroll around the lake for a run. I love my strong healthy size 16 body and I'm not worrying my life away.

I Celebrate My Every Curve

I Celebrate My Every Curve

This happened to me the other night
A guy in a bar wanted to fight
He gave me a look as if to say
That seeing me had ruined his day
That he would rather kiss a toad
Or lick the asphalt off the road
Than sit at the bar knee to knee
With a girl as fat as me.

He said that I would look so pretty
If only I were itty bitty
And did I not realize the fact
That even though I am truly stacked
No man would ever really want me
Because fat girls just aren't as sexy
As those other women with no hips
Whose flat bellies make him lick his lips.

I suppose I could have made a scene
Maybe kick his leg and say things mean
But then I thought that instead of spite
I'd consider his personal plight
A man might feel betrayed or hurt
Shocked by his own desire to flirt
With a buxom curvy beauty
Instead of a slender narrow cutie.

Bombarded on a daily basis
With images of smooth young faces
Certain the only shape he'd feel
Has rock hard abs and buns of steel
Although he might long for a bride
With cleavage deep and backside wide
Coping with ridicule and abuse
A single man might get the blues.

Every magazine he's read
Tells him to get me into bed
By finding some sort of common ground
And surely no woman wants to be round
So he thought he'd strike up a chat
About how terrible it is to be fat
And while his pickup line was lame
I refuse to walk the path of shame.

I've got no interest in diet fads
I change the channel on workout ads
I'd rather have delicious lunches
Than execute one hundred crunches
Country walks and chats by the fire
Glasses of wine with friends who inspire
I'll never agree to do without
Being hungry makes me pout.

I told him that he would be surprised
By the softness of my thighs
And yes I jiggle when I wiggle
My body shakes with every giggle
And when I sit around the house
I know you're looking down my blouse
So even though you've got some nerve
I celebrate my every curve.


Corinna Makris
February 5, 2007

Squeeze Me

Dear Reader,

Just as I was getting ready to write a rant about the shrinking size of airline seats, Glen Johnson over at Full Figure Plus posted his own just yesterday. Rather than re-invent the wheel I strongly recommend you read his thought-provoking post.

However, since I am trying to have more opinions (eh-hem) I do have a few things I want to add.

Glen mentions the shrinking size of airline seats on discount carriers. I agree whole-heartedly with him that the discount carriers have smaller seats and I want to add that they are not the only ones squeezing their passengers. I have not written any airline companies to ask them their standard seat pitch, width and depth nor asked them to comment on this issue (I'm a blogger not an investigative reporter) but I have made extensive use of Seat Guru and also, using my own patented method, which I call "TushyMetrics" I can tell you that it isn't only discount carriers that ask me to squeeze my derriere into an unreasonably narrow seat.

Years ago Virgin Airlines was the cool airline. They were known for having a fun flight crew, fun freebies and comfortable seats. The last time I flew Virgin the airline staff was far from fun (they were absolutely snotty and I felt as though my being on the plane was an imposition to their having a quiet flight) and since comfort is now a thing of the past with international economy seats at 17.5", it was no fun for me as a passenger. The computer keyboard I am using to write this is about 18" wide and my legs feel numb just thinking about those narrow seats.

If Richard Branson called me and asked me to please reconsider flying his airline I would first send him a detailed account of how unpleasant my last flight was (two flight attendants actually stood at the front of the cabin loudly complaining that there were too many people on the flight and discussed a detailed plan to ignore us...which they did!) and then I would tell him to widen those seats baby because these hips of mine aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe he's lost a few brain cells spending too much time up in the thin atmosphere riding around in his hot air balloon? Who knows what will happen to the width of the seats when he goes into orbit?

Mr. Branson, I offer Virgin Airlines full and complete use of "TushyMetrics." Just drop me a line and I will gladly provide you with full measurements or even a plaster cast if you prefer, for your use in designing more comfortable, passenger friendly seats. Until then, American Airlines with a seat width of 18.5" is looking really good.