Let's Talk About Fat

"Let's Talk About Fat" Part 1 (originally posted September 9th, 2013)

During my inpatient treatment at the Center For Change, if anybody said something along the lines of "I feel fat," It was always followed by other patients, care techs, or therapists reminding the person that "fat is not a feeling." It would force us to stop and think about what was actually going on with our emotions, instead of taking those emotions out on our bodies. That's really what is happening in most people with eating disorders or body image problems. Instead of coping with difficult emotions such as: sadness, loneliness, fear, anger, etc; a person attacks their own body. There becomes a false belief that if they could just make their body perfect enough, then the bad feelings would go away. It has been so eye opening for me to come to the understanding that 'feeling fat' actually has nothing to do with my body, but with my emotions. There have been many times in my recovery, when I wake up in the morning feeling good about my body and am totally fine with what I see in the mirror, but then something might happen. Maybe I have something very stressful come up in the day, or maybe I get my feelings hurt by someone, or maybe I just start feeling lonely. No matter what it is, the same thing will always happen. My pants will instantly feel tighter. I will look in the mirror and see flaws that I didn't see just hours earlier. I will find myself believing that I have gained 15 or 20 pounds within less than a day's time and I will literally see a heavier person in the mirror. After 12 years of recovery, I have become very aware of these distorted thoughts. The distortions still happen on a pretty regular basis in my life, but they no longer have so much power over me. Instead of letting myself give into and believe the distortions, I am able to reflect upon what is really going on with me that day. From that point, I can choose to cope with my emotions in a healthy and effective way. Now I ask you, my readers, to think about this concept when you find yourself  'feeling fat' or 'feeling ugly.' I encourage you to tell yourself that 'fat and ugly are not feelings.' Start paying attention when you have these 'feelings' and ask yourself, "what am I really feeling?"

So if fat is NOT a feeling, what is it?

I want to take a minute and talk about the word, 'fat,' as it is used in modern day, American culture. It is a word that is feared and carries many negative connotations with it. Fat actually has three different uses in the English language. I want to talk about all 3:

1. Fat is used to describe a nutrient found in many of the foods we eat. The diet industry has propagated a deep fear of this essential nutrient. With all the fat-free foods and diets on the market today, many people have come to believe that all fat is bad. This is not true! There are so many GOOD fats that our body needs. Did you know that when it was discovered  that our body actually needed fat, it was called Vitamin F? Fat, as it is called now, is essential for the absorption of fat soluble nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Certain fats, like omega-3, also help our brain function better (Resch, Tribole 2012). Would we be so afraid to eat foods with fat in them, especially quality fats, if we started seeing fat as a nutrient instead of something so horrible?  
2. Fat is used to describe adipose tissue in our bodies. We NEED adipose tissue, or fat, in our bodies. Not only does fat store energy in the body, but it serves as a cushion and protection to our internal organs (Science Daily 2013). Another major purpose for adipose tissue is its insulation properties. It provides our bodies with protection from both the heat and the cold (Science Daily 2013). Without fat on our bodies, we would be unable to regulate our body temperature. If you started viewing FAT as something that protects you & helps you, would that change your outlook on the fat in your own body? Could you actually find yourself being grateful for that fat?
3. Fat is used, in modern day culture, as an adjective. This word has become a word with many negative connotations in our society. It is no longer just used to describe someone; instead it is used to label and demean others or ourselves. It seems to be perfectly socially acceptable to poke fun at someone that is of a bigger body size. People with bigger body sizes have judgements being made about them on a regular basis. It is often just assumed that they are just lazy, gluttonous, unhealthy, and unable to practice self-control. These misconceptions are unfair, and lead to bullying and pain and do not encourage anyone to take care of their bodies or see their bodies as a gift. It often leads people down the other road. Why would you want to take care of something you hate? It is also a contributing factor to eating disorders, and puts fear in our children. This is part of the 'why' behind some of the statistics I mentioned in previous posts. 
   
   
   
   
   If we could see 'fat' for what it really is and not what the media has taught us about it, could we stop the fear and negative connotations surrounding this simple word? Could we nurture a more healthy relationship with our own bodies that is not dependent on how much fat we have or don't have? Could we be able to focus more on health & self care, instead of appearance? Could we re-learn that our value as a human being and a child of a loving God does not change with a number on a scale? Could we discover that our worth is not found in numbers? 

Sources

Resch, E. & Tribole, E. 2012. Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. St. Martin's Press: New York, NY. 

Science Daily. 2013. Adipose Tissue. Retrieved on September 9, 2013 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/adipose_tissue.htm