Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash I’m going to just go ahead and say the obvious…..everyone is getting skinny again. My timeline is literally shrinking in front of my eyes. And while the TikTok algorithm is out of my control, my Instagram feed are folks that I have consciously followed over the years. Many of the accounts I was following are body positive folks, fat liberation activists, or full bodied fashion girlies. I followed many of these folks because of the work they were doing. Because they were proudly displaying their bodies and embracing their curves, belly rolls, and fupas. Because I like seeing body diversity in my feed. Because bodies come in all different shapes and sizes.
Chrissy you are such a breath of fresh air! I’m just finishing your book, which is phenomenal. Thank you for being so raw and honest.
I recently learned that my dad suggested Ozempic for my sister. I don’t even know how to describe what this brings up. This is purely an aesthetic optimization and not even masquerading as a health issue. She is wary enough not to pursue Ozempic (and couldn’t afford it anyway!) but she’s launched another diet.
This whole trend just moves the arbitrary standard further away from our natural state and it makes me sad and angry.
Keep speaking the truth Chrissy!! We need you more than ever.
Thank you so so much for reading The Body Liberation Project and I'm so so happy to hear you enjoyed it. It's so hard when the people around us feel free to give their unsolicited advice on our bodies and it can elicit the desire to diet (once again) even when we may be trying to work towards a feeling of acceptance with our bodies. I truly appreciate the kind words and sometimes feel like in the age of "thin is in again" my voice is just yelling into the void. But I do think we all need this message more than ever so going to keep sharing and hoping it reaches the people it needs to reach.
Thank you for writing this. As an ED survivor - the past two years have been harder than the first 10. The pressure, even the expectation, from everyone that your body is now supposed to shrink feels everywhere. To know I’m not alone is helpful.
Thank you for this. I definitely have noticed the rise in shrinking bodies on my timeline. It has been triggering for sure as I have struggled throughout my life with disordered eating. It's nice to know I am not alone.
Sis you are absolutely not alone. As I say in the book, the work of body liberation is ongoing and we will find ourselves challenged as the systems continue to push against us.
May 23·edited May 23Liked by The Liberation Collective
I bought your book in response to your conversation with Virginia Sole-Smith. And because I have often felt that disordered eating was rearing its head, And because heart failure requires a super low sodium diet on top of a "heart healthy diet" and while I could meet all of the challenges that have come before regarding my health, sacrificing French sauces and bread with whipped butter is beyond what I can do. I've been tripped up all day following discussion with my cardiac specialist dietician. Food is one of my biggest joys. I started young. Dad was a chef. I've eaten my way through numerous countries in pursuit of deliciousness. While I know your book will not address heart-food struggles, I feel the need to be in solidarity with someone about loving food while being told its evil. So, thank you. Turning off the computer now and taking a deep dive into "The Body Liberation Project."
Hi Anita! Thank you for being here and thank you picking up my book. Food is one of the joys of life and I certainly understand how it's hard to navigate dealing with a heart heathy diet and the fatphobic medical industry with your desire to always enjoy what you're eating. I'm sure you're working with a fabulous team but also, if you're interested, I can point to towards some anti-diet dieticians. No pressure of course! It's a lot to navigate and diet culture doesn't make any of it easier. I hope you enjoy reading my book and find some solace through my words. Sending you lots of love!
Thank you for your offer. I lucked up with a dietician who focuses her practice on heart disease patients rather than weight. Unfortunately disordered eating isn't among her specialties, but what's wonderful is that she repudiates the thin model as a desired outcome. It's not her focus to make me a skinny sick person. Also lucky that neither my primary care physician nor three cardiologists subscribe to the notion that a random BMI number will contribute to my overall heart health. None of them have scales in their office. How refreshing is that? They're certainly a new crop of doctor, all people of color, first generation American, and all under age 35. It might be too soon to declare a sweeping progressive way of practicing medicine, but there's hope.
Thank you for the sanity of your words. I’m an Ed survivor and just treading water these days. I truly believe that all bodies should be safe!!!! It is helpful to be guided by a larger principle and share in this community. Love to all of you!
Absolutely agree. However I'm not sure Ozempic is the miracle it's being presented as. I'm seeing more and more articles of people coming off it for a variety of reasons (hair loss, malnutrition, simply being miserable, feeling ill on it all the time) none of which they think are worth being thin for. Which is great news. We've come along way if someone is thin but miserable and they think ‘this isn't worth it.’
Chrissy you are such a breath of fresh air! I’m just finishing your book, which is phenomenal. Thank you for being so raw and honest.
I recently learned that my dad suggested Ozempic for my sister. I don’t even know how to describe what this brings up. This is purely an aesthetic optimization and not even masquerading as a health issue. She is wary enough not to pursue Ozempic (and couldn’t afford it anyway!) but she’s launched another diet.
This whole trend just moves the arbitrary standard further away from our natural state and it makes me sad and angry.
Keep speaking the truth Chrissy!! We need you more than ever.
Thank you so so much for reading The Body Liberation Project and I'm so so happy to hear you enjoyed it. It's so hard when the people around us feel free to give their unsolicited advice on our bodies and it can elicit the desire to diet (once again) even when we may be trying to work towards a feeling of acceptance with our bodies. I truly appreciate the kind words and sometimes feel like in the age of "thin is in again" my voice is just yelling into the void. But I do think we all need this message more than ever so going to keep sharing and hoping it reaches the people it needs to reach.
Thank you for writing this. As an ED survivor - the past two years have been harder than the first 10. The pressure, even the expectation, from everyone that your body is now supposed to shrink feels everywhere. To know I’m not alone is helpful.
You're absolutely not alone, and it absolutely feels more intense over the past 2 years. Sending you lot of love!
Thank you for this. I definitely have noticed the rise in shrinking bodies on my timeline. It has been triggering for sure as I have struggled throughout my life with disordered eating. It's nice to know I am not alone.
Sis you are absolutely not alone. As I say in the book, the work of body liberation is ongoing and we will find ourselves challenged as the systems continue to push against us.
I bought your book in response to your conversation with Virginia Sole-Smith. And because I have often felt that disordered eating was rearing its head, And because heart failure requires a super low sodium diet on top of a "heart healthy diet" and while I could meet all of the challenges that have come before regarding my health, sacrificing French sauces and bread with whipped butter is beyond what I can do. I've been tripped up all day following discussion with my cardiac specialist dietician. Food is one of my biggest joys. I started young. Dad was a chef. I've eaten my way through numerous countries in pursuit of deliciousness. While I know your book will not address heart-food struggles, I feel the need to be in solidarity with someone about loving food while being told its evil. So, thank you. Turning off the computer now and taking a deep dive into "The Body Liberation Project."
Hi Anita! Thank you for being here and thank you picking up my book. Food is one of the joys of life and I certainly understand how it's hard to navigate dealing with a heart heathy diet and the fatphobic medical industry with your desire to always enjoy what you're eating. I'm sure you're working with a fabulous team but also, if you're interested, I can point to towards some anti-diet dieticians. No pressure of course! It's a lot to navigate and diet culture doesn't make any of it easier. I hope you enjoy reading my book and find some solace through my words. Sending you lots of love!
Thank you for your offer. I lucked up with a dietician who focuses her practice on heart disease patients rather than weight. Unfortunately disordered eating isn't among her specialties, but what's wonderful is that she repudiates the thin model as a desired outcome. It's not her focus to make me a skinny sick person. Also lucky that neither my primary care physician nor three cardiologists subscribe to the notion that a random BMI number will contribute to my overall heart health. None of them have scales in their office. How refreshing is that? They're certainly a new crop of doctor, all people of color, first generation American, and all under age 35. It might be too soon to declare a sweeping progressive way of practicing medicine, but there's hope.
Thank you for the sanity of your words. I’m an Ed survivor and just treading water these days. I truly believe that all bodies should be safe!!!! It is helpful to be guided by a larger principle and share in this community. Love to all of you!
Thank you for sharing! It's truly wild times and we need community more than ever.
Absolutely agree. However I'm not sure Ozempic is the miracle it's being presented as. I'm seeing more and more articles of people coming off it for a variety of reasons (hair loss, malnutrition, simply being miserable, feeling ill on it all the time) none of which they think are worth being thin for. Which is great news. We've come along way if someone is thin but miserable and they think ‘this isn't worth it.’
Yes, it will be interesting to see how the long term effects play out. Thin at whatever the cost, simply isn't worth it.