Acting Like a Kid Again

Friday, August 27, 2010


My newfound FAME, in the Pasadena Star News led to an opportunity to teach at a kids health camp in Duarte last week.  I led a 45-minute exercise class with about 25 young kids in it.  Was it ever a blast!  The kids were excited and enthusiastic about trying something new.  We did "dance around the world" with songs from Africa, Spain, Ireland, India, France and China.  We didn't talk much about exercise and we certainly didn't talk about thinning our thighs.  Some of the kids were genuinely surprised when I used the word "fat".  There were a few snickers and giggles, but mostly the kids just got down to the business of having a really good time.



And that's the point, right?

One of the problems with adult exercise is that so often, we lose track of what exercise's primary objective SHOULD be, which is having fun.  The minute exercise becomes about something else--fitting into a bathing suit, reducing numbers on a scale, toning your upper arms, the fun just leaks away.  And once the thrill is gone, it becomes a chore.  And we all know how we all feel about adding one more chore, right?

That's why it was so awesome dancing with these kids.  They were doing it just for the joy of it.  Nobody told them it was supposed to be hard work for them--so it wasn't.  So my dear chicklettes, that's my wish for you.  Take your inner child outside and play.  Swing on some swings.  Turn around in a circle until you get dizzy and fall down.  Turn on some fun music and boogie!  Above all, have fun.

Love,
The Fat Chick

Being Seen

Wednesday, August 18, 2010


Well, to say that it's been a while since I've posted is, um, an understatement.  But I've got an excuse!  I'm busy out there in the world being SEEN.  This might not seem like a big deal.  After all, my web site has like 20 pictures of me on it.  And my DVD is called The Fat Chick Works Out! for heaven's sake.  So it would seem that I am out there in the world.  And the answer is, well, kind of.  I've been out there in cyberspace.  I've been out there in spirit.  But I've kind of been hanging out, you know.  Not really putting it out there.  Hoping people would just find me and shower me with love.

But the time has come for me to take a more active role in taking my message out to the world.  And I've taken a few baby steps forward.  The picture above is from the NAAFA convention in San Francisco a few weeks ago.  There I am at a vendor table selling my DVDs.  I'm finally saying, "hey, I'm over here.  Come talk to me."  Believe it or not, even after all these years of working in size acceptance, fitness and health, it was still scary.  What if people don't like me?  What if they disapprove?  But I got to meet so many AWESOME people.  And I got to listen to so many inspiring stories of people reclaiming fitness for themselves.  It was so exciting.  And it was enough to get this girl right up off her big butt!

I have other exciting news to share, but I think I'll string it out over a few more posts--but only a few.  Because now that I've experienced the exhilaration of being OUT THERE in the world, I don't think I'll give it up for a while.  And neither should you!  Take your light out from under that bushel basket.  Wave it around and do an interpretive dance.  Film the whole thing and post it on YouTube!  Because by engaging in your own private act of courage and sharing, you help other people to do the same.

Oh, there you are.  Welcome back.

Love,
The Fat Chick