I loathe labels. And, I know that it's not that we HAD to BE any one type of "dieter," or blogger to go to fitbloggin' -- but.
First, it was simply that MM and AU did not apparently "fit" in. I guess many of the ladies were already in touch and knew each other Quite Well. I described it like walking into a high school reunion, except? It was the WRONG school.
It was like MM and AU went to the the School For Fat Girls and many (DISCLAIMER - Not all. We found several bewildered women lost in a sea of very young, very thin, dietician-types. JUST MANY.) seemed like they were still in high school, which means I am feeling my age. O-o
Which I get. Of course. It was FITBLOGGIN. Fit. FAT. Not the same thing. Wait, they can be, but... oh forget it. There were many fat to fit success stories = wicked cool. But, we just didn't make sense. The pair of us, 31 year old former 320 pound women with children, not really finding a place to "fit" (HA HA) in. In fact, totally avoided at times.
We saved one woman who was about to leave the POMtini reception in tears. She'd just arrived and realized that she felt TOTALLY out of place. She's had medical complications due to her rising weight, and just wanted to leave. We convinced her to stay with us. It was understood.
A few select bloggers came and introduced themselves to ME, which was cool, because I did not recognize them in you know, "real life." That was nice, and I poked at a few who I recognized myself.
But, the hairy eyeball? Why? Because I don't look like a legitimate "fit"-blogger? Fine. I get it, but it only made me want to pull out the excess skin from 150 pounds of fat loss.
But, I never talk about it, unless asked."Look, see? I'm a work-in-progress! I have lost 170 lbs! Gained 55 lbs! Lost 40 lbs! Gained 30 lbs! Lost 20 lbs! Gained 20 lbs!" I am one of you! I AM a chronic dieter maintaining a 150 lb weight LOSS."
I assumed that nobody read/reads/knew about my blog.
I cannot imagine why anyone outside of the morbid obesity or WLS community would read it, so I would simply blend and be included as one of the fitbloggers -- you know? I figured that I would just go, meet new folks and be accepted.
But, that could very well be a reason why. "Oh, her? She had The Surgery." HISS. LOL.
Then again, it could be simply that I don't look "fit." Or that I smell bad.
And, I look at Pastaqueen, a former 370 lb woman, who's now 200something, who looks like one of "us." She lost weight via diet -- not surgery -- and struggles IMMENSELY. But, her body, shape... just like me. I wonder what folks think of her. Do they consider her a "weight loss success?" because she's lost weight the "hard way?" but is still obese also?
You do have to wonder sometimes.
But, I do have to mention, that I was the only one in a full conference room who visibly raised their hand when it was asked, "Who here makes a living from their blog?" So, either I am doing something right, or I am a moron for being honest in a room full of peers.
(PS. Sarahlicious, I should have brought you with us, because you ARE a weight loss success. We would have started a rumor mill.)
