Chocolate and Beyond

Fat people are just 'wrong'? Well, so says Ruth Fowler

Well, well, well. Just when you thought we could take a breather after the LighterLife debating, along comes Ruth Fowler in The Guardian, blatant with her 'fattist' commentary in her article, 'Flab isn't fab'.

"You don't get fat by accident," Ruth says. "Eating so much requires Olympic-class stamina and athleticism." And in her scathing of what she sees at the British way of 'championing of fat', Ruth blithely ignores the fact that there has been an incredible amount of work done when it comes to looking at the reasons behind obesity, and that rarely do people sit down and say 'Hey guess what? From today onwards I'm going to become FAT!'

What I believe about diets and a LighterLife comments response

There have been a number of comments left on the posts regarding the LighterLife debate, which I was going to make a full response to. However, while I want to thank everyone who offered reasoned and non-aggressive involvement for their input, I have decided to leave things where they rather than give further address to some of the more personal and attacking remarks. I have therefore also closed the option for any other comments to be left.

I wanted to clarify again that the main aim of this site, throughout its existence since 1st September 2006, has been to record my personal journey to a diet-free existence. I know that I'm now a happier, healthier person as a result of this, as well as being able to stay with my goals to 'ditch the diet'.

Writing for diet magazines in my dieting past

Throughout my blog (if you have read it for the past 19 months!), I have made references to the fact that I used to write for diet magazines - hell, I used to DIET! And is only 19 months ago that I decided, after reading Beyond Chocolate, that I knew diets were not the way forward for me anymore (although I did read Diet Breaking: Having It All Without Having To Diet by Mary Evans Young in my mid-twenties).

My past work in the diet media contributes to my ability to write from experience and, being inside the industry to even that extent, it allows me an even better ability to know what I'm talking about.

A quick response to recent comments and guidelines on commentating

I notice there have been a number of comments to the LighterLife/Inside Out debate over the weekend. I've been out with friends, so have not had chance to reply, and today is my birthday so I'm taking the day off (but I felt I needed to make a quick response).

I need to say that any personal threats or attacks on this site are completely unacceptable. If comments are felt to be threatening in manner, they will be removed and the commentator will be blocked from making any further participation.

Breaking the chain: by a friend who wants to stop eating compulsively

Breaking the chain is the new blog site of a friend of mine, Linda Jones, who is looking for ways to overcome her compulsive eating disorder. Linda has two young twin girls, and she's determined not to pass 'diet mentality' onto them. She is ready to find a way out of her disorder and is looking for support.

Linda, a fabulous journalist as well as wonderful PR person, recently wrote an article on chaotic eating - that is very worth reading - that she has just posted to her blog.

I think Linda would welcome your support and goodwill - so please do share it with her.

BBC podcast on LighterLife programme

If you would like to hear the podcast from the BBC from the Inside Out programme which contained the news report on LighterLife, you can download it HERE.

I believe it should was on the East Anglia TV screening, and should be available to watch on the website, but I can't find it. If anyone else can uncover the link, please let me know!

See related posts here:

The LighterLife debate continued

LighterLife 'misled' its clients say the BBC

A Lighter Life but for how long?

A Chocolate Rose for you?

An absolutely delightful name for a blog, Chocolate Rose is the journal of Beyond Chocolate girl Amy, the latest addition to my list of diet-dumping blogs.

Amy has a few gorgeous-looking recipes on there, well worth checking out and trying a few for yourself!

The LighterLife debate continued

I wanted to reply to the people who had left further comments on the previous post LighterLife 'misled' its clients says the BBC, which seems to have stirred a few emotions and debates. I also received an email from a woman called Caroline, who seemed to be particularly upset that I hadn't emphasised the plus points of the LighterLife regime...ahem, I mean programme (sorry)!

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to comment. It is very much appreciated. Secondly, the defense of LighterLife has surprised me somewhat, especially considering that Chocolate and Beyond is, after all, in support of a diet-free existence (and therefore won't support diets, especially not those with reported negative health effects!).

French will jail those encouraging anorexia, say The Telegraph

According to a news report in the Daily Telegraph, the French are proposing to make it a criminal offence to encourage excessive thinness or anorexia, such as (I presume) in the YouTube video I found and discussed in my previous post.

This is a move to tackle the growing problem of anorexia in France, and the news report says the proposal would punish "incitement to excessive thinness" in magazines, on websites and in other media. Valerié Boyer, a Right-wing UMP senator, said she felt compelled to draw up the Bill after being shocked by an advertising campaign featuring an anorexic French woman last year.

40 reasons not to eat - very scary stuff

I found this video on YouTube. If you watch it, I'm sure you'll be as shocked as I was at how it is possible to be so ill with an eating disorder that you are compelled to make a video, such as this, which supports the practices that keep you ill and promotes them to others.