Thread by @theamericanrd

1/ The #HAES and @WtMgmtDPG debate at #FNCE today impacted me more than I realized, so please allow me to share what has been bouncing around inside my head for the last few hours - Another perspective that may have been missed.

2/ This "debate" seems multi-layered and hard to pin down, but one of the most controversial points, as far as I understand it, is to argue which of the following is worse - the state of being obese, or the stigma that can be attached to it? #FNCE

3/ When I dare venture to ask why we can't respond to this stigma by teaching clients to internalize things differently, I get dismissed or told things like "You're missing the bigger picture of injustice", or, "that's just your privilege talking." #FNCE

4/ My privilege? Let me get personal. In elementary school, I couldn't wait to get home on Fridays, because it was a welcome reprieve from the bullies. In the days before social media, home offered solace and escape from the near every day mockery. #FNCE

5/ I heard just about every fat-name you could call a kid. Even to this day, my recall is quick. In 6th grade a classmate came up to me and said, "Hey fatass. Guess what?! Last night I came up with 8 new ways to describe how you're a worthless fatass!" #FNCE

6/ Ironically, teachers or parents coming to my defense often legitimized what bullies told me. After all, if you have to defend something, it must mean that the threat is serious, right? Worse still, when I got bigger and lost some weight, the bullying didn't stop. #FNCE

7/ Sophomore year was the turnaround. The short of the story is this. My mom telling me, "You're worth doesn't come from what they say." Then, a quote from Joe the driver in the movie, The Princess Diaries (bite me) "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." #FNCE

8/ It took time. It took effort. But it was true. Bullies no longer own me, nor ever will, because I will never validate what they say. You cannot attack me with a weapon that does not exist.

I was not privileged. I was loved, and I was taught. #FNCE

9/ Understand, I'm not giving bullies or bywords a pass. Thanks to @StreetSmartRD, I understand concerns over how words can foment self-loathing (intended or not). But feelings are not directives to act, and that's the beginning of the skill of proactive internalization. #FNCE

10/ As it relates to #HAES, can we not teach this as well? Can we not give our clients the skills to disarm their foes before the attack even commences? Folks, the world will always give us bullies. You will not fix that by trying to reinvent the word "obesity". #FNCE

11/ Let's not dichotomize between #HAES and managing weight. We can use the best of both when it comes to proactive internalization. We can teach people how they should treat one another AND we can teach them how to handle any twat who doesn't get the message. #FNCE

12/ When I hear someone being mocked for what they look like, I am going to:

1-Tell the person being mocked (figuratively), "This prick doesn't own you."
2-Tell the mocker, "Stop acting like an ass." How they choose to escalate from there, is up to them... #FNCE

13/ We've never told ourselves as a profession, "this is the only way" and we shouldn't start now.

Is it the stigma, or the state? You don't have to choose. You can do both. You know why?

Because you are the world's food and nutrition experts. You'll find a way.
#FNCE #RDchat