Fat Princess

Okay everyone, time to get a little controversial!

I logged onto my computer this morning and saw this article staring me in the face. I thought it would make a good discussion topic!

So, do YOU think that Sony crossed a line with this? Here's what I think.

While I think there are better games Sony could have created, I am not personally offended by this video game just because I am a fat person. In fact, my first reaction was to chuckle to myself a bit. I mean if you stuff yourself with cake you are going to become tired, fat and hard to move! But then I am a person who is able to (or at the very least is learning to) poke a little fun at myself and life.

There are two ways someone can look at this silly game. On one hand, it could be taken as an attack against fat people and a means of "creating a new generation of fat-hating, heteronormative ---holes" (though I wonder if these feminist groups would have gotten as upset if the character were a Fat King? After all fat hating is fat hating weather it's man or woman right?) Or, one can look at it as a humorous way of raising awareness of one of our country's biggest problems (yes pun intended). Sometimes a stupid depiction of something can make us realize that while we might not like it, a change in how we live our lives is necessary.

I mean hell, if I find myself stuck in the kitchen eating a whole cake (which I've been known to do) I know I'll gain weight and won't be able to run after my little minions as well as I should be able to! And you never know, it might make the couch potato kid playing this game think twice about his or her food choices. Maybe it will motivate him or her to put down the sweets and go outside to play so they don't end up becoming a "fat princess" themselves. Coming from a parent, "No cake, go out and play," would sound like a nag. Even worse is the growing number of parents that don't even bother teaching their kids about health or nutrition because they don't want to have to change their own unhealthy habits. But what if a game like this actually helps some kids to make a connection for themselves via a medium they relate to? That could end up sending a powerful, and in that case positive message.

And from a feminist standpoint, I'd think they'd be more upset by the fact that they are using the princess as the flag or prize to be captured than they would be about her being fat. You eat a ton of cake you get fat, that's fact. But isn't it worse to imply that women are trophies to be captured?

So what do you think? Are you offended? Not offended? Think it's funny, mean or just plain stupid? I'd love to know what you guys think.

My Big Old Rut

This week has been a particularly hard one as far as eating is concerned. And it's not like I had any major stressors hanging over my head. Not any that I'm aware of anyway.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. We had some fun stuff to do this week which always perks me up (staying home all day everyday with the kids can be tough at times). We got some wonderful news from my SIL (I'm going to be an aunt!). It was a pretty pressure free, happy week.

My weekend was just as great. I spent it getting some much needed time to socialize. With that socialization though came three days of binge worthy food. LOTS of binge worthy food. And boy did I dive in. I was so stuffed and physically uncomfortable by Sunday night that I was actually turned off to the thought of food (quite a rare thing for me!).

Then this morning came. My intention was to start fresh. I was hungry. I didn't crave the healthy organic oatmeal and blueberries that I had made for the kids and was supposed to eat myself. I wanted a hotdog and some cake...you'd think I'd be sick of that stuff already. I'm sick of craving this stuff. I wish there was a switch I could flick and shut of my desire for certain foods.

Do you ever get to a point where you stop craving the bad stuff? I mean after you've managed to get yourself at a place where eating is under control and the weight comes off? Do you still have to battle every day weather or not to eat that hot dog? Right now I feel so weak.

My Cake

I succumbed to the cake...and the sausage and peppers and the bread and the chips and dip.

My in-laws came for a visit yesterday. It was a fairly pleasant visit, yet there's always some underlying stress associated with them (could you imagine, stressful in-laws!) And I am a hard core stress eater, so not a good combo.

Looking back on my behavior I could see how I nervously shoved food in my mouth all day long. Some people have a drink to calm the nerves, I just eat. It's really terrible. It's like a compulsion and I am helpless to it.

The very worst part though is that once I get into a mode like that, I go into a tailspin. I just want more even though the stress is gone. Maybe now I'm stressed out because I ate so much and that stress is making me want to reach for more food to comfort myself. Food is my drug.

So I am frustrated today because I don't know how to break this. Maybe I should be focusing on my exercise first and once that falls into place I'll be more inclined to really focus on my diet.

How do normal people deal with stress?