I love how this woman tells it like it is but she’s forever mindful of the struggle we all face to balance work, exercise, food and life. She’s never forgets how she felt years ago – and that is why she still continues to inspire and motivate.

My only regret is that I don’t live closer to her ShapelyGirl Fitness classes. I’ll have to make do with my gym visits, power walks and swimming. But I cannot forget that this woman’s wise words helped me get to the point of wanting to make a life change.

For those, like me, who really can’t get to Debra’s classes or feel they need to sit and listen to her motivational story and advice then this new double (shipping  22nd April) may be just what you’ve been looking for.

This is NOT about hating on people who are overweight. This is about inspiring those who wish to shape up – no matter what their size. I found her chats with me extremely helpful when I decided I could no longer justify my weight when constant back pain and breathlessness was interrupting my life. I’m now content having put exercise into my diary on a regular basis and just observing what I eat.

Another interesting thing to note is that Debra doesn’t want to hate on the odd chocolate fix. She’s realistic. She also doesn’t like the word diet – YAY. Instead Debra prefers to call the process of maintaining good health a ‘lifestyle.’

It’s a very tricky subject which no one really likes to discuss – on the flip side we want to be proud of our bodies, but on the realistic side many of us know that regular exercise and observing healthy eating choices is the way forward. That said -  conversley Debra is quick to point out we have our own minds and our own personal goals – they don’t always need to be the same as the next person.

One of her catch phrases is, ‘get off the couch’ and she’s right!

It’s nice to see since I’ve been talking about my ‘getting off the couch’ some of my friends have been tweeting and facebook updating about their walking, swimming and going to the gym. Doesn’t it make you feel good? Okay – not at first – it hurts and you will probably be cursing but honestly after the first few times of doing regular exercise you will feel you have more energy to do more.

I also would like  for my America friends to ‘quit using your car to go down the block to the store.’ Honestly! Yeah, people look at me all the time when I walk off the main strip in Hollywood when I visit, like, ‘there is a girl walking and she doesn’t look homeless,’ HA! I know right? Honestly get a group together and walk around, break a sweat, break the fat myth.  Debra Mazda, will assist you if you’re ready.

Debra Mazda’s CD consists of the following:

Track titles:

DISC #1

1. Introduction (1:31)
2. The Debra Mazda Story (8:29)
3. Unleashing Your Power (0:48)
4. Silencing Your Inner Critic (2:41)
5. Valuing Self Care (3:07)
6. The Power of Gratitude (1;30)
7. Creating a Safety Net (2:17)
8. Visualizing Success (5:54)
9. Secrets of Goal Setting (10:45)

10. Get Moving (20:43)
11. Eating the Mazda Way (25:42)
12. Preparing for Obstacles (9:13)

If you want to buy the CD you can go to her site.

V x

Further links:

http://twitter.com/DebraMazda

http://www.facebook.com/debramazda

I have just sat and read the bio of a lady named Debra Mazda and I’m close to tears.

‘Health comes in many sizes’, says Debra Mazda

Debra lost an amazing amount of weight herself. And in doing so she found a new goal which was learning and teaching fitness to people.

T-devil is one of my very good friends. He’s a plus-size man and a lover of plus-size women. He’s also super opinionated on the subject and I’m including this article on my site because it’s always good to ponder the male perspective of plus-size empowerment and size-acceptance.

Sometimes I question the sincerity of size acceptance by T-Devil

I was reading something somewhere about fat art and if some of it was a help or a hindrance to size acceptance. Sometimes, Art can be very beautiful:

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I love beautiful art! It’s inspiring and creative and it speaks of such great positivity and energy. Then you get this:

Exhibit C

Believe it or not, this is where the trouble starts.

Does Exhibit C say ANYTHING positive about size acceptance? What does it tell you?

See, some people find this erotic. Big deal, lots of people find lots of things erotic. But who wants to be tied to an image like that? I don’t. Many people don’t. I’m not saying it ought to be banned or anything, but there are people out there that believe that shit like this actually helps the movement! I can only imagine that these people have no idea what it’s like to lose the ability to move. That’s sexy to them? Ok, whatever.

This is where everything I believe in Size Acceptance falls apart like a house of cards. Just what am I supposed to accept? I can’t accept artwork like that because it ill represents me and my ideals. It’s not what I believe in. It is the opposite of what I believe in. I’ve tried to put my mind around the concept and I can’t do it. Something stops me. I pride myself on having an open mind, but eventually it has to shut itself off or I begin to see things I can’t take.

I can’t take the idea of finding immobility erotic. I don’t think anyone should. Where is the freedom in that? When I first decided to support Size Acceptance, it wasn’t because I was into Fat Girls. It was because I myself am fat. I’ve been discriminated against because of it too both at jobs and in society in general. I as a male don’t get it nearly as bad as women, but I know what it feels like. Having rights is important and supporting what you believe in is important.

But how far is that belief supposed to go? Are we supposed to support EVERYTHING that entails weight? If we don’t, are we enemies of the movement? Are we hypocrites?
I don’t think so. I think there has to be a shut off valve. I think we have to say when it’s gotten out of control. I think we have to reach a certain point and ask ourselves if we have crossed some kind of line.

I love Big Women, I do. But love them to the point of stuffing them to immobility? I can’t do it and what disturbs me is that I feel like a traitor because some dumb assholes try and use logic to make people accept the bad and the good. I can’t though. I just can’t do it because the mere thought of putting another person into a gluttonous prison of their own bodies is so hard for me to even think of, much less condone.

I would sooner find another cause to believe in before I would accept something like that. To me, it’s confirming all that people outside of our movement have been accusing us of. It’s evidence of guilt. It’s weakness in our belief of being fat, but also being healthy and happy.

I’m a believer that people of size ought to have the right to walk down the street and not have insults flung at them. I believe that fat people ought to have self-esteem and a sense of worth. I believe in people that support this ideology. I can’t accept people that believe over indulgence is a good thing.

Sometimes you just have to know your limitations, and accept them AS your limitations. Sometimes one just has to say “Enough”.

__________________________________________________________________________

Image Links courtesy of:

It wasn’t the fact that Beth Ditto was naked on the cover that caused comment frenzy overload. Anyone, including me knows only too well that many people pull the ‘fat isn’t healthy’ card out of the bag when bigger women start showing flesh. I’m possibly the only person in the fat world who readily admits that fat isn’t healthy. I’m honest about it because there is no point being dishonest. But I’m a rebel and I don’t want to spend my life calorie counting or spending money on diets that will keep me in a circle of yo-yo dieting. I do my power walking to maintain my curves and not add more, plus give me energy. I do my thing and don’t expect everyone to the same as me. Live your life the way you want to.
I still think people NEED to start accepting people as they come NOT the way they wish people to come. I also think there are some amazingly beautiful women who are fat and fabulous. Rock on!!!

Their energy, their confidence and their sheer vigor for life make me think – they are living their life their way and to hell with it. You are only here once – make it count.
I smoke for instance, like many people in the entertainment industry – but I receive more negative comments about my weight than I do about my smoking – which will probably end up killing me quicker than my weight will. That’s raw honesty for you. Hey, as Freddie Mercury once sang – Who wants to live forever? Not me baby.

In terms of honesty I’d wager that’s why a lot of people who aren’t fat have a problem with us sexy hot fatties. They think we are in denial – and a few of you are. But when all is said and done – do you work it like you own it? If you do then you are in the Beth Ditto fat fabulous camp! Welcome!

Anyway, back to the shit storm. Perez was hauled over hot coals for calling Beth ‘HAWT‘ but also he has made comments about Jessica Simpson putting on a few pounds and the comments weren’t exactly nice.
What everyone needs to chill the hell out about is Perez likes a shit storm. I truley believe that he does have favourites and he’s as catty as hell about people he doesn’t like but has all sorts of time for people who he does like – even if it means they are fat.

Now here is the clincher – Beth Ditto has kept it real since the get go – Jessica Simpson can’t really make the same claim. And while I agree that Jessica looked fine in the recent pictures of her I can totally understand why Perez would attack her – because when all is said and done she’s seen, by some people, as someone not worthy of being a celebrity. Therefore she is an easy target.

I have to admit I never used to totally get Perez, but as I work up the show biz ladder I appreciate the fact he shows what is in all of us. We all contradict weather we like to admit it or not.
I think deep down Perez is a good person – but he plays the fame game and he’s got where he is by causing contraversy. Psycology is a wonderful thing where celebrity is concerned, but even in real life its interesting that peoples motives for being nice or cruel when talking about how someone looks shouldn’t always be taken at face value. There is always a deeper meaning – and that’s why we should not be so quick to get upset.

Interesting to note that Perez doesn’t delete hateful comments directed to him. If he’s gonna give it he knows he has to take it. So from now on he’s my new muse. I just hope he doesn’t lose too much weight – keep something to cuddle, hey Perez.

http://perezhilton.com/?p=44066&cp=1#comments

Vanessa Reece x