Not Everybody is “Thick”, Just Fat

By Guest Blogger Zabeth

Let’s not pretend we don’t all know the difference. Beyonce is what one would call “thick;” Jennifer Hudson on the other hand isn’t…if you get my drift.

You know good and well if you’re over weight or, if you just have some curves. If you’re truly clueless, calculate your BMI.

The real question here is why does unhealthy weight have a stranglehold on black women? There are a myriad of reasons:

America’s Diet

Americans overall are fat. We eat too much fast food consisting of portions large enough to feed a family of five and our lifestyle has become less active.

It’s a Black Thing

I remember purchasing a candy bar at a convenience store the black man behind me said “You’ll get fat eating candy bars,” to which I responded “I work out.” He looked at me surprised and said “Black women don’t work out!” Well this one does and part of me did want to tell him to mind his own business but, what this exemplifies is that a black woman showing an interest in diet and exercise can be viewed as strange and, not something “we” do.

It is true that black men are traditionally more accepting of a woman with a fuller figure but, that should not be used as a scapegoat for taking things to an extreme.

It Makes Life Easier

It does. Excess weight means you don’t have to participate in life. If you feel unattractive due to being overweight you don’t have to do the hard work of being in a relationship. You can’t fear rejection if you’ve already been rejected. I’ve had women tell me this.

It’s also very hard to stay motivated and disciplined.

Lack of Knowledge and Access

As previously stated Americans overall have a horrible diet and, in some communities we grow up exposed to unhealthy food choices. This is something that has to be unlearned. Moreover, research indicates that a person’s class and socioeconomic level can have an effect on their weight (wealthier women tend to be slimmer). This is reflective of a lack of access to quality and healthy foods as well as a lack of information about nutrition.

So what can an alphanista do to stay slim and trim? Try these on for size:

-Get active: hit the gym, go hiking, swim, ride your bike to work.

-Hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to help guide you.

-Purchase a subscription to a fitness magazine like Self, Shape, or Women’s Health

-Unlearn bad food habits.

-Don’t succumb to what others may think.

-Most importantly stay motivated!

Editor’s note: You can also use this special offer that ends in 2 days to get started, Click on the coupon link for discount: Medifast – $50 off any purchase of $275 or more! Use Coupon Code: May31C good until 5-31-09.

To learn more about our guest blogger please visit http://fitnista.blogspot.com/. 

To find out more about living like an ALPHANISTA, sign up to get more info

about the Alphanista Inner Circle, the members-only site (if you haven’t yet)!

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