NB: Though my blog goes out over the Fatosphere feed, and though many good conversations take place within that community of bloggers, I would like to make it clear that what I say on this blog is not exclusively directed to people on that feed, or even to people within fat acceptance itself. Most often, when I say “we” I’m referring to my culture at large — which means a mostly non-fat accepting culture. When I am addressing the fat acceptance movement directly, or responding to a current topic on the Fatosphere feed, I will say so.

My name is Michelle. I am a nutrition student, and semi-pro since 2004.

The obsession (with nutrition, health at every size, and fat acceptance) began in 2000 with what I thought would be a simple question: How to eat? Eight years later, I’m still figuring it out.

I started writing online about fat stuff in 2002, when I hilariously, accidentally, stumbled into the centre of a pro-eating disorders and dieting/weight-loss group on the blog site I was using. It was the first time I realized how virulently people would react against someone having a non-standard opinion about body size and nutrition, and how violently they would cling to their beliefs even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Since then, I can’t seem to stay away from writing online in various venues, including a stint as a guest writer at Big Fat Blog, with the incomparably sweet and incredibly even-keeled Paul McAleer.

(Incidentally, in 2003, my blog was deleted by hackers, so that explains the gap in my archives. No, they weren’t targeting me specifically.)

In 2006, Dee and I had the honour of attending the Fat and the Academy conference at Smith College, where I met a lot of incredibly cool people in the fleshy flesh. I won’t get into a lot of name-dropping, but I met my heroes, people, real live heroes.

In 2007, I took some time off from the Internet realm of fat acceptance, then came back in the fall to a veritable explosion of fat activity, both online and in the mainstream media. It’s a bit weird, but overall I am happy and proud of the work everyone has done. It’s not just about being fat — it’s about living in a society where it’s not okay to engage in appearance-based discrimination, period.

I’m currently in the middle of the school term, but I am trying to find a way to incorporate what I’m currently learning into writing. Win-win situation, if I can manage it. In the meantime, you can check out the Fatosphere feed here and watch the drama unfold.

If you’re wondering how old I am: almost 29.

And if you’d like to see a flattering picture of me:

You may contact me by emailing peggynature (at) gmail (dot) com.