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Born2lbfat

My life with Lipedema & Lymphedema...destined to be fat.

2013 My Year in Review

December 31, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 4 Comments

Explored New Places

snow

Validation

humana

Speaking of dreams…. I decided to pursue mine and took a leap.

Went back to school to pursue a Masters in Health Law.

medicare

 

And restarted this blog to share my story…and share I did….

My story in OAC Your Weight Matters Magazine.

ywm-spring1

My story featured on ObesityHelp.com.

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My story featured in Psychology Today.

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Advocating for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act and The Lymphedema Treatment Act.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup

Rep. Brad Wenstrup

Nominated for my advocacy efforts.

wego

Had some fun along the way….

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Made new friends…

oac2

Recycled the tutu!

fairy

 

Overall 2013 was a great year, one of transitioning towards a life of living my passion…I haven’t figured out exactly where I’m going but I’m enjoying the journey….and my plan for 2014….

calm

Filed Under: Blog Post, Living with Lipedema & Lymphedema Tagged With: advocacy, lipedema, lymphedema, obesity action coalition, obesityhelp, Psychology Today

My Story in Psychology Today

November 11, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 6 Comments

psychtoday

My story is profiled in the current issue of Psychology Today (December 2013), as part of the article Do I Make You Uncomfortable?

This is the article for which I had My Abnormal Photo Shoot. In late August, I replied to a Facebook notice shared by the Obesity Action Coalition. Being a member of the OAC has provided many opportunities to share my story, and thus spread awareness about lipedema and lymphedema.

Does my fat make you uncomfortable?

According to the article that is YOUR issue, not mine. I knew this already, but I admit I misunderstood the article concept as originally told to me: “story about the experiences of those with physical differences—and how, on both a societal and individual level, we can overcome negative or prejudiced responses.” I thought the article was going to focus on those of us on the receiving end of the negative and prejudiced responses. Through my own sessions with a psychologist, I learned I cannot change other people’s behaviors, I can only control my own reaction. To my pleasant surprise the article’s focus is on the response people have when they see a person with a physical difference. It is a refreshing change for the discussion to address why some people have such adverse reactions to ME, since it is usually just accepted that it’s normal for people to act in such ways towards people who are abnormal. And yet, it’s not normal. Not everyone who sees me has a negative or prejudiced response, if that was the case I would not have so many supportive friends. So what does prompt the negative response?

psychtodayjeff

Protective Prejudice

The theory discussed in the article is that people’s negative and prejudices reactions towards physical difference is rooted in an immune response and survival instinct protecting against disease. Interesting idea for sure! And does go along with the idea that people project their own insecurities towards me. The personal stories shared tell of instances for which we have experiences negative reactions based on our appears, mine included the now famous “check out them cankles” incident. It is inspiring that the other individual profiled in the story have the same positive attitude and outlook as I do and the hope that by sharing our stories we can help others.

Research suggesting that prejudice is a flexible trait abounds — and simply being aware that it’s not fixed can significantly reduce discriminatory behavior. Accepting that we all hold negative associates and becoming aware of the one we automatically make are also critical steps in the process of counteracting our biases. So, too, is encouraging people to talk about their negative perceptions.

My abnormal appearance is beneficial in life, it serves as a screening process. If people do not want to get to know me because of my looks, their loss. Now sure, it hurt when I experienced weight bias in the workplace but obviously that was not a company whose values align with mine.

Leave me a comment:

Have you read the full article? Share your thoughts.

Does my appearance make you uncomfortable?

Have you ever experienced a negative or prejudiced reaction to your appearance?

Filed Under: Advocacy, Blog Post, Lipedema and Lymphedema, Obesity Tagged With: advocacy, awareness, bbw, discrimination, fat, health, lipedema, lymphedema, morbid obesity, obesity, obesity action coalition, Psychology Today, self confidence, self esteem, super morbid obesity, weight bias in the workplace

My Abnormal Photo Shoot

October 9, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 6 Comments

selfie-abnormalphotoshoot

For me, not smiling for a picture is definitely not normal. But the real abnormality of the photo shoot was ME. I replied to a post looking for individuals with abnormal appearances for a magazine article. Due to lipedema my arms and legs are abnormally disproportional to the rest of my body. While most people try to hide or cover up the parts of their body that do not meet a certain societal level of acceptance, that is not an option for me so I choose to just be comfortable in my own skin, all 400lbs of it.

Trust me being comfortable in my own skin is much easier said than done. There is no physical comfort living with lipedema. Every inch of my arms and legs are sensitive, and the slightest touch results in bruising. In addition, the excess weight makes simple movements much more tiring.  Imagine having to do your normal daily tasks with 5lb sacks of flour attached to each arm, and a toddler clutched to each leg? Then when you need to stop and rest, people think you’re just “being lazy.” Standing for any period of time is exhausting, sitting is a bit better but gravity still affects the pooling of lymph fluid in my legs causing painful swelling, so laying down must provide the only real relief, right? Not exactly, it’s hard to be comfortable laying down because the abnormal size and shape of my hips and legs makes finding a restful position difficult.

However, rarely do I complain, because the abnormality of  lipedema has become my new normal. I have no control over the physical aspect of my disease. So I choose to make the most of what I can control, and that is the mental aspect. Which is the focus of the magazine article. Psychology Today is featuring a “story about the experiences of those with physical differences—and how, on both a societal and individual level, we can overcome negative or prejudiced responses.”

So back to the photo shoot. I realized that I had not had professional portraits taken since my high school senior pictures. I asked if there were any guidelines for what type of clothes to wear and was told nothing specific. So I did what probably few other females would do, I picked a nearly three year old dress out of my closet to wear. The dress looks nice on me and shows my arms and legs. The morning of the shoot I woke up, fixed my own hair and did my own make-up. I kept thinking how most people with bodies the size of mine hide from the camera, and when they are in a few pictures they delete any shot they think is unflattering. Here I was volunteering to have my pictures in a  national magazine and I’m wearing an old dress and doing my own hair and make-up.

The photographer arrived, moved some living room furniture around and set up his equipment. I was ready for the my close up! Then came the shocker and most difficult part of the photo shoot…I was told not to smile. WHAT? Me. Not. Smile. That’s just soooo abnormal??? And it’s even harder not to smile when you’re trying to NOT SMILE. And of course the photographer and I struck up a conversation and well since I’m so amusing, I smile and laugh a lot during conversations. I will not know which poses were selected for  until the article comes out in the November edition, but I know the real Sarah shines through as always. Although my normal persona is fun, happy Sarah, anyone who knows the real me knows my strong and confident side…and smile or no smile…I’m still Sarah.

*Update* See the final picture in My Story in Psychology Today

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: abnormal appearances, breaking, headline, lipedema, lymphedema, morbid obesity, obesity, physical differences, Psychology Today, self confidence, self esteem, super morbid obesity, top

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