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How I #LiveBold To Fight Weight Stigma

July 8, 2014 by Sarah Bramblette 7 Comments

I entered the HealthCentral #LiveBold anti-stigma photo contest.

(voting is open until August 8th! Click on the link and VOTE for me, vote daily!)

I share my story of how I #LiveBold with Lipedema and Lymphedema and overcome weight stigma.

The story behind this photo fits well into the anti-stigma theme, because I experienced weight stigma just before it was taken. The photo was taken during a trip to the gym to get pictures of me doing various water exercises for my FitBloggin’ Ignite Fitness presentation. As soon as I stepped into the pool this woman motioned to me and began talking to me in Spanish, I thought perhaps she recognized me from water aerobics class but when she realized I did not speak Spanish she quickly switched to English and her intentions were made clear.

“My daughter is as big as you are and she goes to this clinic and has lost fifty pounds. They don’t make her workout, they just speed up her heart to help her lose weight.”

Well that sounds safe…

Why the hell would you tell someone EXERCISING AT THE GYM about a clinic where they don’t make you exercise?

Wait…why the HELL would you approach a stranger about their weight…at the gym no less?

I’m not sure why I try to be nice in response to people who are so rude to me, but I tried to explain that I have Lipedema and Lymphedema and that I have a great medical team that monitors my overall health. No, she still continued. I explained that I no longer live in the area, that I was just visiting so going to a local clinic was not even an option for me. No, she still kept talking about it….I finally just walked away and continued my exercises and photo shoot.

She caught me again at the other end of the pool, she obviously noticed I was annoyed by the conversation so she attempted to suck up.

“You’re very beautiful and have a nice shape.”

Seriously? Yes, I know.

I know that I am fat AND that I am beautiful. I don’t need to be informed of either by a stranger.

I said “thank you”, but that’s not a compliment when it comes AFTER fat shaming. Her initial reaction to seeing me was to approach me about my weight, only after she saw that I was pissed off did she compliment me.

Back to the picture, my boyfriend said he wanted to get a creative picture half in and half out of the water. Upon reviewing the pictures I gave a sarcastic “thanks babe”. I joked about how “objects under the water may appear larger than actual size”, and I soon realized how very powerful the photo was and how it really captured the moment and my story. There is more to me and my story than what appears on the surface. The people who take the time to see past my surface appearance get the benefit of knowing me and my story, and in exchange I get to know them and their story.

We all have a story.

How do you #LiveBold? Share YOUR story of how you #LiveBold despite a health condition.

All EARS for #OH2013 in Anaheim

September 21, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette Leave a Comment

Ready for #OH2013

Getting ready for more education, friends, and fun at the ObesityHelp 2013 National Conference in Anaheim, CA, October 4th & 5th.

Looking forward to hearing Dr. Ayra Sharma speak, and spending more time with my pal Eggface!

I’m also hoping to have time to visit with my college mentor who now lives and works in California, the man truly changed and saved my life!

There is still time to join me in Anaheim! This will be my 8th ObesityHelp Event!

I like to stay active with ObesityHelp and the weight loss surgery community because I’ve met many fellow Lipedema and Lymphedema patients who have had or are considering weight loss surgery and it is great to meet others with similar experiences.

Healthcare and Social Media – Empowering Patients

August 12, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette Leave a Comment

Social Media is responsible for me writing this post. First, I saw a post on Facebook by ZocDoc, which I “Like” because a friend of high school who lives in NYC uses their services and “Liked” them one day, and being in the healthcare profession I wanted to learn more about the company, I liked what I read, especially their service philosophy. So I read this post from ZocDoc about Social Media and Health, and how bloggers can submit their writings on the topics. Hmm, I knew how much I utilized Social Media in my healthcare advocacy to help others and myself, but had I actually written a blog post on the topic of Social Media? No, but I knew I could, so I added it to my “to do” list.

Then the next day I saw my new Twitter friend, Rhiann, Tweet about Social Media and Health, and it happens to be a Blog Carnival writing prompt. Awesome! Now, I met her during a Twitter #HAChat hosted by WegoHealth.

Leslie at ‘Getting Closer to Myself‘ is hosting the ‘Patients for a Moment Blog Carnival’, and has given the following prompt.

1. Describe your illness in 140 characters.

Perfect it’s a Tweet! And to my delight, my normal Lipedema description fit into 140 characters.

Lipedema: Abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous tissue; primarily in hips, thighs, legs & upper arms. Does not respond to diet & exercise.

2. How has social media impacted your illness experience?

I was diagnosed with Lymphedema in 2001, and Lipedema in 2004, before Facebook, Twitter and even “Social Media” were the current means of communication on the internet. At the time I was diagnosed I connected with other lymph patients via Yahoo groups and message boards. I have also been very active on weight loss surgery forums, such as ObesityHelp. I have gained a wealth of knowledge, and many friends via the Internet. The internet has always been a means of support for me. I lived in a small town in Ohio, so the internet provided a means to reach out to people beyond my geographically limits. I then moved to Miami, FL, and the internet provided a way to meet new friends in my area and get healthcare recommendations.

In addition to getting support and information from the Internet, I have also given back. I started this blog to share my story and promote awareness of my conditions, Lipedema and Lymphedema. I also am advocating for two pieces of legislation currently in Congress. I was please to find a whole new world of Lipedema patients on Facebook. Until this year I knew only one other Lipedema patient. While I have been maintaining my illness, I had lost hope there was any other new developments in the treatment options or interest from the mainstream medical field. Through the new connections I made via Social Media I learned that in fact there are new options. And I met others LIKE ME, and NEAR ME! And there are plans for a small gathering this October, so we can meet and share our experiences in person.

I began promoting my blog by sharing posts on Twitter. It was there I found WegoHealth and began participating in #HAChat. And I realized there is a way to connect with other chronic illness patients, despite our conditions being different in disease, our daily lives share a common experience..typically themed in getting the best and most appropriate medical care for ourselves. Social Media has opened up an entire new world of support, and knowledge.

The entire experience has given me a renewed sense of empowerment. I am a healthcare advocate, my goal is help others. Social Media is helping me reach that goal.

Dancing for Dollars! Support me in the Walk from Obesity!

August 9, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette Leave a Comment

No tutu until I reach my fundraising goal of $1000!

If I reach my goal of $1000 in donations by the morning of the walk, August 18th! I will WALK IN MY SWIMSUIT (and tutu).

YOU Can Still Be a Part of #YWM2013 – Join Us!

August 8, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette Leave a Comment

It’s not too late to be a part of Obesity Action Coalition Your Weight Matters Convention!

Registration will be available on-site August 15th. Join us for a day or the entire event.

Can’t join us in Phoenix?

No worries there will be 5 sessions live-streamed via YouTube!

Here is the link to access all of the live-streamed educational sessions:

http://www.ywmconvention.com/ywm2013-live-stream/

During the Teaming-Up to Tackle Obesity event, those who can’t attend will also be able to ask questions during the Q&A using http://www.twitter.com/obesityaction and our official #YWM2013 hashtag.

This is a great opportunity to experience OAC and get a glimpse of what the information and resources they offer.

Check out my Top 5 Reasons YOU Should Attend #YWM2013 and watch for my LIVE updates from the convention on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Lululemon cannot cover my @ss, and the sky is blue.

August 3, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 5 Comments

This week another clothing retailer revealed they do not and will NOT make their clothes available in plus sizes and the media exploded in outrage. How is this new?

Did we all forget the 5-7-9 store? (I wonder what the vanity size equivalent would be.)

This is nothing new; no business can cater to everyone. It’s just not a smart business strategy.

I’m especially NOT upset that I will never be able to fit into a pair of Lululemon yoga pants, despite my affinity for yoga pants. It is obvious Lululemon is not capable of handling the quality needs of plus size women. In case you forgot they had to recall yoga pants due to sheerness. Uh, no thank you.

Making and designing Plus Size clothing is more than just taking a normal size item and making it bigger. Plus Size women have different body types, curves in different places, and different quality needs. Even among the clothing stores that do cater to Plus Sizes, there are different styles and different fits…Torrid, to Lane Bryant to Catherine’s. All have a very different style of clothing, and I notice a different in “fit” among stores. Junonia is a company that specializes in active clothing for Plus Size women, more than just yoga pants, but swimwear and outdoors clothing.

Wait, what was that? There are stores that cater to ONLY plus size women? How dare they not make their cute available to normal size women? I am not being sarcastic. Years ago I worked at Lane Bryant, and we often had normal sized women walk in asking for the shirt in the window in their size, and we had to break the news that the smallest we carried was a 14. And remember that’s a Women’s size 14, not a Misses 14. The fit will be different.

What makes me angrier than retailers who refuse to offer Plus Size clothing, is the treatment often received from the retailers who proclaim to cater to our Plus Size needs. As a plus size woman I realize I am going to pay more for my clothing, I do not think it is too much to ask that those clothes meet the quality needs of plus size clientele. Underwear should withstand more than 1-2 wearing. T-shirts should have appropriate designs. I opt to ask that Plus Size retailers do a better job at serving their clientele than demand all companies make ALL sizes. The latter is not a reasonable expectation. I’m quite sure the Tall and Petite women out there can echo this. Plus size is not the only specialty size left out by the mainstream designers.

Are we going to demand that Victoria’s Secret start selling men’s products? Oh wait. Victoria Secret is another store that does not provide Plus Size items.

I mean really I could list an entire MALL DIRECTORY of places that do not offer plus sizes. Why is the outrage only over those who actually admit it?

I think we all need to take a deep breath.

Calm down.

And redirect our energy towards other worthier causes. I choose weight bias in healthcare and employment.

Wow, story was picked up on Twitter!

Yoga Fashion Daily is out! http://t.co/Ue6x2zTVjJ ▸ Top stories today via @Katlynjz89 @Born2lbFat

— YYC Yoga (@yycyoga) August 4, 2013

Featured on ObesityHelp

August 1, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 5 Comments

I am honored to be today’s featured article on ObesityHelp.com – Advocate: A Decade in the Making. I have been a member of ObesityHelp since 2003 and have attended 7 of their events. October 4th & 5th I will attending the ObesityHelp 2013 National Conference in Anaheim, CA.

ObesityHelp asked me to share my experience and struggle with Lymphedema and Lipedema. Including fighting for insurance coverage of needed treatments. Both conditions affect individuals struggling with obesity, including those seeking weight loss surgery. Many like myself, are not aware they have Lipedema until after having weight loss surgery and noticing that despite massive weight loss their legs are still abnormally large.

Weight Loss Surgery Journey

July 30, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 8 Comments

I had open RNY Gastric Bypass in April 2003 at The Ohio State University Medical Center. I was diagnosed and under treatment for Lymphedema since December 2001, however, I was not yet diagnosed or aware I had Lipedema. Gastric bypass surgery helped me lose the weight that was due to poor habits. I admit I have not always had the healthiest of habits, however, even before surgery I made MAJOR life changes, and while my overall health has greatly improved. Lipedema has taken its toll on my body and will be a lifelong battle.

My highest known weight was 502lbs. It was higher, however, the doctors did not have a scale that could weigh me. After several months of diet change and exercise I could tell by my clothes that I was losing weight and I so I went to a junk yard to use their scale and saw that despite my efforts I still weighed more than 500lbs. I opted to pursue weight loss surgery. I do believe losing weight has helped me maintain my lymphedema, and saved my life. As with any medical decision, having weight loss surgery is a personal decision best made between a patient and their physicians. I have read where many Lipedema patients have been pressured by their physicians to have weight loss surgery. Lipedema does not respond to diet and exercise, therefore, weight loss surgery will not improve fat in areas affected by lipedema.

My 23rd Birthday, September 10, 2000

The morning of surgery.

I had reconstructive panniculectomy in December 2006. My weight was 280lbs. I eventually lost down to 250lbs.

February 2007

And then regain began…

September 2011

But that smile still stays the same!

Do these arms make my butt look big?

July 8, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 1 Comment

Do these arms make my butt look big? 🙂

Ah the positive side to big arms, make the butt look small, cute and round…like the rest of me.

It’s SUMMER, get out and enjoy yourself!

Being SUPER is not SUPER.

June 26, 2013 by Sarah Bramblette 4 Comments

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s SUPER SARAH!

SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE

It’s when you’re so FAT you’re past the standard Morbidly Obese category and are now SUPER Morbidly Obese. SMO is having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 50 or over.

Why SUPER? Trust me it’s not SUPER. Especially not for me. Please do not read this wrong. I am me, I LOVE me, others love me. BUT it’s frustrating when many do not understand or relate to my situation.

As much self confidence as I have, I’ve actually never felt like I “fit in”. I’m unique, yes. That’s me. I can relate to well to others, I have always had many friends and acquaintances. I was never a part of the popular crowd in school, but I also wasn’t shunned or teased a lot like many overweight or obese kids. I was a band geek, I had my crew, I mean I was a DRUMMER…drummers are cool. Except I played the xylophone which meant I was on the sideline, so avoided the whole “marching” part of marching band. So I wasn’t really a part of the drum line, I actually sucked at keeping a steady beat, but I could whack them mallets. WATCH OUT!

It’s a theme throughout my life. I’m sorta part of the group, I can relate, but not completely. We often think everyone of certain groups should “get along” after all they have a shared common experience. Um…just look at families and you’ll understand why that theory is not true.

It’s especially not true in the world of obesity or weight loss surgery. While I have been obese 34 out of 35 years of my life (I was born a relatively normal 8lbs), I will say I have been a “member” of the obesity/weight lose surgery community for nearly a decade. That was the time I was exploring having RNY gastric bypass and joined an online weight lose surgery community. At first is was an AWESOME experience, I met so many other people LIKE ME, struggling with weight and seeking a solution. I met several people who had surgery with the same surgeon I would have and was able to find out specifics about his post-op expectations and support. The site, the community support was very helpful. Throughout the years I have made many wonderful, and now long time friends from the internet.

However, I also discovered the harsh reality of judgement within the WLS community. Since my highest weight was 502lbs, even losing a HALF my body weight, still left me in the Morbidly Obese category. I was once blamed for “eating myself THAT fat”, by a fellow WLSer. Well, isn’t that nice and understanding and supportive. Of course, I also have Lipedema, which I did not know before undergoing WLS. So I’ve never been a SUCCESSFUL weight loss surgery patient, since I never reached “goal”, then I also regained 100lbs. So I must not be following the “rules”. Bad Sarah, such a failure.

Well a failure to people who measure success by weight and size. Not everyone thinks that way, as a matter of fact there is an entire Fat Acceptance movement. Fat Acceptance, where the name guarantees I’ll be accepted among them because I’m FAT, right?

Wrong.

I prefer Me Acceptance as I know many normal sized women who struggle with accepting themselves. I accept me and my fat, but I was also in denial about my HEALTH for many years. However, I’ve found that among the FA community I am judged because I had weight loss surgery. I attempted to not be fat, so I turned my back on the cause? Trust me baby got plenty of “back” to spare. I also have a different perspective about obesity being categorized as a disease and considered a disability. Those beliefs are based on my own personal experiences. I understand the fear and concern with negative labels, but I am also aware of the rights and power such labels can provide when needed. Sadly, I have needed both in my life, and to those who don’t understand, be thankful you’ve never been in the situations I’ve faced.

I feel like I’m stuck between two “communities” whose intentions are ones of empowerment and support, and yet because I do not fit specific expectations I am not fully accepted or understood. All I ask is before judging try to consider the other person’s perspective. I blog to share my story, I know I risk judgement by putting personal information out for public interpretation. I’m willing to take the risk for the chance to open some minds and eyes.

More awareness, to me, that would be SUPER.