This past weekend, I experienced something, well, it's hard for me to put into words, but it was something almost magical, very informing, and left me thinking of a childhood lost. I'm talking about Fat Camp which premiered on MTV. If you didn't catch Fat Camp, I'm sorry, because I checked my Tivo and I don't see an upcoming showing of it, but I could be wrong...I hope I am for your sake.
Fat Camp centered around 5 young adults, ranging in age from 14 to 18ish during their summer at fat camp. We watched them come, we saw them weigh in, and we saw them through two months of work-outs, relationships, and eating small portions of food. It was, for lack of anything better, amazing.
And throughout watching this program, which deserves many awards(Dianne, I'm looking in your direction), I felt sad for myself. Sad about the fact that now, in my mid-twenties, I'm too old to go to fat camp. I know I can go to a fat farm, but not camp. I feel that I lost out on a major experience in my life. One where as an awkward, fat teenager, I could have gone and been around other awkwardly fat teenagers, instead of the skinny friends (one being 5'11" and 125lbs and one being the track star of our school) I acquired in high school. I really feel, looking back, about how amazing an opportunity something like that is, and I was totally jealous of these kids.
For some reason, unknown to me, I seem to surround myself with skinny folk. Actually, really skinny folk. I can't help it and I don't know if I do it on purpose. I cannot imagine how AWESOME it would be to go to a place where everybody knows your name, they're always glad you came, and where troubles are all the same. The boys didn't seem to mind that the girls were fat and it would have been a perfect place for me as a teen because hey, I like fat guys anyway.
I could seriously go on and on about it, but, I'll spare you. I will say this though:
If you happen to be a fat camp director, Hi! I'm Emily and I'd love to be a counselor!
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OMG Emily!! I've watched that show 3 times now...saw the original airing last Wednesday (had it bookmarked for 4 days beforehand) and watched 2 reruns last weekend...and thought the EXACT same thing every time!! When I told my cousin I wish I could go to fat camp and was going to try to find one for adults she looked at me like I was nuts. I love these kinds of shows anyway, but this one just seemed so personal somehow... Not only should there be a fat camp for adults, but insurance would pay for it. Who's with me?? :)
SHOULD pay for it, not WOULD pay for it. I can only wish.
MTV also did a "True Life: I went to Fat Camp"(or something like that) episode and one of the girls there was like 24 or 25 or something.
I saw this too, and even mentioned it on my blog it was mesmerizing.
Emily,
I am going to take away the sunshine from this...
I attended fat camp as a pre-teen and I have seen the show you described.
First...they are no solution to obesity.
Second...it was worse than high school. The hierarchy still exists.
The show was not accurate. Not even a pinch.
m.e.~ don't you think part of the reason it was so bad then was that y'all WERE hormonal pre-teens? Kids are just plain mean, period. I mean, I think fat camp as an adult would be WAY better...of course, you do still have some 40 year olds that seem to be stuck with a high school mentality so maybe I'm wrong...
Instead of a fat camp where they try to starve you, I think a fat-positive camp for teenagers would be fantastic. One where they feed you healthy food, get you active, but don't say one single word about weight or have any scales, and just focus on fattie solidarity and feeling good.
I'd go to one of those right now.
I'm so obsessed with the show! I've seen it like 4 times now and I'd still drop everything to see it again if it was playing. I told my boyfriend I wanted him to come to fatcamp with me so we could be the cool "It" couple, since I never experienced that in Highschool. Unfortunatly, the only camps I found were for older (18-24) women and no guys.
For you fans out there, don't say I don't love ya...
http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2006/02/larger_than_lif.html
Fat Camp ruled! I'm a 38 year old male that should have been at fat camp as a teenager. It may not be ideal, after all, teenagers of all sizes can be mean, but it's got to be better to skip the fat put-downs of high school.
I wish I could have gone just to punch Petey in the face. What an ass!
Anyway, Emily and Lindsey, great blog. Really! You've probably heard it all before, but I can't help trying to give you words of wisdom from an elder...
When I was a teenager, being fat sucked, I probably don't have to tell you. I was more accepting in my 20s and it was still hard. I thought that would be the end of it. Unfortunately, in my 30s I've had a chance to forget all of the mean comments. Why? Now looks have taken a back seat to my Type 2 diabetes, lack of any feeling or sensation on one toe from diabetes, sleep apnea that keeps me from getting a good night's sleep, acid reflux disease that has me on medication daily, and very high triglycerides that have me on another medication that may be as bad as the high triglycerides.
Please, please, please, for your own sake, get down to a healthier weight. I now have no choice or I will never see my children grow up. You don't have to be thin, but get healthier. I promise that you'll still be witty and fun.
much luck!
I hear you all and loved the show! Marrissa was the hottest fatgirl I've ever seen. I loved it when she ripped off her top and grabbed her boobs and belly blubber. Then i remembered that she was 16 and took a cold shower ;)
TJ...you lost your innocense??? Why? Did you get some fatty lovin' or something????
Okay, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and tell you that I have the answer to your desires for Fat Camp!!
We call it the BBW Network Vegas Bash, but you can call if Fat Camp in Vegas! www.bbwnetwork.com
For 10 years people have been gathering in a size accepting environment - no scales, no dieticians, no food police! EVERYONE is welcome and treated with RESPECT!
In July, 2006, we're expecting about 1200-1300 BBW, SSBBW and their admirers (men of all sizes) to converge on the Stardust Hotel for the Annual Vegas Bash. There is something for everyone! Be it lounging by the pool in your bikini (mine is polka dotted!) to karaoke and dancing, to the unforgettable costume party and club nights every night from 12am - 4am sponsored by BBW nightclubs from across the country!! Plus, the hotel is right on the strip, so if you wanna cruise through Vegas or see a show at a different hotel - you're right there!!
This is truly like an injection of confidence that will change your life as a fat girl! This event is one of the few times I feel average and don't feel like the fattest chick around! Start planning NOW! The room reservations are filling up already!
If you have any questions, my email is fatgirlsneedluv2@hotmail.com - feel free!
I went to fat camp twice and it was an absolute nightmare. The food was horrible, my roommate talked shit about me, I felt completely out of place. It was actually worse than high school! But I was 10 and 11 when I went and it totally occurred a few months ago that if I went now I might have a blast. Which is how I found this...
xox
Heidi
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