Comments on: Outsiders and eccentrics.

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:42:33 +0000

it feels good to find our people – onward!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:29:24 +0000

Ha! I knew I recognized that acronym! I stuck a little link to the ASDAH website in an e-mail I was compelled to forward on about a WW group in the building next to ours. I have to forward on messages from our building management company to everyone here at work but I just couldn’t neutrally send it on without a disclaimer, so I went with the ASDAH site as a professional organization that isn’t promoting anything but presents the idea of HAES.

Several people commented on how they’d appreciated my addition to the e-mail, incidentally.

It seems like a great organization!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:35:28 +0000

Heidi — your post was awesome. I am so glad you found a good nutritionist. Rock on.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:34:32 +0000

Hey Julie — good to see you. And your, er, amorous cat.

ASDAH is Association for Size Diversity and Health, and their website can be found at http://sizediversityandhealth.org/

I’ve always been planning to join ASDAH and DC (Dietitians of Canada) in my last year of school. And here I am, in my last year of school, so I’d better get on it.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:57:57 +0000

I actually JUST posted about my first visit to my new nutritionist and what an incredibly positive experience it was…to finally, finally have a health professional nod when I mentioned HAES and not have ANY negative commentary, even of the most subtle sort, to make about it.

I think I can honestly say that it may have been the first time in my adult life I sat across from a health provider and didn’t think “she sees me as a fat person with problems, not as a person with problems.” I could truly believe that she really did see ME in all my complexity and not solely the single facet that is my fatness. When I mentioned to my sister (a social worker in training) how it had gone, she asked me if all nutritionists were that way…and I could tell her with some experience that no, they were not.

I’m glad you found your people because it makes me happy that there are more people like you out there :)

By: julie

julie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:51:44 +0000

Oops, that’s respect/tolerate viewpoints even that I don’t agree with. Cat really not helping!

By: julie

julie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:50:52 +0000

I haven’t checked out ASDAH yet, but I seem to be eccentric and an outsider everywhere, in everything. That’s okay, I’m learning to look for my peeps outside the mainstream as well. I also can empathize and somewhat understand all sides, usually can respect or tolerate viewpoints I don’t. OK, cat is mushing my boob, not helping. Bye!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:54:36 +0000

Meowser, are you saying that my blog comments aren’t accessible to people using IE? I’d better check that out!

By: Meowser

Meowser — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:21:48 +0000

Yay outsiders and eccentrics!

(I tried to post here before, but I was on an IE-only computer and it wouldn’t let me. You’re doing great work around here!)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:25:41 +0000

Haha, yes Linda, I totally know who you are! I think lots of the people interested in “critical dietetics” are open to and welcoming of a HAES orientation. (And, of course, I loved your book.)

Now I wish I were able to go to the ASDAH conference this summer, but I just don’t think it can happen. But definitely next year.

By: Linda Bacon

Linda Bacon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:39:26 +0000

I can’t tell you how excited I am to know about this! I need more allies in the field. (I teach/write about nutrition.) Let’s be sure to all connect at ASDAH.
Linda Bacon

By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:53:36 +0000

Oh that sounds wonderful! It reminds how I felt two weekends back when I attended an annual pagan gathering and caught up with a bunch of people I knew and met a bunch I didnt know. It was like coming home.

I am on ASDAH, you certainly need to join!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:51:19 +0000

Hahha, I’m sure you totally know what it’s like, wrt2, to be the eccentric in your field. I’m really hoping some great stuff comes out of it — the ideas people came up with were nothing short of brilliant.

And I wanted to say congrats on joining Angry Gray Rainbows. I’m really looking forward to your stuff. I’ll be a regular!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:44:38 +0000

Oh, I’m definitely planning to, Lisa! I think ASDAH will rock.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:46:21 +0000

How nice! You’ll find another group of very welcoming ‘outsiders and eccentrics’ at ASDAH. You should join :)

By: WellRoundedType2

WellRoundedType2 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:45:02 +0000

we need outsiders and eccentrics, or we don’t make progress
Yes.

I know how hard it is to feel like the only one of anything, or as though the people who share your beliefs are far away. I’m so glad you found a group of cohorts. That retreat looked AWESOME. I can’t wait to see what comes out of it. That’s dietetics!
Creativity, compassion, vision, hope, understanding — applied to health — that’s powerful!

By: deeleigh

deeleigh — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:06:13 +0000

Yay!! So glad it went well this weekend.