When I noticed this image in our FGG Girls Flickr Group, I was immediately struck by its power and gentle grace.
But I also appreciated the courage it took to post this photo, daring to appear beautiful and sensual while also revealing curves seldom seen in fashion magazines, television, or film.
Any time a woman appreciates herself in this way, we all win. Thanks for letting your light shine, Kate!
Macaroni and cheese. Are there three better words in the English language? I think not.
Everyone has their own preferences — the old school blue box, shells, homemade with egg, homemade without egg, stovetop, baked… the list goes on.
Though I’ve always had an affinity for the boxed versions, there’s definitely something to be said about knowing what you’re eating… and knowing that it doesn’t involve things you can’t pronounce, strange colorings and preservatives, and the dreaded high fructose corn syrup. That’s where this recipe comes in. Rich and creamy, the ingredients are only the basics. Proof that sometimes less is more.
One word of warning — this recipe makes roughly a metric ton of macaroni and cheese. So, if you’re not feeding an army and don’t want to freeze some of it, you might want to consider halving the recipe.
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar
1 cup grated gruyere cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
24 ounces elbow macaroni
Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, start a large pot of water for the pasta and cook to al dente while working on the cheese sauce.
Melt butter in a large pot or high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour and whisk to work out lumps. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. While whisking, add hot milk a little at a time, keeping the mixture smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture bubbles and thickens, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, both peppers, and cheeses. Add cooked and drained pasta and stir until fully combined. Allow to stand for five minutes to thicken slightly.
Yield: 12-16 servings
Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com
Dirty, gritty, sun-kissed and happy on Utah’s Green River
When I started telling friends earlier this year that I was planning to spend five days in a canoe in the southern Utah wilderness this summer, I got lots of odd looks. The you’re crazy! look. The whatever for? look. The better-you-than-me look. The wow, your butt fits in a canoe? look.
A handful of friends did admit they thought it sounded like fun, but then most stared off into space as they imagined themselves getting stuck with their butts permanently wedged into the canoe seat, or worse, sinking the boat to the bottom of the river or launching a potentially smaller, lighter canoe partner 50 feet into the air, see-saw style, when they got in.
I am happy to report upon returning that my own smaller, lighter canoe partner, Billie, was at no time airborne for any part of those five days, no canoes were sunk and not once did I have to pry my butt from the gnarly jaws of the canoe seat. A guide was in order.
While canoeing is pretty simple, I’ll leave it to a short video and how-to page to give you the basics on strokes, paddling style and other technical information. What I’ll be focusing on here, naturally, are the questions and hesitations overweight women often have about canoeing. This guide will also be addressing day canoe trips, not overnight canoe camping trips, as well as standard canoe styles like those available for rent at most outfitters.
Can most overweight women fit in a canoe?
Unlike kayaks, which are also fat-girl friendly, most canoes are open-bottom vessels with bridge seats, that is, flat, bench-like seats that bridge the width of the canoe and attach to each side. These are usually level with the top edges of the canoe (vs. set down inside as with kayaks), which means there’s not a closed cockpit to squeeze into so much as an open platform to sit on. In standard canoes there are usually two of these: one in the very back of the canoe (stern) and one up toward the front (bow). Typically the front bench is wider than the back, but both seats can usually accommodate ample rear ends comfortably. Example.
I have bad posture, and canoe seats don’t have any back support. Is there anything I can do about that?
Yep! Most outdoor retailers sell stadium-style chairs designed to clip onto a standard canoe seat. These range from economy to mid-range to fancy, both in price and in comfort. I picked up a basic Walmart stadium seat for $17 and it worked great. The back support held a lot of weight, even leaning back on purpose, and it doubled as a camp chair every night around the fire.
If I’m really overweight, could I sink a canoe?
It would be tough to load a canoe with enough weight to sink it. Most standard canoes are rated with weight limits around 800 lbs, and some up to 1,200 lbs or more. That means if you and your canoe partner are each 300 lbs., you can load your canoe down with another 200-600 lbs of gear and supplies and be just fine (for most day trips, you’ll only need a small fraction of that). My canoe partner and I tipped the scales at a total of 390 lbs between us, and then had another 200-300 lbs of camping gear, stoves, five days’ worth of food and other items loaded in, and our 17′ Grumman canoe moved like a dream.
I’m afraid of the *getting in* part, either tipping the canoe over or flipping it up when I put all my weight on one end.
Canoes are built for steadiness, and their shape is such that it distributes weight evenly over the surface of the water even when large, imbalanced weight loads are placed on it. Sure, it’s possible to tip a canoe over if you’re not careful (this is true for anyone, not just those who are heavy), but you’re not likely to flip one up, see-saw style, unless you place more than half of the full weight limit on one end of an otherwise empty canoe. In most cases, you’ll load your gear and supplies in first, in the middle section of the canoe. At that point, anyone can step in on either end – and as long as you keep the weight of your step(s) along the center line, your boat will remain steady.
If I’m overweight, should I sit in the front or the back of a canoe?
Both stern and bow seats can accommodate most body shapes and volumes, so that decision depends on your level of skill, strength and experience. If you’re going solo in your canoe, you’re in charge of both propulsion paddling (moving forward) and steering (guiding the direction). You’ll want to sit in the back and put your stuff up front. If you’ve got a canoe partner, you can choose who sits where based on who wants to/can take on the majority of the paddling muscle (front) and who wants to/can do the steering (back). If you’ve both learned how to steer and paddle properly, you can change places as much as you like.
But if I’m heavy, won’t I slow the canoe down?
Not unless you don’t paddle! Weight-related drag is usually negligible unless you’re paddling against wind or a current. If you’re canoeing a river, the natural pace of the water will move you along, and you’ll just paddle in the slow or dead spots to keep things going. You’d be surprised at the amount of gain you’ll get from just a few strong paddle strokes, weight or no weight. We had five canoes on the river, which was flat and slow most of the trip, and the others nicknamed our canoe “Speedy Gonzales” because even being chubby we’d always end up far ahead of everyone else.
What is portaging, and should I be worried?
Portaging means taking your canoe out of the water and carrying it across land, sometimes for just a few feet around/over a sand bar, sometimes for several miles around impassable sections of river. Some canoers love the chance to portage (I, for the record, am not one of them), others avoid routes that require portaging at all costs. Most popular canoeing spots don’t require portaging, but if you’re heading out on an unfamiliar route, check with the outfitter or consult maps or local agencies to be sure – because if you’re out of shape, portaging can make an otherwise wonderful trip go sour pretty fast. During the five days and 60+ miles of our canoe trip, we had to get out and pull our canoe twice over small sand bars, but neither of those required much effort or more than a few minutes.
What about life vests and personal flotation devices (PFDs)? Do I have to wear one, and will they fit me?
Whether or not a PFD is required will depend on where you’re canoeing and who you’re renting from (if anyone). Most outfitters are required to provide you with a personal flotation device like a life vest and/or floating seat cushion. Unless the stretch of water you’re canoeing is known to get rough, using them is usually at your discretion. That said, standard adult life vests are usually one-size-fits all, and I can assure you they mean it. The straps are adjustable, and even the top-heaviest among us can buckle them fairly comfortably.
What else should I consider?
Canoeing and kayaking both are among the easiest sports for women who are overweight to take on. They’re low-impact, can be learned quickly (an hour demonstration by an outfitter before launch usually sends you off with what you need to know), allow you to cover good distances and see cool things in a fraction of the time and effort it would take to walk, don’t require you to be in good physical shape already, and give your core and upper body a surprisingly good workout without wearing you out.
General rules of outdoor recreation apply: wear sunscreen, bring a wide-brimmed hat for direct, mid-afternoon sun, have a basic first-aid kit available, drink plenty of water and let others know where you’ll be. Dress casually but with weather in mind, bringing a change of clothes if you don’t like spending the day partially wet (and you will, in most cases). If you’re diabetic, bring a few pieces of candy and any medications along in a waterproof dry bag. Water shoes are a great idea, especially if you plan to do any swimming. Tip: Celery sticks dipped in peanut butter, ham and cheese roll-ups, and beef jerky are great for picking up waning afternoon energy!
Remember: if you go, let us know! Leave a comment about your trip or your plans for one, and as always, we’d love to see the photographic evidence over in our FGG Girls Flickr Group.
This week’s photo is from Tee’s (FGG’s very own) wedding day, a nontraditional fiesta in an unconventional setting: a remote valley in northern Nevada, complete with a dazzling meteor shower after nightfall.
This is one of my favorite sorts of photos: an unvarnished image that captures a moment in time with all of its delicious vibrancy and humor (the lovely bride is swirling about on the left).
It brings to mind a lyric from one of my favorite songs, These Are Days by 10,000 Maniacs:
These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.
And when you do you’ll know how it was meant to be.
Congratulations to Tee and her new husband Shane!
Wow! We’re up to 44 members in our FGG Girls Flickr Group. If you haven’t yet, won’t you join us? If you post a photo of yourself out bicycling we’ll send you a surprise!
It’s finally here, people! The leaves are beginning to turn and the weather’s finally cooling down (though we still grudgingly use the A/C here at our house on occasion). And if you needed any further confirmation that fall is truly on its way, football season has officially begun. Whether or not you’re a fan, one thing is certain: with football season comes some fabulous opportunities for snacking.
As much as I love sweets (surely you’ve picked up on this), a good, salty snack has its merits, too. And if it pairs with a nice, cold beverage? Even better.
Not only does seasoned and roasted edamame fit the salty snacking bill, but it’s also a good compromise when you’re feeling the urge, because it’s a great source of protein! If you happen to have any leftovers, pop them in with some pasta and a little butter for another yummy meal!
Roasted Edamame
1 1/4 cups frozen shelled edamame, thawed and dried
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt and cayenne pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the thawed edamame into a mixing bowl, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with spices. Toss until the edamame are evenly coated with the oil and spices. Spread into a single layer onto cookie sheet. Bake, uncovered, until the beans just begin to brown, 12 to 16 minutes, stirring once halfway through the cooking time.
Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com
Morning Commute by Richard Masoner
Last month we received a great question in response to our Fat Girl’s Guide to Cycling.
Emily asked:
I won a new bike at my company picnic and I’d love to ride it, but I’m extremely afraid of breaking it (or popping all the tires) at my weight!!! I can’t figure out if the tires flattening out when I sit on it are because they’re not inflated fully (they feel like it to the touch) or if it’s because I’m too big for it! How do I figure that out?
Toni (hey! that’s me!) responded:
Emily, I do notice a distinct difference between inflation to the touch vs. when I get on my bike (I ride a hybrid bike w/knobby tires and weigh around 230). Do you have a tire pressure gauge? Note the max tire pressure on your tires (it should be listed in raised print right on the tires) and avoid going above that so you don’t get a blowout.
Then I asked our expert from the guide to cycling, Georgena Terry, founder of Terry Precision Cycling for her advice:
Here’s something to remember: a car that weighs 4000 pounds is supported by four tires with inflation pressures of about 35 pounds per square inch (psi). Granted, car tires are a lot bigger, but this will give you an idea of the capabilities of the pneumatic tire.
In a nutshell: Emily should take the bike to her local dealer for a lesson on keeping the tires inflated properly. Tires will deflect, no matter what the rider’s weight is. It’s very important for a heavier rider to keep the tires fully inflated so they don’t “drop” to the point that they are prone to flats. Buy a floor pump and check the tire pressure weekly. Here’s a handy guide to how much weight a tire can carry by manufacturer.
Thanks, Emily for posting such a great question and thanks again to Ms. Terry for offering up practical insights we can use.
EDITED TO ADD–Richard Masoner (whose photo is featured in this post) left a comment on this entry with a suggestion for a great web site and I wanted to be sure our readers saw it:
There’s a bike dealer I know who specializes in bikes just for larger people — Super Sized Cycles. I know the owner, Joan, and she’s a super nice gal. She has a lot of good advice about cycling at her website.
Thanks, Richard!
Has anyone tried out their bicycles since reading our guide to cycling? If you do, tell us about it in the comments section or post your pics in our FGG Flickr Group (where we’re already up to 43 members!) and we’ll send you a prize.
This photo of FGG’s own Toni McLellan makes me smile every time I see it – in part, because it was taken just a couple of days after my wedding and therefore will always remind me of it, but mostly because you can’t fake this kind of radiant happiness. Here, visiting an old friend in Denver, she epitomizes our whole mission: figuring out how to be too caught up in great moments to bother obsessing about self-image.
What about you? What great moments (thoughtful, active, fun, memorable..?) have you caught yourself in lately? Show us in the FGG Girls Flickr group!
