The Fat Girl's Guide to Living

My self-portrait project was both scary and liberating

Can you tell we love to see your self portraits? We’re always elbowing you to get in on the FGG Girls Flickr group, and now we’re willing to materially reward you for it. That’s because we know how powerful a self-portrait series can be…especially when grappling with body image.

So I’ll get right down to it. This week’s mid-week mini challenge is:

Join a Flickr self-portrait project group like 52 Weeks or 365 Days, upload your first self-portrait, then commit to at least one self-portrait each week for a year.

When you’ve joined the group and added your photo (which should be taken just for this project), come back here and link to that photo in comments. You’ll be entered to win the mini-challenge mystery prize, and we’ll choose a winner at random on December 31. As for the rest of next year, well…you’ll just have to be on the honor system to stick with it.

Deadline: 11:59 pm (PST) December 30, 2009. Edit: We’ve extended the challenge till the end of the first day of 2010 (11:59 pm PST on January 1, 2009)! Post links to your first 365 Days or 52 Weeks images in the comments either in this post or here.

Tailor’s Shop, by Twenty Questions

What exactly can a tailor do to clothes? What parts are alterable and what parts are not?

I’ve never had anything tailored (is the picture of me as a hopeless fashion offender forming clearly in your mind yet?), so I took this question to one of San Francisco’s favorite custom tailors, Seymour’s Fashions. Ravi Bulchandani was kind enough to provide some insight into the process of custom tailoring and alterations:

“For women we take about 12 to 14 measurements of the upper body, and another six measurements for the legs. If a client has a difficult hip area, we would do a “hip map” – taking measurements from the waist down every 3 to 4 inches and checking the circumference of the client’s hips.

Once we have taken all of the necessary measurements we cut/alter each garment from those measurements, then prepare the garment for fitting. Once we see how the fit is at this point, we make the changes we need to, i.e., take in, let out, shorten, or lengthen based on what we see. After the fitting is done we go back to work on the garment to finish it.”

There are no doubt lots of other details to understand about custom tailoring and alterations, so I’ll turn it over to those of you who’ve had them done. What can you tell us about the process, and what advice would you offer?

My RSS feed is packed so full that I sit down around 7 each morning to crack open, and it’s usually approaching 9 before I’m moving on. When I’m more pressed for time, I skip most of them and sail through my top 15 or so feeds – and one of those is Lilli Hingee’s delightful, daily “style story,” Frocks& Frou Frou.

I’m no girly-girl; you’ll catch me buying dresses and jewelry and shoes about as often as you’ll see Ralph Lauren sponsoring a BBW convention, but people, I admit it: Lilli’s daily outfit posts give me a secret pinch of giddy girliness. I figure the step outside-of-myself is good for me, and she’s so cute I can’t even be mad at her for making me want to spend money on polka dots and florals and a good pair of red pumps.

Just don’t tell anyone…I got a rep to protect.

And so I pass the Frocks & Frou Frou RSS torch to you, in hopes you’ll get as much enjoyment out of Lilli’s daily looks as I do. For an extra dose of girly goodness, you can also follow her on Twitter.

Real Women Have Curves, from Tia Bailey

This image struck me the minute I saw it. Soft, brave, beautiful, elegant. Everything we know deep down that we are, but are often too shy to capture publicly. Tia is considering starting a series of these. We hope she does, and if you agree, go on over and tell her so.

Do you have a great idea for a brave series of self-portraits? We’d love to support you, so be sure to add yours to our FGG Girls Flickr pool. We choose one winner each month for a fun prize, and as always, the more the merrier!

Many of us have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. We here at FGG are thrilled to have the opportunity to get to know our community of new friends, and we hope you’re having as much fun as we are! As the year comes to a close and we take stock of our good fortune, it’s also important to remember that there are many people in our communities who are struggling through difficult times and need a little help. That’s why this year I chose to get involved with a great non-profit called Drop In & Decorate (more on my party tomorrow over at Culinography).

Drop In & Decorate was founded by a fellow food blogger, Lydia Walshin. Their mission is to help people build bridges of caring and respect between groups within their own communities . . . with cookies! Set aside a little time, gather a few co-workers, kids, friends or family, and before you know it, you’re ready to donate cookies to a nonprofit agency serving basic human needs in your community. What a great way to send a little good out into the world–during the holidays or any other time of year!

This experience has given me something I’d been missing out on until this year: the joy of decorating sugar cookies. I’m amazed at the fun I was missing. Not only are sugar cookies easy to whip up (and using things most of us have in our kitchens), but you can also let your creativity run wild with the shapes, icing colors, and decorations. Each one can truly be an original work of art.

Why not spend a little time this weekend decorating cookies? And, if you’re so inclined, consider making someone’s day a little brighter by donating some or all of your creations as part of the Drop In & Decorate initiative. And have fun making, savoring, and sharing your goodies!

Sugar Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large bowl/bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until fully combined. Add the flour mixture in three parts and beat until just combined, scraping down the bowl occasionally.

Roll out dough on a floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Yield: 3-4 dozen cookies, depending on size

Royal Icing
(courtesy of Lydia @ The Perfect Pantry)
1 lb + scant 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
5 Tbsp meringue powder
1/2 cup cool water (add more, a teaspoon at a time, if needed for desired consistency)
A few drops of paste food coloring

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, combine first three ingredients and mix on low speed until glossy and fluffy, 7-8 minutes. To color, place some icing in a small bowl or plastic cup, and stir in a few drops of food coloring until desired shade is reached. Royal Icing hardens quickly when exposed to air, so use immediately, or transfer to an airtight container; it will keep overnight at room temperature. Beat well before using.

Yield: 2-1/2 cups, enough for one batch of large cookies.

Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com

Snowshoes by m.prinke

Today’s guide comes with a little homework. Don’t worry! It’s not too painful–just a little (ahem) warm-up reading. Our Guide to Cold Weather Hiking covers how to dress warmly and stay dry and be safe while moving your bod outdoors during winter, and we list some retailers that carry clothing that will actually fit us larger girls. See? Not painful at all. Now let’s get to it.

First, some reasons why snowshoeing is a great activity for fat girls:

* Just about anyone who can walk can snowshoe (even me, and I’m as clumsy as they come)

* It’s low tech, low impact (easy on those joints!), and carries less chance of injury than skiing or snowboarding

* It’s inexpensive compared to other winter sports and activities (no lift tickets, no special boots needed)

* You can snowshoe just about anywhere – no need to drive to a resort – and you can practice in your back yard

* Snowshoeing allows you to hike above the snow instead of “post holing” knee- or waist-deep through it

Now for some snowshoe-specific gear tweaks on our cold weather hiking guide:

Layering – Some outdoor sports require thicker long underwear, with good reason. If you’ll be standing around for hours watching Winter Olympic snowboarding or going hunting or snowmobiling, then winter weight underthings are the way to go. But because I’m a sweaty Betty once I get moving for winter hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing, I tend to wear a lighter base layer made of water-wicking, synthetic fabric (i.e., NOT COTTON) that moves sweat away from the bod, keeping you warm and dry.

Footwear - Winter starts with the letter W, and that’s how you’ll want to think of the boots you’ll strap into your  snowshoes: warm and waterproof. You don’t need spendy, high-tech performance boots, just sturdy-but-comfy snow boots that work well with your body, offer great ankle support, and won’t get wet or leave your toes feeling chilled on the trail. As someone who hikes year-round and spends hours sledding with my three sons, I never skimp on socks – winter-weight socks (again, not cotton) like these snowshoe-specific ones by Thorlo or these winter hiking socks by SmartWool, which come in XL, are a worthy investment.

Outer Shell – This is basically whatever type of waterproof jacket or parka you own, plus snow pants. Skip the heavier ski pants or jackets because you’ll be plenty warm walking around over the snow.

Poles - If you’ll be snowshoeing in the mountains or very hilly terrain, you might want to spare your knees and buy or rent some poles. There’s a wide array of trekking poles available; check a local, trusted outdoor retailer to help you find the right size, strength, and weight.

Snowshoes - There are three basic types of snowshoes, and they’re generally defined by activity type and level: recreational, backcountry/mountaineering, and adventure/running. Beginners need look no further than the recreational style, which is great because they’re the most affordable. Snowshoes are sized in length and based on the user’s weight (including whatever load a person will carry in a daypack), not shoe size, which makes shopping easier. However, the more you weigh, the harder it can be to find shoes designed to carry you over the snow, and larger snowshoes can sometimes cost a bit more.

I asked Beth Mairs, founder and director of Wild Women Expeditions, Canada’s largest outdoor adventure company for women to offer some snowshoeing pointers for this guide. “I use and recommend Atlas brand snowshoes, and their Elecktra line of snowshoes for women work with how women walk and stride.” Their 27″ beginner model, the Elektra 8, is sized for people (and daypacks) weighing between 120-200+ pounds. If you’re new to this sport and not sure you want to commit to it, many ski and outdoor shops rent snowshoes so you can get a feel for it before buying.

Technique

Testing your snow legs with an outfitter is a great way to get started; retailers like REI, local independent outfitters, and some park and conservation districts run beginner workshops. For you visual types, REI has an excellent series of videos and expert advice on basic snowshoeing techniques, such as moving up or downhill. Once you get going, it feels a bit tougher than walking in general, but easier than walking barefoot over an uneven sandy beach. You’ll be picking your feet up a bit higher than normal, so expect some soreness in your thighs later on, depending on your fitness level.

I asked Beth Mairs for tricks to getting snowshoes on, especially for those of us who have a hard time bending down due to flexibility issues and/or bellies getting in our way. “My trick? Put one snowshoe on inside, being careful not to put your full weight on the floor due to the teeth (crampons)! And sitting is a must; only extreme (as in extremely annoying) jocks will be able to put on and take off snowshoes while standing.”

Trail Etiquette

“Stay out of the way of cross-country skiers,” says Mairs, a cross-country skier-turned-snowshoer. “Snowshoeing is maybe more of a personalty type B than a type A activity.” Tread Lightly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor ethics has a nicely crafted set of guidelines for outdoor sports, including:

Be considerate of others on the trail.
Keep to the right when meeting other winter recreationists and yield the right of way to downhill traffic.
Respect established ski tracks. If traveling by foot or snowshoe, don’t damage existing ski tracks.
When stopping, step to the side of the trail to let other skiers and recreationists pass.
When skiing, move to the right to allow faster skiers to pass.
If crossing private property, ask permission from the landowner(s).

Best Times to Go

Mairs describes the ideal snowshoeing weather as “during mid-winter, when there’s an adequate base packed down already but then some sexy, soft powder falls, say six inches. That’s the stuff.” Her final words of advice? “You’re out to explore and marvel in nature’s beauty, and able to go places you could never be except for the buoyancy that the snowshoes give you over the surface of the snow. Savor that.” That’s a technique we can all get behind.

So, as we often ask here at FGG, if you’ve been curious about snowshoeing, what are you waiting for? If you have questions, ask away. If you’re experienced, please share your tips and tricks in the comments section.

We are thrilled to introduce our newest columnist, Charlie O’Hay, who will be writing from a guy’s point of view each month starting in January.

Charlie is a published poet whose work has appeared in over 100 literary magazines, including Gargoyle, The New York Quarterly, and West Branch. He was awarded a fellowship in poetry and literature from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in 1995. He currently works as a freelance advertising copywriter and manuscript editor. He is married to Cecily Kellogg of Uppercase Woman and dad to a dynamic, beautiful daughter. Charlie blogs at It Ain’t All Pizzas and Cream.

Let’s extend a warm FGG welcome to Charlie! If you’ve got any questions for him ask away in the comments.