The Unapologetic Fat Girl's Guide to Exercise and Other Incendiary Acts

Table Of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments  

Introduction: Excuse Me—I Think This Is Yours 
  
Incendiary Act #1: Refuse to Apologize for Having a Body    

Chapter 1 
Why Bother?

Whys and Wherefores   
A Note on the F-Word   
30 Things to Love About Exercise (None of Which Have Anything
to Do with Your Weight, Your Size, or What You Look Like)   
What Do You Think You’re Doing?   
Body Practice   
What Do You Want to Do with Yourself?   
25 Sample Goals for Your Body Practice   
What Do You Call It?   
Health At Every Size   
Getting the Right Feedback   
Incendiary Act #2: Pay Real Attention to Yourself   
What’s So Bad About Boredom?   
Give Yourself a Break   
Incendiary Act #3: Have Your Own Reasons to Do the Things You Do   
Getting Back on the Horse 
  
Chapter 2
Chub, Sweat, and Jeers

That Target on Your Back   
Incendiary Act #4: Don’t Make Yourself Responsible for 
Other People’s Bad Behavior   
Voices in Your Head   
Opinions Are Like Assholes   
When Compliments Aren’t   
Concern Trolling   
Incendiary Act #5: Don’t Do the Assholes’ Job for Them   
Get Out of My Way   
Teachable Moments   
Incendiary Act #6: Claim the Right to Be Unattractive 
(Just Like Anybody Else)   
Finding and Creating Fat-Friendly Space to Move   

Chapter 3 
What Am I Going To Do?

Stealth Exercise   
Outdoors Versus Indoors   
Solo Exercise   
Exercise Partnerships   
Group and Class Exercise   
At Home in Front of Your TV   
Incendiary Act #7: Flail Proudly   
Team and Competitive Sports   
Personal Trainers and Coaches   
Functional Fitness   
101 Things You Can Do with Your Body   

Chapter 4
Hit the Ground Running

The Unapologetic Fat-Girl Lowdown on Gyms   
Choosing a Gym: A Checklist   
The Locker-Room Thing   
Hitting the Showers   
Incendiary Act #8: Know That You’re Not Alone   
Play Pool   
Safety and Weight Limits   
Comfort and Ergonomics   
A Fitness-Equipment Shopping Note   
Dressing for It   
The Well-Shod Fathlete  
A Word About Bras   
Coping with the Belly Flop   

Chapter 5 
Action and Reaction

The Long Haul   
Play, Work, Meditation, and Vitamin Pills   
The 80 Percent Rule   
Building a Workout   
Two Sample Workouts   
Modifying Movements   
Incendiary Act #9: Play to Your Strengths   
Managing Your Expectations   
Incendiary Act #10: Dare to Not Compare   
Change Is Inevitable   
What’s Buzzin’ Cousin?   
Wanted Versus Unwanted Changes   
Incendiary Act #11: Focus On What Makes You Fierce   
Body Weight and Size Changes   

Chapter 6
Troubleshooting 

Stop Right There   
Common Sports Injuries and What to Do About Them   
Some Insider Secrets for Happier Body Practice from the Ancient 
and Exalted Sisterhood of Incendiary Fat-Girl Exercisers   
Getting What You Came for at the Doctor’s   
Strategic Advisors   
Nutrition and the Active Eater   
Getting Down (and Up Again)   
Incendiary Act #12: Know That You Are the Authority on You   
Institutionalized Body Hatred and the Unapologetic Fat Girl  

Epilogue: What Moves You  

Resource Guide   

About the Author