The before photo of the author was at a 'fat camp'????   Please!

@ Liconalis - I assume that she's like me and had the extra weight evenly distributed. i still have family members that are incredulous that i needed to loose weight, especially 45 pounds. but combine the even distribution with being a little taller (5'10") and it doesn't look as bad as it would otherwise.

I have to say that the show from what i saw, shows people dealing with everything I deal with.. Its an eye opener to those who dont deal with it, IF they would sit down and watch it.. The author of the article was probably taller then myself so her weight looks to be not that much..

I hesitated to even post this BEFORE photo of myself; I have only shared it with a few close friends and family members. In this photo, I was 5-1/2" or so and nearly 140 pounds (in high school I weighed as much as 145 on my small frame). My 20 or 30 extra pounds I'm sure felt like 50 or 100 to others. I grew up with an overweight mother (she was 5'2-1/2" and weighed as much as 280 pounds at one point) who didn't want me to suffer with weight issues the way she had. I remember always feeling insecure about my body and weight, being called thunder thighs, and pulling down my shorts to cover up my stretch marks as early as age 12 or 13. I dieted on and off throughout my childhood (many times WITH my mom!) but got it together in a healthy way and for the first time when I went to college and lived on my own and really learned and felt empowered to take care of myself. Some may say this "BEFORE photo" doesn't look like one typical of a fat camper--and perhaps I was one of the less heavy of those who attended such camps--but I was was still overweight and wanted to lose weight to feel stronger, be healthier, and be the best I can be, really! I am very proud of all I've accomplished in terms of my weight, the shape I'm in, and most importantly my attitudes about food, fitness, and life. I hope Huge, and this article is at least a little helpful in helping today's youth (and their parents as well) communicate more positively about one another and ourselves and take the best possible care of ourselves--outside and in--to live a more balanced, optimal, and enjoyable life. Thanks for all your comments so far--I sincerely appreciate them! 

I like this article :P I've seen every episode of this show, and no, its not my favorite show. (i have nothing bad to say about it, only good, its just not my particularly favorite genre) But its empowering to see, as i am - was? :D! - an overweight teen and these are struggles that happen on a daily basis if not to me or my friends! I also think they missed the opritunity to discuss how dangerous purging is, now tht i think about it. To be honest, really whatever gets kids eating the right foods, the right amount, with the right mindset. It goes for adults too!! I mean, my whole family likes this show, and Will :P!

Please, please! I am 140 pounds and 5'2. So exaclty ( almost) what you were, and you were sent to "Fat" camp- now, I feel awful :(

Please be more careful with what you share

I went to fat camp for 5 years, each year gaining back what I lost and then some.  The camp I went to taught us to eat right, but at camp we were still eating in a bubble with set meals and snacks and no temptations to cheat.  I haven't seen "huge" but have read reviews and the synopsis of the show seems like exactly what goes on in fat camp.  Rivalries because of thinner girls (we actually had a teen vogue model who was sent there by her company to lose 10 pounds) the dreaded bathing suit pictures, intermural sports with the boy's weight loss camp... Oh and I remember making friends with the security guard at our dorms and have him keep the doors open at 2AM so we could sneak out and walk the mile down the road to the 7-11 and binge... then he would let us back in :) 

I'm 5'6 and my GOAL weight is 145 lbs.

Anyway, we should not be insensitive to what the author has written.  She struggled, and we all struggle.

Original Post by: lconalis

The before photo of the author was at a 'fat camp'????   Please!

in 86 alot less people were so obese so although she might not of been as huge people are these days she was still obese compared to the norm of the time.

Just wondering.....as the show continues, will those who are starring in it actually lose the weight???  Will successful weightloss come from "HUGE" or will they remain overweight so the show can continue....or, will they succeed and the show have to get new stars???  Curious!

I hope the stars lose weight and we get a few new stars.  It would be depressing to see the kids work so hard and not succeed.  I think if they were trying to depict real life, then they would have a new cast with some return campers (not everyone is successful at everything).  

Then, if there were some actors or actresses they wanted back for a second season of the show they could write them in as guest stars or as cabin counselors.  Or maybe there could be a second set of cabins for the maintenance campers.  I would say there's something to maintenance when you add the responsibility of mentoring.  Look at our author, she did exactly that (eventually).  Sharing her successes and helping others live healthfully is a great motivator for her to get up in the morning and start her day with a positive, can-do, attitude.  :)

Hi.  this isn't about a fat teen.  My granddaughter, who is only five years old has been classified by her pediatrician as obese.  She is a tall, larger boned girl, with perhaps a bit extra padding, but she is so far from obese it is ridiculous.  I'm think our slimness world has gone overboard.  Her parents are cutting back on the amount of juice and chips in the house -- nothing too drastic.

I am extra concerned because I, now, can be realistically classified as morbidly obese -- although again, thanks to my large boned, Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, I think I carry it a bit better than most.  But the sheer volume of me, plus rising blood sugar readings, has me working on it real hard.  But now I can see from photos that I was a pretty normal weight, active kid.  As I grew large breasts and broad hips, these were classified by my parents, and even one doctor, as evidence of fat.  Plus, I didn't learn any discipline around food.  So I have dieted since I was 18 years old, to the point where my children tell me I looked anorexic.  A good deal of the time I ate 1000 calories a day or less -- until one day I emotionally and physically "blew a gasket."   Sometimes I wonder what weight I would have been if I had accepted myself and learned to eat like a normal person.

I don't want this to happen to my granddaughter and other kids.  People do come in all shapes and sizes.  

I really enjoy the show. As long as "Will" isn't condoning an unhappy, overweight lifestyle, then I think this show has real potential to put a great message out there for our young teens.

i watch this show every night! it encourages me and every morning i wake up and think back on the episode and try to work hard to remember their lessons and lose weight! its one of my biggest motivations!

I have not seen this show, but after this article am eager to see it.  Having gone to a fat camp at age 12, I have a lot of great and funny memories, and I can honestly say that I am glad I went.  It was called Camp Stanley in the Catskill Mountains in NY.  It was a great experience.

There were the same kind of girl dynamics as described in the article.  My original roommate was one of the skinny girls - literally, she was skinny - and they all banded together - those better-looking skinny girls.  Thank goodness she switched rooms with another girl and I got a great new roomie out of the deal.  I was like the author - not terribly obese, 5'4" at 157.  There were many girls who were much heavier than I.  One of my counselors was this woman named Dawn, (I think her last name was McDougal) who was quite large - l somewhere around 250lbs. or more - she was only 5 feet or so tall.  She was blond and sweet as heck and a real hippy type.  She could not lose for anything - who knows what she was doing when she got the munchies on those counselors' nights off in town.  She ended up doing all the nude fat lady calendars called Dawn's something or other - they were in all the stationery and record stores back then (1974-5-ish).  At least she made some dough!

I lost 25 lbs and kept it off for about 2 years and even lost more getting down to 113 lbs.  Then my fat best friend started buying me hostess apple pies and Dr. Peppers.  What a friend.  The first year of high school was tough and I gained some back. For most of my life I have kept it off, but it has been a tough and constant struggle and I have gone up and down a few times.  

I think that "fat camps" are great because kids do have an opportunity to learn about nutrition and exercise.  The real test is when camp is over - parents have to be responsible enough to implement all those lessons learned otherwise success is only temporary. 

I have a 6-year old son who takes after his Dad, Mr. Slim and pretty muscular.  Thank goodness!  He eats a good variety of very healthy foods as well as an occasional bag o' chips and he loves cookies and cake (in moderation). I can't imagine how hard it must be to raise a fat kid and try to help that kid overcome those issues.  On the other side of the coin - to some degree a parent should have the the power over what that kid eats.  So your kid is really a reflection of what you have been feeding him/her over the first 5 years of his/her life.  For my first 12 years of life, I was a giant yodel/hostess apple pie.  If it was in the house, I ate it.   

When I see families where everyone is very overweight, I have to admit, I just wonder what they are thinking.  Are they paying attention to what is going on around them?  There's more to life than eating. 

I guess having been a fat kid and having that legacy, I feel pretty strongly that most parents who let their kids get fat are not being responsible parents.  I know I will get heat for that opinion because there are times that a parent can't control what a kid eats outside of the home, but I feel that by and large what a kid eats at home can be controlled - as well as how much exercise that kid gets.  And the focus at home should be on "healthy" not on "diet."  Parents need to be role models.

I know from experience that unhealthy eating habits are tied into emotional issues (I had so many of them growing up), so one has to deal with the problem as well as the symptom. 

Anyway, I have said my piece, I am off my soap box, sorry to all the people who I have unintentionally offended and my sincere wishes for the best of luck to all those kids and teens out there who are trying to get healthy. 

elisazied wrote:  “nourishing my body with healthful foods, engaging in enjoyable physical activity, and learning to love and accept my body, imperfect as it may be.”  I love this!  Thank you!  I’m going to post this somewhere I can see it every day.  I had gained so much more weight as an adult that I would look back at high school photos and wish I were that size again – but at 17, 5’4” tall and 182 lbs I was neither athletic and nor healthy.  I was the FAT girl in our small rural classroom from kindergarten on up.  My not-nice cousin would visit in the summer, stand in our farmyard and sing fat-limerick-songs at the top of his lungs at me – didn’t matter where I hid from him, I could hear his singing.  (Wow – I don’t think I’ve told anyone that before.)  28 years later – many pounds gained and lost – I’m on a healthier course now than ever before - lots of clean food, lots of fruits and veggies and consistent cardio + flexibility training with some strength building thrown in.  (Hit my one year anniversary at yoga class last January!  Yippee!)  Today I weigh more than I did in high school and I’m at the beginning of a new life – doing my part to make this a long healthy life.  We all have our own journey – our pain cannot be quantified by pounds and inches – and I don’t believe we can compare our journeys, pains or selves.  I like what elisazied wrote – because I’m the one that has to love and accept my imperfect body (some days being better than others).  Thanks for listening everyone – Thanks to elisazied for her article and sharing.        

Haven't seen the show but wanted to comment on other's comments regarding hte author's before nad after.

In 7.5 years of facing food addiction and using weight watchers first, then CC to be a tool for hte battle, I learned something very valuable.  Weight is relative.

I used to get SO frustrated nad roll my eyes at people at weight watchers who'd get to goal and become lifetime members after losing like 16 pounds.  REALLY?  I should stand up and cheer you when I have real weight to lose like 120+ #'s?  Really?????

but thoise 16 pounds probably weighed as much on those people as the 120 pounds did on me.

Anad another point on relativity of weight - I have lost over 100 pounds but still have more weight to lose before I'd even get close to the normal range for my height/age.    But people who do not know me would never know I weighed over 300 #'s at one time, so they cannot see that while I am still technically obese, I am no longer that Fat Chick.  They still observe me as slovenly overweight lazy ........ the relative nature of this is that I've gone from size 28 to 16, lost over 100 pounds, and can now easily work out with a personal trainer as well as keep on my cardio routine 5-6 days a week.  And be on here counting calories.

So before any of us jump to our own conclusions regarding a person's looks/weight, stop and remember that weight is relative and no one deserves to be judged.

I'm 16 years old, and about 180 pounds. I've always wanted to lose weight but I just...haven't. I'd set a goal, then see the chips or cupcakes or something in the house and say "screw it." I'm proud to say that Huge motivates me A LOT! That and the fact that I would like to be asked to Prom but no guy in my hick town would want to go with the painfully shy fat girl. So I'm determined to get to a weight where I'll be confident with myself. I credit Huge for finally lighting a fire under my butt. It's an awesome show, and I love it (even though it isn't my favorite). :)

Wow, I thought the sum up of HUGE was so totally off. Maybe I just wasn't watching it the same way?

 "Will is mortified at the thought of posing in front of her peers for the mandatory “BEFORE” bathing suit photo." She didn't seem mortified at all. She just didn't seem to want to do it. She seemed to just be standing around and joking. And her little strip tease isn't really the action of someone who's mortified.

"Amber, the blond bombshell played by Hayley Hasselhoff, soon becomes Will’s nemesis. Will (not to mention many of the other girls) are clearly jealous of the beautiful Amber (in episode one, some of the girls say she’s the thinnest one there and question why she’s even there)." What? How is Will "clearly" jealous? They actually seem kind of nice to each other at the end and, though they aren't there for the same reasons or have the same ideals, they seem to deal with each other just fine. Maybe some of the other girls are, maybe, but they all seem nice to Amber, or just "okay" with her (that "you're the thinnest one here" comment was at the very beginning to compliment her, not to attack her for being too small). I haven't see anyone straight up jealous of Amber. Also, it's Will's friend Becca that tells on her, not Amber. Becca didn't want the food around, Amber could of cared less. Amber told on the girl throwing up.

Man, you put a little too much of yourself into that recap. XD

Anyways~

I have been to a fat camp and I found it pretty truthful. The over zealous camp counselors, the fat kids that now have a "level" playing field. I just remember being upset that the counselors only cared about my weight loss during something called a "color war." That's when they gave a hoot. Lol. I think the show is actually cute and charming. I'll be watching it.

@author. Thank you so much for your review of HUGE, and sharing your personal experience as a teenager with your readers, and as always for promoting healthy eating over "thinness." Your balanced, practical recommendations are much appreciated. Ellen Slotkin

Original Post by: taybaby180

Please, please! I am 140 pounds and 5'2. So exaclty ( almost) what you were, and you were sent to "Fat" camp- now, I feel awful :(

ok I understand the whole comparing thing..I think we all do it to some extent, but 1) she stated she was 5' 1/2" not 5'2-1/2" tall. 2) bone structure matters too.  3) She was in high school.  I am currently at the same size I was in high school but I weigh 20 lbs more.  Our bodies change as we age.  Not to mention the fact that everyone was scoffing at her need for fat camp in the first place.  You control the way you feel, and her post shouldn't be scorned because some people felt bad about themselves because of the pictures.

I was sent to fat camp as a kid and for me it wasn't great.  I wasn't empowered I didn't feel like I was with people who were like me.  I was lonely and sad and I felt like I had been sent away to be fixed.  While they did teach me how to eat and stuff at the camp I went to they never dealt with the emotional issues that were the root cause to my overeating.  

When I went to fat camp I was about 40 to 50 lbs overweight at 5'4 and 170 lbs at 13.  I lost 20 something lbs that summer which yeah made me happy.  I pleased my parents, I was able to get some new clothes yadda yadda yadda.  I remember quite clearly the first day of school being all proud and having some jerk come up to me and say "you may have lost some weight this summer but you got a lot more to lose".  I gained all the weight back within 6 months and by the end of the next year I was up to 190. 

If anything fat camp was a bad thing for me personally because I felt like I had been sent away to be fixed.  I really empathize with Will in the show, especially in the second episode where she didn't want to write her parents because they sent her away.  I did the opposite and called my parents every night crying.  I didn't understand what was so wrong with me that I had to be sent away.  I've spent most of my life since then wearing my fat like a badge trying to prove something...to myself I guess that people would like me even though I was fat all the while hating myself because of it. 

While fat camp may be a good thing for some people what I think would be a lot better is for parents to work with their kids and show them by example how to live a healthy active lifestyle.  

Original Post by: jaefuma

Wow, I thought the sum up of HUGE was so totally off. Maybe I just wasn't watching it the same way?

 "Will is mortified at the thought of posing in front of her peers for the mandatory “BEFORE” bathing suit photo." She didn't seem mortified at all. She just didn't seem to want to do it. She seemed to just be standing around and joking. And her little strip tease isn't really the action of someone who's mortified.

"Amber, the blond bombshell played by Hayley Hasselhoff, soon becomes Will’s nemesis. Will (not to mention many of the other girls) are clearly jealous of the beautiful Amber (in episode one, some of the girls say she’s the thinnest one there and question why she’s even there)." What? How is Will "clearly" jealous? They actually seem kind of nice to each other at the end and, though they aren't there for the same reasons or have the same ideals, they seem to deal with each other just fine. Maybe some of the other girls are, maybe, but they all seem nice to Amber, or just "okay" with her (that "you're the thinnest one here" comment was at the very beginning to compliment her, not to attack her for being too small). I haven't see anyone straight up jealous of Amber. Also, it's Will's friend Becca that tells on her, not Amber. Becca didn't want the food around, Amber could of cared less. Amber told on the girl throwing up.

Man, you put a little too much of yourself into that recap. XD

Anyways~

I have been to a fat camp and I found it pretty truthful. The over zealous camp counselors, the fat kids that now have a "level" playing field. I just remember being upset that the counselors only cared about my weight loss during something called a "color war." That's when they gave a hoot. Lol. I think the show is actually cute and charming. I'll be watching it.

You are completely right about my mistake re the plot (Becca telling on Will etc)..my bad, and it will be corrected asap on the post, thanks for pointing it out. Everyone interprets shows and characters in their own way and I'm sorry you don't agree with my assessments of Will's character and the feelings of others towards Amber. I do, however, appreciate your comment as well as all the other comments posted thus far. 

First off, I want to thank the author for taking the time to do an actual review for this show. It did bring out alot of issues that are not usually discussed. It was very honest, and actually on point on what the show is really about. Great job. I also want to apologize for the people who have negative feedback on her "before" picture. I don't think people should belittle other people's accomplishments because of their own insecurities. (Which btw i am not making this to anyone in particular.) We all have our own battles. Take for example me being so far away from my personal goal, I don't agree her accomplishment shouldn't be recognized because it is much smaller than my personal goals. Congratulations from overcoming your battle. I love what you said about not loving finally reaching your goal but to actually learn on how to nourish your body... etc. It was really motivating and like i said as i continue my weight loss journey I will keep that in mind when times get tough. Bravo.

The irony is, of course, that one reason children are overweight is because they are watching TV in the first place....

It is wonderful that a drama show is acknowledging obesity in younger people. And it is good that Will accepts the way she looks. (At 5'5" and 150 pounds I wish I could!) But self-esteem aside, I still think it is a little inappropriate. It doesn't matter how much you love your body: being that obese is just not healthy for you!  Or the nation's healthcare problems! Loving your body means caring for it! It is great to be comfortable in her own skin, but at least don't put yourself at risk a myriad of major health issues.

(As a side, if Nikki Blonsky's character Will is so proud of her body, then why is she reluctant to wear a bathing suit in front of her peers? That isn't real pride in your body if you don't feel comfortable bearing it in a one-piece. At least to me.)

Original Post by: cahchgo

The irony is, of course, that one reason children are overweight is because they are watching TV in the first place....

By the way, people are not ridiculing her. They are saying how good she looked in her "before" picture! To me, too, that doesn't look fat. She looked good!

Oops, hit the wrong quote button. That was aimed at j0jo7.

Ok, she was in high school. So am I. I'm 5' 3" and weigh 140 pounds. Like taybaby180 said, it made me feel bad about myself, because I look an awful lot like her BEFORE picture, and I didn't really feel like I needed fat camp. But maybe I do?? I don't know, but I do know that I feel even worse about myself now. Yay...

@guard_girl - so do you "feel even worse" about yourself when you hear about others who are underweight, but think they are fat?

My intention in writing this blog was to share my thoughts--both professional and personal--on the show HUGE. It was not my intent to make anyone feel badly about themselves--their body weight, their shape, their size, etc. Perhaps I shared too much information--which, I should add, was hard to do but something I thought relevant to this particular post--but again, I think if you read about me and all my work, which includes three books, several articles and blogs on popular sites and magazines, as well as my own personal ZIED GUIDE blog, I try my best through all my media work to be empowering, to help people feel good about themselves whatever size and shape they may be, and if they are suffering in any way--if they have diet-related diseases and conditions, if they eat too much or aren't as active as they'd like to be, for example, or if they just simply want to be and feel more healthy, I try to encourage them to improve food and fitness behaviors in a healthful and sustainable way.  I apologize to anyone who feels badly about themselves because of what I wrote and because of the picture I posted..I assure you that was not my intent, and I'm sorry that's not how you interpreted my words and sentiments which were heartfelt (not to sound corny) and supposed to be empowering to those who have weight struggles. :)

@elisazied - i feel you did very well expressing yourself and am impressed with you efforts to help others. unfortunately sometimes people take what they want from a writting rather than what paying attention to all that was written. keep up the good work.

Thanks so much, appreciate the support. I am definitely developing a thick skin and do appreciate that people are at least reading and thinking about what I wrote. Thanks again and have a great day!! :)

you're welcome. and look at me calling the kettle black. i didn't even read my last posting well enough to see my typo/misswording.  :op

I know Elisa well and would like to chime in her on her behalf.  She is truly sincere in her work; helping people feel good by taking good care of themselves. 

@taybaby180 & guard_girl: Elisa has quite a tiny frame to begin with. I believe that 140 lbs would have been a bit much for her to have been comfortable with, especially as an insecure teenager caught up in our world of external pressures. I hope that your self-esteem can be positively supported so that you become comfortable in your bodies and if not, perhaps you can take something from Elisa's story and work and help yourselves to become confident women.

She is extremely active physically, absolutely practices what she "preaches" [and she does not preach!] and is a great source of knowledge... 

Elisa - LOVE 'Zeid Guide'...very clever!

very true.