CELEBRATE: Body Love Month

Before we are able to love others, we must be able to love ourselves first.

We're so happy to have received numerous submissions from you, dear plumptastic women!!!

We really feel so blessed to have awesome women share the body love with us. :)

I may be fat, but I'm perfectly good at it.

sent by Flowie Diana

Cause the star within us is way bigger than our bodies. 

Gotta ♥ my body.

sent in by Katsi

I always wanted to be in a real photo shoot 

but never thought it'd ever happen because I'm overweight. 

Little did I know my "flaw" would 

lead me to bigger and better things!

sent in by Katrina

Have no fear, summer is here!

sent in by Chili

It's edgy, fierce and definitely me. 

Never be afraid to show your funky and real self! :)

sent in by Gellie Anne

Quaintly naive

sent in by Jessa

I'm proud to be plump...

sent in by Claire

We absolutely love these fearless women's photos! And we think it's a great way to celebrate love month. :) If this ain't fatbulosity, then I don't know what iz!

Always remember, YOU CANNOT LOOK AFTER SOMETHING YOU HATE! Keep spreading the body love!

Plump ♥

Danah

ZE LOVE MONTH IS HERE!!!

Let's celebrate BODY LOVE this February!!! :) Please send us a photo of you, enjoying and celebrating your wonderful hips and curves!!! Add a 1-liner caption to make it extra special! E-mail us at theplumpinay@gmail.com!

We want to fill this page with beautiful photos from our readers, so please participate! ;)

Verbatim: Oprah Winfrey

Got this inspiration quote from a follower on Facebook. I just had to post it here.

“Step Away from the mean girls… and say bye-bye to feeling bad about your looks. Are you ready to stop colluding with a culture that makes so many of us feel physically inadequate? Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others. 


This is a call to arms. A call to be gentle, to be forgiving, to be generous with yourself. The next time you look into the mirror, try to let go of the story line that says you're too fat or too sallow, too ashy or too old, your eyes are too small or your nose too big; just look into the mirror and see your face. When the criticism drops away, what you will see then is just you, without judgment, and that is the first step toward transforming your experience of the world.”


Plump love,
Danah

Summer's almost here...

so let us be inspired with Fluvia's summer mantra:

1 bikini, 0 make up, 100% happiness

I’m that fat chick wearing bikinis at the beach and seriously happy about it. Perhaps because New York City winters have made me realize how awful I look on that pale yellow skin tone but probably and most likely because I’m aware that if I’m not happy under my own skin, no one else will be for me.

Enjoy your summer, I know I will.

-- Fluvia Lacerda

Beyond Yoga winner!

It was really great to hear from our readers their personal stories of varying experiences and most importantly, victories. With this, I would like to share with you the 5 comments which made choosing so difficult for us! But of course, we can only pick one comment. Before we reveal the lucky new yogi, let's check out the 4 entries which are also inspiring, encouraging and just plain awesome. Let their words strengthen you and empower you to break the fears brought about by poor body-image. :)

The question:

What's one thing you hindered yourself from doing because of your weight and how did you win over it?

Gellie answered:

I actually had second thoughts about fashion blogging and recently a new comment in my blog showed up telling me that people comment nicely in my blog just because they feel sorry for me cos I'm fat. I will not deny the fact that I was still affected and hurt; but after a few minutes of thinking about it and some words of encouragement from my blogger friends, I just shrugged it off and moved on. I know I'm just expressing myself and fashion for me is an art which is a form of self expression.

Nothing and no one should ever stop us from doing the things we love to do. We are as beautiful as how we see ourselves. I've had second thoughts about fashion blogging because of comments like that; but I've thought of it and realized, I'm not blogging to please but to inspire and to encourage fellow plus-size women that everyone can be beautiful. If I show a hint of defeat, my purpose is already defeated. Thus, I continue my journey into blogging and will just shrug off the negative comments. 

I will just be myself and continue loving who I am. 

Cheers to staying real and true to ourselves! <3

April answered: 

With what the media has been telling us, performers (singers, actors, etc.) should be thin, period. My passion is for the arts, theater acting and singing in particular, and in this business, you gotta be beautiful aside from having talents. At one time that I was invited to do a mini concert, I got sort of disappointed because the clothes they have provided that I wear were literally for petite people. I don't know if they were "nananadya" or something. Luckily I brought my own clothes that time. So I went on with the show, did my thing, and had a standing ovation. And from then on, I didn't care if I was the chubby singer or that chubby theater actress. All I cared about was to show everyone that I am as good as those skinny people, or even better as some would say. I am passionate with what I do and I'll continue doing it because it fulfills me :D

Leonore answered:

Because i am so much bigger than a lot of my beautiful cousins and sister,in the past i would hide during family occasions whenever someone would bring out a camera. but it was my curvy physique that make me a popular choice for casters for television and print ads!one of the best moments was to see myself as the lead in a commercial! my weight fluctuates but i don't hide under baggy clothes anymore- i flaunt my girls, the pair of legs God gave me and i let my personality shine. Best of all i love having my picture taken with the family! 

Jeanne answered:

i've always wanted to wear lovely sleeveless dresses and blouses whenever i go out instead of the usual shirt and jeans but my big arms and tummy had always stopped me from doing so.=( i wanted to be free from being insecure about my arms and tummy and be seen wearing fashionable dresses and blouses. =D

and the winning entry goes to...

Carl Garcia!!!

She wrote:

Although loving my curves has always been my number one principle that I’ll always live by, I also strongly believe that if I take care of my body , it will equally love me back as well. With the sports arena having to be giving out standards that you should be fit and lean to compete into any event, I grew up just playing ball games because it’s the only way I could play in a team without being awkward about my size. But upon mustering up courage to learn about this sport that I was ( and still am) eagerly interested in, I braved myself into trying out for the swimming team. Yes, I paved my way into rigid trainings and even competed to the Milo Olympics in highschool, caring nonetheless if my curves weren’t fit enough for my body fit Speedo. I realized, if I can be at par with these fast swimmers and water babies, should I give consideration to my size when competing in front of a large crowd? I convinced myself, no. I aint a size 2 or 4 at that, I’m a healthy size 10 and I’m a kickass swimmer with amazing curves. =)

***

Congratulations, Carl! You just won a Beyond Yoga unlimited access for a week! :) I hope you enjoy the experience! Do share with us how it goes! :)

Plump love,

Danah

She puts the UMP in PLUMP: Mel

It's such a privilege to have known this exuberant woman. She's one of the plumpies who really just bursts with so much life, energy and confidence that you'll just want to be friends with her. Mel is one of our schoolmates way back in high school who knows how to liven up the crowd. With her amazing singing voice, awesome volleyball skills and spunky personality, Mel definitely puts herself out there with so much tenacity and boldness that we just had to feature her! We definitely know that she's one plumpie you can take inspiration and courage from. :)


***


What is your size? I’m a size 10-12

Have you always been plump? Why? I’ve always been plump and voluptuous.  Being full figured runs in the family.

Have you ever been bullied/verbally abused/discouraged because of your weight? 

Yes.

How did you react? What did you do about it? I have a very strong personality and it helped me to be positive during the times when people put me down because of my weight. I always tell myself that as long as I am healthy, there is no reason why I should feel bad. I have always been comfortable in my skin and I am very proud to be a full-figured woman.  

Who is your style icon? If I had to pick one, it has to be Marilyn Monroe. During the peak of her career, she actually wore size 12 dresses and size 8 pants. Up to now, she’s still considered as one of the most beautiful and stylish women in the fashion/media industry.   

Favorite store?  H&M, Forever 21, Cotton on, and plndr.com

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear? Sundresses and bright colored tops ♥

How do you want people to see your style? I want people to see my style as fun, funky, and comfortable. J  

Where do you get your confidence from? I am confident because I accept who I am and I love who I am. I know that I can’t please everyone, and I don’t try to.

How important are other people’s perception of you to you? There are a lot of people that judge. It’s a natural thing. However, I don’t allow myself to be stuck in a certain stereo-type. Everyone’s got an opinion about everything; but it’s up to you if you let their opinions bring you down.  

Message to other Plump Pinays: Confidence is something you find in yourself when you learn to love who you are. You are your worst enemy… so keep healthy, sexy, and happy! J

Fill in the blank: A TRUE PLUMP PINAY LOVES HER CURVES AND EXUDES CONFIDENCE.

***

Plump love,
Danah

Beyond Yoga

As we usher in the new year (which I like to call 20-dozen), we want to bring you more options on how you can embody and release your body love. We all know that we can't look after something we hate, that's why we encourage you plumpies to enjoy your bodies. In that way, you'll be more adventurous in trying to do new things with it! :)

Yes, fatties can be fit too.

This year, Beyond Yoga is making people buzz with its brand new studio in Tomas Morato. They have their own signature cafe (Beyond Cafe) which offers 200 calories of pure yumminess per dish (for those who are serious about fitness, health and weight loss)! The studio can fit 30 people per class and  has shower rooms, provides mats, lockers and a lounge area.

They have a variety of classes; from Hot Yoga to Zumba, I'm sure you'll be able to find one that best suits your interest and personality!

I believe this will be a fun experience to all you girls out there who have been wanting to do something different! I want to personally encourage you, because I know some of y'all are afraid to go to the gym or try a fitness class because of their bodies or fears of being judged. Please, don't let these USELESS thoughts get to you! You have to personally go and try it yourself!

I was once like that, hindering myself because of my weight and all. But one day I told myself I will never be able to finally do something I love if I hid myself from the world all because of a very shallow reason and irrational fear. So then I tried pole dancing and guess what? I made tons of great friends, connected with plumpies and became an "inspiration" to other wannabe pole dancers who are now doing it themselves! :)

So please, go out, have fun and LIVE YOUR LIFE!


We wanna be a part of that and jump start your fitness  by GIVING AWAY A 1 WEEK UNLI YOGA CARD TO ONE LOVELY READER!!!

All you gotta do is answer this question in 250 words or less: What's one thing you hindered yourself from doing because of your weight and how did you win over it?

Post your answers in the comment section below! Don't forget to leave your complete name and email address!

All contestants must be a "liker" of our page (The Plump Pinay), a follower of our twitter (@theplumpinay).

Submission of entries are until January 14, 2012, 12 midnight! :)

Check out more of Beyond Yoga here.
FB: I Go Beyond Yoga
Twitter: @igobeyondyoga
(photos grabbed from Beyond Yoga's FB page)

Plump love,
Danah

CELEBRATE!

Hi girls! 

In line with our blogoversary, we wanna feature women who know how to celebrate their bodies! Do send us a full body image & a 150-word paragraph answering this question: 

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE YOUR BODY? 

The best answers will be published on our blog for the world wide web to see! :) 

KEEP SPREADING THE BODY LOVE Y'ALL!

Email: theplumpinay@yahoo.com // Cut off for submissions is November 20! :)

Fascinating Friday

♥ FOLLOW THIS TUMBLR BLOG! :)

I just want to wish everyone a happy weekend! :) Take the time to relax, talk to your body, and remind yourself why you ARE beautiful. It won't hurt to share the warm, fuzzy feeling, so compliment a sister while you're at it. ;)

Remember, diversity is beautiful!
♥
Danah

Verbatim: Tina Fey

And from that day forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All Beyonce and JLo have done is add to the laundry list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits. The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes.

-Tina Fey

Meaningful Monday

Here are some of the photos I grabbed from FATBULOUSITY which really speak out our advocacy and what we believe in.

Beauty isn't one-sided. The media is. OPEN YOUR EYES. DIVERSITY IS BEAUTIFUL. ♥

JOIN OUR REVOLUTION TODAY.

7 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR BODY (through THICK & THIN)

What you see here is a repost from AdiosBarbie, another must-follow body image site. What we love about this article is that it gives a step-by-step guide on how women can eradicate the body-hate suggested everywhere in society today, and conquer the positive body image we all need. It is very much aligned with our advocacy, and it's very well-written. It's sensible, relatable, and a stark good-read. Happy Thursday, plumpies! :)

--------------------

This is not another diet guide. It will not show you how to lose ten pounds by Thanksgiving. It will not introduce you to a new set of “miracle ab crunches” or rave about the latest liposuction advances. And there will be no butt pads, silicone, or fat-free recipes to share.

I’m writing this because I, like many women, used to diet until I was dizzy. I looked at my body and hated the parts that stuck out, and the ones that didn’t stick out far enough. And I believed that having the so-called “perfect” body—at any expense—would guarantee success and eternal happiness. 

Do I need to say it? I was deluded. 

As women, our relationships with our bodies are dysfunctional at best. With multibillion-dollar diet and cosmetics industries barking at our heels, and even role models like Rosie O’Donnell caving to the “thin-is-in” pressure, loving our bodies is no stroll in the park. It’s especially hard when our friends complain about their bodies, and our moms have been on diets since we were in diapers. 

But this is a matter of life. When we don’t feel comfortable in our bodies—our natural bodies—we deny our spirits everything from dancing to delicious food to lustful abandon. We miss out on all the sensuality and joy that life offers. And we deserve to have it all. 

Here are seven ways to fight the pressure, and practice the new art of loving your body, just the way it is. 

A friend of mine used to tear pictures of models out of magazines and tape them to her wall. She said it gave her “inspiration” to work out. 

But how inspiring could it be, I wondered, to surround yourself with pictures of people you could never actually look like? (At least, not without the help of surgery, an airbrush, and some DNA scrambling.) 

This same friend only frames photos of herself that make her look thin. The rest stay sealed in their Kodak envelope, as though the FBI might raid her bedroom one day, discover a few extra pounds, and drag her to a maximum-security prison. 

Take a look at the images you surround yourself with. How do they make you feel? If it’s inferior, ugly, imperfect, or bad, a ceremonial ripping-down may be in order. 

One thick woman I know decorated her room with images of voluptuous, full-hipped goddesses, who were not only considered beautiful, but powerful. Another created a “wall of inspiration” with pictures of women from her family who had loved and supported her for who she was. 

How do you find that inner goddess? Start with a full-length mirror. Many women play a love-hate game with mirrors, gazing at the parts we like, and avoiding the ones we don’t. We never looking at our bodies as they are. Instead, we pick ourselves apart like chicken dinners, scrutinizing our thighs, our breasts, our legs. And what we see in the mirror is often no reflection of what is really there. 

Find some private time, even if it’s just a few moments. Then take off your clothes, and look at yourself. Let the hateful thoughts run their course, then pass. It will clear space in your mind for positive ones to replace them. Don’t turn away from your reflection — try to clear your mind of judgment and keep looking. 

Now look closely at those parts you struggle with most. Do they remind you of anyone? Perhaps those full hips once belonged to your great-great-grandmother. If not for them, you may not even be here—her size could have helped her to survive pregnancy and childbirth. Our bodies are living family albums. Pay homage to your ancestors by loving the body they gave you and the legacy it represents. 

When you picture your body, do you think about your heart, your brain, your kidneys? Probably not. More than likely, you think about your thighs, your hair, your stomach. 

Because our society places so much emphasis on appearance, and so little on our inner selves, the balance between the two has been thrown off. Have you ever had an upset stomach, a rash, or a giant zit because you were stressed? Has your heart literally hurt when you experienced emotional pain? We forget that our bodies are simply the canvasses upon which our internal conditions express themselves. 

Judy Stone, a bioenergetic therapist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, teaches women how to reunite their minds and bodies through a program called Feeding Your Whole Self. People with eating disorders and body image issues, she says, feel like their bodies have betrayed them because they can’t sculpt themselves into some ideal form. 

For many women, controlling our appetites or looks gives us a false sense of control over our lives. As long as we can focus on “fixing” ourselves, we can avoid thinking about the fact that we’re unhappy, or that we have unmet needs we’re afraid to address. “People tell me that they’re scared to stop dieting because they’ll ‘eat themselves huge,’” says Stone. “But what they’re really afraid of is the tremendous amount of feeling that would come up.”
Feelings are made up of energy, Stone explains, which flows through our bodies. Compulsive eating and dieting blocks that flow, repressing the feelings we don’t want to deal with. Stone’s solution is to engage the mind and body in a conversation. 

The places where we feel heavy, she explains, are often where we hold in feelings. Instead of doing 200 sit-ups when your stomach seems to be “sticking out,” Stone advises that you look to your stomach and ask yourself what it’s telling you. “A heavy feeling may mean there’s a buildup of energy or feelings there,” says Stone. “Instead of dieting to ‘fix’ it, try to understand what the energy means, or how it’s serving you.” 

When you think negative thoughts about your body, Stone advises doing something to feel more in touch with it. Talk a walk, write down your feelings, breathe, sing. “Getting energy moving restores the flow,” she says. “Even if it leaves us crying and raging, we have to get it out and let life happen. The more the culture gets obsessed with denial, the more we overeat and indulge.” 

Imagine what would happen if women decided that building mental strength was as important as pumping up our biceps. We could start businesses. Earn degrees. Travel. Uncover new talents. And imagine the economic power we’d have if we stopped giving our money to Jenny Craig and started saving, investing, or spending it on life-enhancing adventures. 

“I have a theory that dieting is a way to make women disappear,” says Rosa, 30. The less space we take up, the less power we have.” 

Although men are becoming more conscious of their bodies these days, Rosa points out, “Men work out to get stronger, to take up more room in the world. Women try to get smaller, daintier, until we just turn into pretty little things who can only think about how many grams of fat we’ve eaten today.” 

You are responsible for taking care of yourself—and this may mean adding some activity and healthy foods into your life. But to neglect your inner self and favor your body is a waste of your gifts.  

Well-intentioned or not, families and friends can be a major source of body stress. They’re often the first to criticize your appearance, or to let you know how pretty you’d be “if you just lost 20 pounds.” Why don’t they realize how hurtful and destructive this is? The people closest to you should build up your self-esteem, not knock it down. They may think they’re offering helpful suggestions, but they’re not. So let ‘em know: it’s my body and my business. Stop projecting your hangups on me. Go eat a Twinkie and leave me alone. 

Of course, that’s not always as easy as it sounds. “My father constantly laments about how tiny my mom was when they met,” says 19-year-old Carmen. “I’m like, she’s had five kids! And he’s not even in shape himself. I can tell it really bothers my mom. She’s always talking about needing to lose weight.” 

After Carmen left for college, her mother was quick to point out the fluctuations in her daughter’s weight with every visit. Carmen began to dread going home, expecting another comment that would send her running to the mirror to reconsider her attractiveness. 

Finally, Carmen declared the topic of her appearance absolutely off-limits with her mom. “I even threatened not to visit if she didn’t back off,” says Carmen. “It worked. Now my mom is forced to ask about more important aspects of my life, like my classes, my friends, and my ideas.” 

It’s hard to stand up to our families and friends. But we have every right to set whatever boundaries help us live in peace.

Although many people argue that being fat is unhealthy, this is not necessarily true. Weight-related health problems often stem from a history of yo-yo dieting. Losing weight also causes you to lose muscle tissue. The heart, which is a muscle, is affected by drastic fluctuations. Regaining weight suddenly also puts tremendous pressure on your heart.

Furthermore, diets tell your body that food is scarce. Your body reacts by holding onto its fat; your metabolism can get thrown out of whack. In the long run, your system winds up in worse shape.

Bottom line: Healthy people come in every size. There are plenty of fat people who are active and “in shape,” and plenty of skinny folks who are thin but unhealthy. In this case, it’s what’s inside that truly counts.

 

Sadly, we women can be our own worst critics. But consider the toll this has on sisterhood—and on you. Criticizing another woman’s looks makes you look and feel totally insecure. It also makes you paranoid—if you do it to them, you’ll automatically assume they’re doing it to you. Dogging each other keeps us divided, and therefore defeated. 

Besides, we all have a unique beauty to cultivate, whether we’re thick or thin. “I like to think of myself as authentic,” says Dina, 21. “I may not look like a fashion magazine model, but no one else has my genetics. So I just try to be the best me I can.”

Dina’s attitude has helped her to stop regarding other women as enemies. “It’s not a competition,” she says adamantly. By working toward self-acceptance, and checking herself when she finds insecurity flaring up, Dina finds that she now has room to appreciate the individual beauty in other women, as well as in herself. 

Many people consider being called “fat” the kiss of death. The fear of gaining weight—or of being seen as fat—is greater than the fear of destroying their health with punishing diets and exercise.

Fat discrimination, some would argue, is the last truly acceptable form of prejudice in America. “She can go on a diet and change that,” people say. “After all, there’s Slimfast, diet pills, and a gym at every turn.”

Today, many women are choosing to describe themselves as fat—proudly.

“Fat is an adjective, like black, short, or blonde,” explains Alice Ansfield, who in the 1990s published Radiance: The Magazine for Large Women. “Unfortunately, it’s been used against us,as though ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’ go hand in hand.”

And fat, Ansfield argues, is a lot less judgmental than overweight. “Over what weight?” she asks. “Is there some perfect weight I’m supposed to be at? Our bodies are all different because of our genetic makeup.” 

As for the 120-pound woman who stares in the mirror and moans, “I’m so fat!” Ansfield comments, “People who are not experiencing the struggles of society’s size discrimination should not call themselves fat.” 

While she acknowledges that all women suffer from some degree of body hatred, Ansfield points out the distinct difference between not fitting into a size 8 dress, and not fitting into a bus seat, a restaurant chair, or a movie theater aisle. And longing to lose ten pounds is different than weighing so much that you’re routinely denied health insurance, or discriminated against by companies who stereotype you as lazy and unemployable. 

Adds Ansfield, diets simply don’t work. “You can’t live in a state of deprivation forever,” she says. “And who wants to? There is a person here. We need to be gentle with her, to allow her to feel pleasure. That’s good living.”

To help large women enjoy the good life, Ansfield pioneered Radiance Tours. Since 1994, she has led groups of large women on cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. For many, it was the first time they wore shorts and swimsuits—Ansfield herself hadn’t put on shorts for 20 years. “A lot of women live from the neck up,” says Ansfield. “We hadn’t allowed this much joy or pleasure into our lives in years.”

Her advice to ALL women is to walk with your head up, and to never, ever apologize for your size. “Get into your body,” she adds. Treat yourself to a massage, an hour in a hot tub or a sauna. Dance naked in your room, or go out and shake whatever your mama gave ya. Take a walk for enjoyment’s sake—and leave the five-pound barbells at home.

By Ophira Edut

She puts the UMP in PLUMP! (#19)

PLUMPIES, CHECK OUT MANEL.

What is your size?

-- I'm usually Large in size.

Who is your style icon?

-- I don't have any specific style icon except for myself. I believe that fashion is expressing one's self according to your own style. The clothes that I usually wear will depend on how I feel that day. Beauty comes from within as they say.

Favorite store?

-- Moda Plus, Mango, Zara, Limelight. These are the stores that I usually go to. They all have my size! You can actually go and get some clothes anywhere you want, as long as they're very comfortable to wear. For me, comfort first before beauty! :) As long as I'm comfortable with what I'm wearing, I'M HAPPY! :)

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear?

-- I LOVE TO WEAR DRESS! Dress makes my body breathe. HAHA! It is very comfortable and at the same time makes me feel girly.

How do you want people to see your style?

-- I want people to see the "REAL" me. Styling is all about who you are and how you feel. What you wear reflects who you are inside.

Where do you get your confidence from?

-- My dream. My dream is to become a famous actress and model someday. I will not let my weight hinder me from reaching my dreams in life. I don't believe that you have to be skinny for you to be an actress or a model. You have to know what real beauty is all about, it's not about your body, face and color, It's about appreciating what God has given you.

How important are other people’s perception of you to you?

-- Very important, but take note: IN A POSITIVE WAY. Most people would tell me to ignore the negative comments of others and receive the positive ones. I DISAGREE. I tell them that I should take both- POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE. The positive ones will give me INSPIRATION to do good in life, and the negative ones will give me enough STRENGTH TO STRIVE HARDER in everything that I do.

Message to other Plump Pinays:

JUST BE YOURSELF! Don't use your weight as an excuse for you not to reach your dreams, rather, use your weight as an inspiration for others to realize that being PLUMP IS BEAUTIFUL!

LOVING YOUR BODY IS VERY IMPORTANT. Once you love your body, everything will fall into places. YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF YOUR SOUL! Value yourself first before others can value you.

Fate's Plump Pinay Story

My name is Fate. I'm 21 years old. I stand 5'9. I weigh 185lbs. Vital Stats 40-36-42.

I've always been big and tall since birth.

During my younger years I didn't bother at all if others would call me names such as Dambuhala, Baboy, Biik, Higante, Panget, Big Show and so on. I don't really care because so as long my family loves me there's no point in being affected. When I turned 12, I started having crushes in school and most of the time I'm always ignored because my friends are prettier, sexier, richer and smarter than me. "Fate, pretty ka sana kaso ang taba mo malaki ka pa sa Mommy ko".

So that's how it all started--insecurity started sank in until such time I don't want to go to school anymore because I felt incredibly inferior. But when my father told me that in his eyes, I will always be the most beautiful girl. I started proving my worth. I became active in school, friendly and positive until I reached high school. I tried eliminating junk foods, soft drinks and chocolates in my life. It was so hard to diet, control my food intake and exercise. Until such time, I didn't really care at all with my flaws. So instead of being ashamed of my imperfections, I started focusing on my assets such as my confidence, wit and positive outlook in life.

I guess it also helped that I'm an active Youth for Christ member, I always felt God's love no matter how I look. I always remember that what matters in my creator's eyes is the beauty that I have inside. I also focused myself with my goals in life. I exposed myself with the optimistic people because I know it's contagious. Reading fashion magazines starting from Candy, Seventeen, Cosmo and now Preview helped me to look good no matter how big I am. I read Bo Sanchez, Paolo Coelho and Nina Garcia's books all the time to keep me inspired and happy with my life.

I'm proud to say that at the age of 21 I've accomplished so much in life. I started working at the age of 17 while studying not because for money but for the reason that I want to be fulfilled as a woman, I want to be self-made. I also encountered a lot of failures, discriminations along the way but I'd rather use them as my learning experiences at the end of the day. I recently had my own version of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert last April I quit my job, broke up with my long time boyfriend, left my comfort zone to get to know myself better. I went to Singapore and Indonesia for more than a month on my own. Through that experience I was able to get to know myself more than ever. I've seen a lot of thin girls abroad but instead of being jealous I actually appreciated my own body more, I love how different I am.

For me, Life is too short so Live it well. Don't dwell on the things that will hinder your success in life. Focus on the things that will enrich your life instead. And always remember at the end of the day, God created our fats, curves, stretch marks and our body type for a reason. What really matters is how we look at things, how we love and take good care of ourself.

Your body is God's gift so better appreciate it before it's too late. :)

From Frumpy to PLUMPY

As we've said a million times, WE LOVE HEARING YOUR STORIES ON HOW YOU'VE COME INTO TERMS WITH YOUR BODY. This is why we were just so happy when we received an email from Khriselda, sharing to us how she embraced her body and explored the wonderful world of plus-size fashion. It's a story worth sharing. Read and be inspired. :)

Hi Stacy and Danah!

First of all, I want to say that both of you are gorgeous =)

I was 'googling' about plus size models, plus size fashion when I came across your like page on Facebook. When I checked your blogsite, I must say that I instantly fell in love with it. I agree that Plump pinays should not be ashamed of their bodies as they are as sexy as those slender bodies seen on TV. Hypocrisy aside, I used to dream of having a slim figure in the past. I was eaten by my insecurities. My mommy and sisters are slim, my friends are sexy. Back in high school, I was called Jurassic Park, the Big Show, Fat ass. I was bullied by almost everyone. However, being a little proud, I did not let it affect me by crying or isolating myself. I showed them that I don't care about what they say. I personified a strong personality but deep inside, it was killing me. I'm disgusted with what I see in the mirror everyday. With that, I tried several methods of losing weight like appetite suppressants, working out, and even forcing myself to throw up. But now, I do not see the point of doing those things when I started to have serious health issues like anemia and sinus arrhythmia. As expected, I gained all the weight back. Now I believe those articles that say there is no shortcut in losing weight. I admit that I was uber disappointed with myself when I started putting up fats again. Today, I started embracing my appearance. I don't care anymore if people in the streets would call me baboy, tabachoy, etc. Their opinion is none of my business anyway. What I do care about is that I want to dress like a lady (I used to shop at the men's department for loose pants and shirts) But now, I shop at Forever 21, Una Rosa, Maldita X, and SM Department store. They offer plus size apparels for plump ladies =) I also want other ladies who are sexy on the voluptuous side to feel confident on how they look. Beauty knows no figure. Everyone who is confident on their body is outrageously sexy.

Thank you for having a blog like this. I hope it will empower other ladies to be confident, no matter what size they are. I hope my story will move other ladies who is desperate in losing weight, like how I used to be.

More power to you extremely hot Plump Pinays :)

Khriselda Guarin (Khryc)

A proud FATshionista :)

Keep spreading the great body love, Khryc! :) You are BEAUTIFUL.

Tell us your stories! Who knows, you just might inspire another woman to love her body more. Let's make this a ripple effect!

Plump love,
Danah