Thursday, October 1, 2015

What Matters is the Animals.

I watched a video on YouTube yesterday that really upset me, even twenty four hours after watching, I am still upset. It was a vegan YouTuber who I have been following for awhile. I don't agree with all of her viewpoints, but overall I have enjoyed her videos. She did a video last week about why are there so many fat yogis, (she is a yoga instructor in addition to a vegan YouTuber) and I was a little offended by it, and didn't watch the whole video. It doesn't sit well with me to hear someone who is a yogi and a vegan be so snarky. I chalked that up to a difference of opinion, this woman is a very health obsessed vegan, no oil, no salt on and on, so I figured just let that slide. I decided to watch a video of hers yesterday, and she was speaking of taking her kids to a new pediatrician, and this doctor was everything she could have wanted, she believed in homeopathy, seemed to be into yoga type things, on and on. However, the doctor was overweight. In the beginning of her video, she asked her kids what they thought of this doctor, and her nine year old daughter looked right into the camera and said"why should we listen to fat people"? The rest of the video was a long, mean spirited rant about an overweight woman giving health advice. It would have been okay, except she called this woman fat and obese numerous times, making all kinds of jokes and such. This person also feels that all vegans need to be very trim in order to properly represent the vegan lifestyle. I felt nauseated after watching this. Especially seeing a child call someone fat, and it seems that the mother encourages that behavior. I think it's fine if you want to be slim, and yo think that is the best example of a vegan lifestyle. But I am so tired of the food and body shaming within the vegan community! When I meet someone who is vegan, the last thing on my mind is their appearance. I am always happy to meet another person who is kind and compassionate, and that beauty shines through. How are we going to change the world for the animals by tearing people down? Tear someone down who is doing horrible things. I worked at a bar in Erie, and I will never forget mentioning to one of the customers that I was a vegan, and he looked right in my eyes and said" I'm surprised to hear that because you aren't thin like other vegans I've met" It was like a punch in the face. As a matter of fact, I wold have preferred a punch in the face. Physical pain heals, words stay with you forever. I started questioning myself. Am I a bad spokesperson for veganism  because I am not as thin as whatever the perfect ideal is? Do the animals care how thin any of us are?
I hope that some of this body shaming and food judgment goes away. I don't care what you eat, or what you look like. If you are vegetarian, or vegan, I am so thrilled, and as far as I'm concerned, that's all that matters. Vegans come in all shapes and sizes, and as far as I'm concerned that's a good thing. I'm not saying I want people to be morbidly obese, because vegan or not we all know that isn't healthy. But I don't want everyone to look the same, and thin does not mean healthy. I worked with two girls in Erie that were both thinner than me, but they both drank and smoked, and ate the crappiest of all crap for food. I was a million times healthier than them, and in mch better shape physically.
I also fear what these type of videos and messages send to people who might be dealing with an eating disorder, or any self esteem issues. Back in the day when I was dealing with my eating disorder, a video like this would have been very triggering. I read some of the comments on this video, and happily most people were as outraged as me, bt there were several people who were saying that they keep in the closet about being vegan, because they don't feel like they look good enough, and they are scared of making veganism look bad!!! We are a minority, we need people standing tall and proud, not hiding in the shadows because they don't look like an athlete or supermodel. I think some of these YouTubers, especially the more popular ones need to also think of their audience. A lot of teens and yonger watch YouTube, and really look up to these people. Maybe they are getting teased in school, only to come home and find that they aren't thin enough to be vegan.  These weight obsessed YouTubers like to justify this meanness by saying they care about people's health, and they want people to be healthy. I don't agree. Calling people fat, and dismissing any diet other than theirs is not helping. It's just a different version of some of my conservative, religious family members dismissing me as immoral, or dumb for having different beliefs than them.
Words are powerful, and words hurt. As vegans, we need to lift each other up, and be strong together so we can save the animals. That is more important to me than what anyone weighs or looks like.


26 comments:

  1. OMG! Yes - I would be (am) upset about this shaming, too! Geez! And YES...I'm completely on the same page with you! I, too, have had body image and self esteem issues my whole life. People come in all different shapes and sizes and we need to celebrate that. We have enough bullying in this world and shouldn't add any more to it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree. We as vegans should be showing more compassion to everyone, and leading the way in kindness. This stuff gets me so upset, and it really makes me feel ill. It is not the vegan community I connect with. I posted the video on my google plus page if you can stomach it. I didn't want to soil my blog by posing it here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, that video sounds really messed up. :( It's so upsetting that anyone would say such hurtful things, but it's especially bad coming from a vegan! Stuff like that is exactly what leads to non-vegans thinking that veganism is a "diet," ugh. I think this button from Compassion Co is a good response: http://compassionco.bigcartel.com/product/some-vegans-are-fat-button

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that button! It might be the first thing I buy when I get a job! I don't mind vegans that are more health obsessed, do you boo, but don't judge those of us that aren't so concerned with that stuff, and are just trying to fight for the animals. I feel like these types of videos feed into the negative vegan stereotype, and we don't need that! The video is on my google plus page. I didn't want that energy on my blog.

      Delete
    2. Sounds like a plan! :)
      Exactly; as long as they aren't body-shaming, I have no problem with vegans who focus on health! Plus, it's important for non-vegans who are into health to know that there's a community for them if/when they go vegan! :D
      But yeah, I think I'll pass on the video; I don't want to waste my time on all that negativity, haha!

      Delete
    3. I don't blame you for passing on the video. No reason to bring that negativity in your life! We need vegans of all shapes, color and sizes to be an example and let everyone know they belong!

      Delete
  4. Zealots in all areas are the ones who cause problems. Zealots start wars, they attack groups who are different, and they are not of a mind to be compassionate, empathic, understanding or tolerant of those who are different. Be glad that you care about animals and vegans. You are a person that I would value knowing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't agree more. I am really thinking of starting some kind of vegans against body shaming group, to try to end this. It is very upsetting, and not what I think of when i think of kind, compassionate vegans.

      Delete
    2. You SHOULD start a vegan anti-shaming group!

      Delete
    3. I am seriously thinking about it. I've been looking up info on food and body shaming within the vegan community for awhile this morning!

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, that's shocking! What a nasty person. Vegans come in all shapes and sizes just like all people do. Being thin does not necessarily mean healthier. I always think people who mouth off like that do so out of their own insecurities. If they were happy with themselves they wouldn't feel the need to baouth other people. Such a shame her children seem to be picking up on get attitude too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree. It's just so sad that people don't think of the affect their words could have. I find alot of vegan YouTubers to be very judgy when it comes to food choices, even within the vegan community. I think there are ways to discuss things like weight and health without being insulting and using words like fat, and allowing your children to talk of people that way.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi. My name is Crystal. The kids at my school are teasing me because I told them I am a vegan and I don’t want to eat animals. We had to give a speech in health class and my topic was the reasons for being vegan. When I finished the speech someone in the class said that she thought that vegans were always skinny because they didn't get enough calories from only fruits and vegetables. I know she did it on purpose because I am not very skinny. Then someone else said that I would probably get sick from lack of nutrition. Then someone else made a joke that I didn’t have to worry about nutrition because I looked like I was eating more than enough. Then everyone laughed and I felt embarassed and sick in my stomach. Freelee the Banana Girl said on YouTube that vegan diets make you skinny. She said it is 80% diet. I have been trying my best to follow her advise. I asked Freelee this question but I guess she has too many people asking her stuff. I don’t want to be made fun of anymore for being vegan and not wanting to hurt animals. How long does getting skinny take? Please start a vegan group to help everyone not get shamed on for not being a skinny vegan! Thanks for reading this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Crystal. I'm really sorry to hear you're getting teased in school. It makes life really difficult. First of all I want to say it's amazing that you are vegan for the animals! Right there we've established that you are an amazing and beautiful person.
      I may not be the best person to ask your question, because i am nowhere near as thin as Freelee, so I don't know how long it takes to look like her. To be honest. I don't want to look like her, or any of the other weight obsessed vegan YouTubers. I may not be as thin as Freelee, but I am healthy, feel great, and I hold my head high knowing that I stand for the animals.
      One thing I do know about our bodies is that if we take care of it, it does a whole lot on it's own. One year ago I was very unhealthy, coming off of drinking too much , and smoking cigarettes, etc. and I have lost weight, and my body has healed itself in so many ways. If yo continue to eat healthy, vibrant vegan food, and try to stay active, your body will respond.
      Please keep your head up. I know it's easier said than done, but i was also picked on every day of my life in school, and somehow I survived. The animals who you are saving love you, and they don't care what we look like! That's one of the many reasons animals rule, and people drool.
      I don't know if you've evr watched High Carb Hannahhttps://www.youtube.com/user/Rawkaholics but she is an amazing resource for vegan weight loss tips, and I find her much more pleasant than Freelee.
      I have been thinking about starting some kind of something to fight against the body shaming in the vegan community, the idea is still forming in my head. Please keep your head up!

      Delete
    2. Hi again, It’s me Crystal. First, thanks for reading my comment and giving me some advise. Second, I will never ever stop being vegan, because I don’t think it is right for people to take an animal life away for no reason at all. My dad says I have to stick with what I believe even if people don’t agree with me. My dad also says that I have to be open to change my mind if I find out something that I didn’t know about before. Anyways I plan on being vegan forever. It hurts so much when people say bad things about me or call me names. Sometimes I cry about it in my room but I don’t tell anyone. I don’t know much about smoking or drinking. What it like to smoke and drink? Does it help make you feel better? How did you start? I heard about Hannah because Savy made a YouTube video about her on the Earthling Nutrition site. Savy is very smart, and I didn’t understand that video that much because of all the science biology stuff. I take biology next year so that should help me understand some more what she is saying. Savy teaches herself everyday to be smart about things. She is also a very kind vegan. Anyways I started to write down what I eat evry day because my dad is taking me to see a nutritnist to help me eat the right vegan things. Even if I don’t get skinny right away I am going to stick up for evry person being shamed on for how they look, even tho no one in school is helping me. I wrote your site down in my diary so I can remember to come back here! I like your cat also.

      Delete
    3. I forgot to add that smoking and drinking do not make anything better. They make everything worse. They're both unhealthy, and lead to bad health and poor choices. I would never recommend either habit to anyone.

      Delete
    4. I got your comment about mall walking in my E-mail, I'm not seeing it here. Anyway, I think that's an amazing idea! Hopefully you can make some new friends along the way! Good luck and have fun!

      Delete
  9. I think it's so great that your dad is supporting your vegan choices!
    I also think it's great to see a nutritionist. Hopefully she or he will be open to the vegan diet, and be able to really help you. Keeping a food diary is something that I've personally never done, but I know it is helpful to a lot of people.
    I am on a journey towards overall health myself, and although I'm feeling great, and I have lost some weight, I still haven't lost as much as I would like. I think it just takes time and patience. What has really been helping me is stepping up my fitness game. There are all kinds of amazing workouts on YouTube if you are interested. I don't like gyms myself, so this has been really helpful.
    I spent many days and nihts crying in my room. I know it seems never ending, but things will change and get better at some point. Life always marches on.
    Sticking up for people is an amazing quality, you sound like a very sweet person.
    Good luck with the nutritionist, and keep in touch!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi again, its me Crystal. Im so sorry for asking you this, I was wondering if maybe you can help me with something? Savy did a video on a fat loss trick. I think its because I asked her last week for some tips. Its here https://youtu.be/zJPLaoCkaNQ but I don't understand all of it :( I need someone intelligent to explain it to me in simple words. I really trust you because you are also honest about stuff. Can you *please* look at it? Many many many thanks!!!.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have to be honest with you, she really lost me in that video. I understand the overall point she was making, but a whole lot of her words went right over my head.
    From what I understand, if you work out in the morning when your stomach is empty, you burn more fat because there is no food to burn through. Believe me when I say that is a very loose interpretation. There are tons of people who say you should work out in the morning on an empty stomach. But there are tons of people who say you should work out after eating something.
    My best advice is to take things you see on the interwebz as a suggestion, not as a fact. Maybe you can ask your nutritionist when you go what they think. Also, try exercising one day on an empty stomach, another day when you've had something light to eat and see which way makes you feel best. That's what's most important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much. Thats a good idea on asking my nutritionst. I go see her next week. I take biology next year so maybe I will understand more. Anyways, I got a tough assignment to work on now for health class. The teacher took a question from everyone speech and made it a topic. My topic is If the whole world goes vegan tomorrow what happens to all the animals that rely on animal food to live, like cats? Anyways, many thanks again for helping me.

      Delete
    2. You sound like you are very smart, and also very kind. That sounds like a very intense assignment, good luck! And good luck with your nutritionist. And just remember to be patient and kind to yourself. If you are eating healthy foods and exercising, your weight will go down naturally!

      Delete