Today’s Tank Top Tuesday submission comes from Katie Koumatos!

I, like my mother and grandmother, have copious arm fat.  In the rad world of fatty activism, we call them “Hey Baby’s, because that’s the part that wiggles when you wave and yell hello to your friends.  I have learned to love my arms, appreciating their size and interesting shape.  But I have not always been this chill about my arm fat.  For many years I wore ill-fitting t-shirts in the summer, staring jealously at tank top clad girls who seemed so svelte and comfortable.  About five years ago I finally took the leap.  My first tank top was covered in glitters and sparkles, in hopes that folks might be dazzled by it and completely miss my giant naked arms.  I wore it out and surprisingly, no one threw rocks or even insulted me.  I felt beautiful and even more importantly, cool in the hot Sacramento sun.  Years later, more than half of my summer tops are tanks and I don’t even think about it.  It was one of those first steps on the road to body acceptance and I am so thankful I took that risk!

Sometimes, no matter how tired, you just gotta drag your ass out the door to have some good old fashioned fun! Last Friday night I did just that. I’d had a complete and total shit-week and had plans to go out dancing with two fabulous babes I’m fortunate enough to call my friends. I was dead-tired, but excited none the less. As per my usual I was inner-panicking about what to wear, how to do my hair/make up, etc. I do get worked up over this stuff, I tell ya. I didn’t end up taking a nap as planned, but instead worked on my mother-lovin’ eyeliner! Woo! Ha-ha! I have always struggled with eyeliner. ALWAYS!!! Yet somehow, magically, I worked that shit out this time! I hadn’t ever pulled of wings successfully. I totally did the fist-pump-YES!!!-thing. Ha-ha! Also, I decided I needed big hair to lift my spirits. I haven’t had big hair, well, ever. I did the big bangs thing back when, but not all-over big hair, ya know? FUN! I wasn’t even sure I could do it, but I have this Tresseme` 24 hour body hair spray (which really only held the volume for about two hours, but who cares) and it worked out well, I think. I mean, Look: That is some bigness! And I was laughing my ass off as my husband snapped a few pics, insisting I look shocked at the hair on my head…or something. Ha-ha! So, hair & make-up done, I quickly dressed (ha-ha! NOT! more like I panicked and tried on 6 outfits.) and headed over to meet the ladies, had a cocktail, piled into the car and made it to the club for a night of drinkin’, dancin’ and just general babin’!!! With these gorgeous babes:So much fun! I encourage any and all to try to attend a BBW club or other such fat events. “Good times, ain’t we lucky we got ’em?!” Got home around 3AM and decided I couldn’t sleep with that much hairspray in my do. Ha! Dragged my ass to work the next morning (too early!!!) and had a fantabulous weekend with my husband and our BFFs, P& J! Sometimes, no matter how hard it may seem, it’s totally worth it to step (or dance or jump) outside your comfort zone and have a friggin’ blast! Woooooooooooooooo!

This weeks Tank Top Tuesday submission comes from Jessica in Mastatal, Costa Rica hand grinding freshly roasted cacao beans.

My body is not an embarrassment that I need to cover up.  My physical comfort is more important than someone else’s discomfort about the size or shape of my body.  Don’t like what you see?  Then don’t look at me.  I don’t need permission to wear a tank top.  There are no restrictions or exclusive use rights provided to smaller people.  If it’s hot and humid, I have a right to bear arms!

As far as websites to plug:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139268062780619?ap=1
www.naafa.org
http://www.sizediversityandhealth.org/

Awesome! Thanks Jessica! You look fantastic, but more importantly, happy! Woo Hoo!

I am taking submissions from anyone who wants to exercise their right to Bare Arms! Email your pics here: notblueatall@notblueatall.com, please include the name you’d like included in the post, a blog or etsy shop you wanna plug, your thoughts on bare arms or other fatty philosophies. It does not have to be in a tank top, so long as your arms are bare. Have fun with it!

🙂
Jess

Today’s Tank Top Tuesday pictures are from Nikki. Here is her fat philosophy:

“On a steaming hot day in July in 2000, I decided that I would not die of heat exhaustion because I’m fat.  I decided….TO GO SLEEVELESS!  It was sheer madness!  I went out and bought tank tops and spaghetti straps.  I even bough a halter top!  GASP! 

My family refers to my arms as “tharms” = thigh+arm.  Sometimes they call them turkey wings.  Yeah.  Nice people.  But ya know what, my wings are flapping in a cool breeze and I LOOK AWESOME! 

Yesterday I read a great line from “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett: “Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision….You gone have to ask yourself, Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?”

Today, and every day, I make a decision not to believe that my lovableness is determined by my size.  I decide not to believe that I am less than.  I decide not to hate myself.  I decide that I am beautiful. I decide that I am brilliant.  I decide that I am more than even I can recognize in this moment.  I decide to live into just how good I am.  I decide to act in my best interest, to move forward and not backwards, to embrace the fullness of my self – body, mind and spirit. 
That’s my fat philosophy.  It’s not easy to do everyday, but what is? 

I recently started a meetup group for fat folks and our friends.  It’s called “Philly Plus.” http://www.meetup.com/Philly-BBW/

 Thank you for the lovely submission, Nikki! You are fabulous!!!

I am taking submissions from anyone who wants to exercise their right to Bare Arms! Email your pics here: notblueatall@notblueatall.com, please include the name you’d like included in the post, a blog or etsy shop you wanna plug, your thoughts on bare arms or other fatty philosophies. It does not have to be in a tank top, so long as your arms are bare. Have fun with it!

Also, feel free to still treat comments as TMI topic/discussion area! Feel free to ask TMI questions or just vent/rant about your own stuff. I love it! We all do! =0)

Today’s Tank Top Tuesday picture is from the lovely & amazing Kath of TheFatHeffalump. This pic is from the day she got her gorgeous fat lady tattoo! While it’s winter in Australia now, this pic was taken in the summer so she could bare her arms and show off that magnificent tattoo with pride! I love it!

Thanks so much, Kath! I love your outfit, so stylish! Did y’all catch her shoes? Too cute! They match her top!

I am taking submissions from anyone who wants to exercise their right to Bare Arms! Email your pics here: notblueatall@notblueatall.com, please include the name you’d like included in the post, a blog or etsy shop you wanna plug, your thoughts on bare arms or other fatty philosophies. It does not have to be in a tank top, so long as your arms are bare. Have fun with it!

Also, feel free to still treat comments as TMI topic/discussion area! Feel free to ask TMI questions or just vent/rant about your own stuff. I love it! We all do! =0)