Comments on: Arm Wars

By: Alyssa Goldstein

Alyssa Goldstein — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:21:15 +0000

I hafta say I am torn on the subject. My attitude has always been “screw them if they can’t like you for who you are”. For the most part, I am who I am and I do not let society dictate who I should be. As a musician I find that when I walk into a bar to drop off a cd of myself or my band, I am immediately judged for the way I look (whether it be big, or gay…or both). That cd ends up in the garbage 90% of the time. However…show up to karaoke night…watch the eyes roll when “Me & Bobby McGee” starts and I walk to the stage and then shut people the hell up when I start to sing. I am in no means tooting my own horn on my voice (personally I can’t stand my voice!). I am a little better than what I concieve people’s opinons of me to be. Then and only then do I get any respect from most bar/club owners around my area. Right before seeing Cassidy this past Thursday I was dropping off posters advertising my band at a bar we are playing at coming up. I could practically not stop myself from saying “Thanks for not judging me and actually listening to the cd” to the owner. That’s kind of pathetic. What happened to the days of Mama Cass? She was a sex symbol. A chick in a moo-moo…..It was her voice and personality that made her attractive. I was shocked as hell while watching VH1 one morning (the only time anyone shows videos on music video television?!?) to see Adele. She’s very young and heavy set. In music industry standard she is morbidly obese. (160-200 lbs) It actually made me think things might be changing. Who knows……
As “f” them as I am on the subject…I still went out and bought a Bowflex. I use it at least 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week, focusing mostly on my “bingo wings” (That would be the fat that hang down beneath your bicep and continuing to where your tricep should be). I ride my recumbent bike at least an hour a day. I have been on Atkins since Jan 17th. I know I am doing it for me because I am miserable, but it’s the way that society looks and treats me that makes me feel miserable and unaccepted because of how I look.

We love you and your arms Cass!! You look great!!!

By: rockstarfavors

rockstarfavors — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:40:59 +0000

well….no one told women-all at the same time-right around the late 70’s and def. thru the 80’s to PURGE. I don’t remember that class as listed in the “College Prep” required classes: The Guidance Counselor handing you the pamphlet: “Here Rockstar, a few tips on how you can learn to binge and purge safely so that in the 21st century you won’t have to worry about fat arms and you can freely pass thru LA………..and become famous. And, btw: you won’t have an esophagus or teeth, but you won’t need them as long as you have skinny arms” Then, he pats your ass and sends you on your way.

Yet. Women were doing it EVERYWHERE. All over the USA and still are, except now they are totally aware of it and don’t even care.

Maybe they got skinny arms by being lost in the first place……………………it’s so realistic…like…um…that MTV Show….THE REAL WORLD. I TOTALLY believed that show.

My fakeboss IS a woman, she came with the fakejob.

Think I’m going to start hugging strangers…keep those arms in shape…………………Thanks Cass…very witty pritty. Nice laugh. Look up the history of “Hysteria.”……………………intriguing.

See you Thursday…hey!!! Maybe Tyra Banks will do one of those episodes when she “switches” people’s arms…just to see how it feels………………writing her a letter……………………………………Rock on Cass…you must.

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:58:39 +0000

(an email from Joely)

Hey Cass,

You really struck a chord with me on this one. Well, you always strike chords, but this one has made me come out of my cocoon of a cubicle and say something. I agree with you whole heartedly on the whole arm saga. It’s quite unfortunate that we live in a world sooo obsessed with how people look. It’s astounding. And as much as our beloved country CLAIMS to take people as is, we don’t. And it sickens me. I too have fat arms and I too am still sucked into hiding them. I am aware I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t have to. But I know I will be talked about if I do. It’s sad, but that’s how it is. It also infuriates me that every damn commercial is about some weight loss program. Or Crystal Light. Or Nutra System. I mean anytime Claire Huxtable can advertise for a weight loss program, or Valerie Bertanelli, well, I know the world is coming to end. And that they too have fallen victim with the whole way society looks at us.

I also have a bone to pick with the view of men as well. No one talks about a man’s fat arms. I can’t tell you how many tubbys I see riding the metro and the bus in the morning. But no one talks about them. But let an obese woman or a plump woman walk by and it is snickers galore. I don’t understand Cass..all the Jackie Warners of the world..and the Doctors..and Oprah’s boot camp of docs can go on and on and on and on about health and fit and yet..America as a whole is HUGE. BUTstill we all fall victim to what society thinks about us. And our flabby arms. Does anyone realize how boring men and women would look if we were all the same puny size? I too in the past have envied Evangeline Lily’s arms. And I have come to the realization that it’s not meant to be. If we were all the same size, people STILL would complain about that. So it’s a lose lose situation. Sighs. It’s Having big flabby arms and being criticized for your appearance instead of your worth is like..it’s like a stain on my white blouse I can’t get rid of.

I think I will have a piece of cheesecake now. But thank you for the insightful blog. You rock.

Take care,
Joely

PS–Why the hell hasn’t Hurley lost weight?? I know if I was on the island, I would have shed a few pounds by now. I’m jus’ sayin’…. But then again. He can get away from it. He’s a man.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:52:50 +0000

Funny, funny, funny!!

I am reminded of a friend of mine last night tanning so she could go to Hawaii.

What?

The things the world puts you guys through!!

By: jenne

jenne — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:25:53 +0000

i love this post – not just because i love what you have to say, but it reminded me that i have Fat Arms, and i LOVE THEM! Even when i was younger and thinner, my arms were always big. Yet i still wear short-sleeved tops, tank tops, hell, even my wedding dress was a halter top. I love who i am and i may be fat to people, but i love every inch, every pound of me. check out my blog – there’s even a photo of me in a sleeveless top, with my beautiful Fat Arms hugging on my baby girl, who happens to share a name with the writer of this blog.

I know that people, women especially, worry constantly about their weight. My co workers complain every day that they have not lost weight, yet they are a size 2. they eat nothing and are always grumpy and they ask me how i can live the way i do. I say, ‘ Do you ever notice that i am a happy person? that i am always smiling? it’s because i just accept me for who i am.” i’m healthy, i exercise, i eat a very good diet. i’m just a big person.

i wish everyone could feel the way i do.
Thanks Cassidy, for your words that make us smile and think.
*peace*

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:20:36 +0000

This blog was way too funny! I had to acknowledge how much I identify with it, as I’m sure many women do. Back in the early 80’s I remember that if someone were to ask me my best body part, I wouldn’t hesitate by saying it was my arms and shoulders. Never had a ‘big head’ about it,……………”just the facts ma’am,” I was an avid tennis player & they were always toned (which was a word not even used back then).
But, that’s just it, I never gave it much thought. I just thought that Grandmom’s had flabby arms, and i only knew that because my Grandmother always complained about it.
Face forward to the late 90’s and of course to the present, now I know all too well of this cruel turn of fate. The arms that I considered the best part of my body, now turn corners before I do. Even having lost 20 lbs recently and working out at the gym, these freaking arms are still going to be covered with long sleeves during this summer season. It’s amazing how hard it is to tighten these ‘grandmom’ arms that I still can’t identify as something belonging to ME!

So, my friend, I know, all too well of what you speak, and I guess you are right………………we would never be accepted in L.A. as a full time resident, we would only have visiting rights, since it is part of the prerequisite that comes with living there. Fact be told, you are amazingly beautiful, you are extremely talented & to be honest, I have seen you in sleeveless tops & I don’t remember seeing ‘flabby arms.’ So, I think you would not be stopped at the gate, sort of speak at LAX, me however, I’ll probably be held up indefinitely and sent to the airport gym before passing through.

BTW, Gloria Steinem is in the same shape she was in the 70’s.it kils me how great she looks! Must have beensomething i the patchouli oils! Ha!

By: Millisa M.

Millisa M. — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:49:50 +0000

Love this post- smart AND funny! I Ironic I saw it on a day I was thinking “I need to sign up for a swimming class at the gym”. I think the goal in the real world is
to encourage good health, not being skinny- but in the false world of celebrity, tone arms win. I just read an article yesterday about how rockin’ the First Lady’s arms are and how she gets them.

The answer, Cassidy, is squat thrusts.

Keep on changing the world, you are already doing a great job of it!