On April 28, 2009, I made my first entry on this blog, simply enough, the article itself was entitled “Big and Tall Shorts” and was about actual shorts.

I have to admit that I had no idea what I wanted to do with this blog. I knew that I had something to say, but didn’t know what. But with time and research I have developed it into a site that is dedicated to size acceptance though my eyes. My goals have been modified a bit in the last 365 days, but in essence, I want to tell the world what it is like for larger people to live in a world designed for “normal-sized” people (whatever “normal-sized” means).

Sometimes I will use personal experiences and sometimes I will use news stories to make my point. For example, I did articles on the deaths on Michael Jackson and Phoebe Prince to try and cast wide nets for understanding. My thoughts on the matter are that the more relatable the story, the more people will understand what we as biog people go through.

I also bring a unique perspective in the fat-o-sphere as I am both male and I am a lap-band patient. Although there are a few blogs out there that give a male perspective on fat acceptance, there are far more that are authored by women. And as a lap-band patient, some people may consider me as not true to the cause. The reality is that I had to have the lap-band surgery because of medical necessity. Weight is not necessarily a cause of poor health, but it can be. I was 700 pounds (305 kg) and climbing. I had severe lymphoedema and I just couldn’t move. I am under 450 now. I am still big and I am a big follower of Health At Every Size, which is an awesome companion to my overall health plan. I don’t think that weight loss surgery is a good option for the majority of people out there, but my case was extreme. I think it’s a personal choice however, and that no matter whether you are big, small or anywhere in between or for that matter a WLS patient or not, you deserve to be treated with common human decency, and that is a big part of what I want to put forth.

Over the next year, I certainly hope to expand my readership. I have expanded the site via Twitter and Facebook (where we have a discussion page) and I encourage you to sign up for these updates and please feel free to post on here or the Facebook page.

I would also like to ask that you re-Tweet or repost any new topics you may see from me, the more people that we can get the message of size acceptance out to the better.

In closing, whether this is the first post form Big and Tall Shorts that you have read or if you have read them all (or anywhere in between), I want to thank you. I hope you will continue to read and enjoy the site and click on the links that support other in the size acceptance movement. I also ask that you support the fine organizations that I profile on the right side of the page as they are at the forefront of the movement.

Here’s to another year. May it be a great one!