Recently, I received a message from Allen Steadham, the founder and director of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA). The message was the announcement a new venture, separate from ISAA, that promotes “improving your own quality of life from day to day, and becoming an example to others concerning size (weight or height) acceptance. SA365 embraces the concept of health at every size, including fitness and making healthy food choices.” This venture is called Size Acceptance 365 (SA365).

After reading the release, I was intrigued and requested an interview, which Mr. Steadham graciously accepted.

Allen Steadham Interview

Big and Tall Shorts (B&TS): What is Size Acceptance 365? Is it a diet or weight loss program?

Allen Steadham (AS): In a word, no. To elaborate, Size Acceptance 365 (or SA365) is the opposite. It is about embracing our lives at the size (both weight and height) we happen to be. Moreover, it’s about becoming examples of size acceptance (SA) to others by living SA every day.

B&TS: How did you come up with the concept?

AS: Over the years, I’ve seen different people’s ideas about size acceptance cause insulation and fragmentation of the size acceptance movement. Things have either become overly political. There’s a divide between the social elements and the advocacy elements of the movement, and it’s difficult (though not impossible) for various organizations and groups to work together.

So, in short, a movement divided is a weakened movement. That’s not to say there haven’t been great strides, as there have — but we could do much more if we worked together more. I wanted to create a vehicle to focus on something we all say we agree on: living size acceptance from day to day, teaching it to others by example more than just words. I don’t expect this to cure all ills, but to be part of solution towards assisting the greater whole.

B&TS: How does one participate?

AS: There’s a few ways thus far. The easiest is probably to visit the SA365 Facebook page and LIKE it. Another way is to link to either the main SA365 webpage (both links are listed below) with one of the provided banner graphics . But I want people to also come up with personalized, individual ways of expressing size acceptance towards themselves and others. Everyone is different and different approaches impact people in different ways. The more we unite as a movement, incorporating many ideas and philosophies, the more people we can reach and help.

B&TS: In your press release, it discusses exercise and healthy choices as well as using HAES. How are these concepts all incorporated?

AS: For starters, SA365 encourages general fitness for the sake of fitness, not weight loss. So if taking a walk or a swim or riding a recumbent bicycle works for you and makes you feel better and raises your energy level, that’s great! There isn’t a single approach because people have different needs. Likewise, while making healthy food choices is a personal decision, I hope for us to provide some recipes and cooking methods which may be helpful. And once those are available, I hope to hear from others what healthy food choices they have made; what worked for them and what didn’t.

B&TS: It was reported in the news (not too long ago) that a recent survey of women from the United Kingdom who were “overweight” feel they suffer some sort of weight related humiliation at least 5 times a day. With this in mind, are there mental wellness aspects to SA365?

AS: Of course. Self acceptance is one of the greatest challenges of the movement, and it is completely tied to mental wellness. And beyond self acceptance is acceptance of others.

B&TS: The audience of Big and Tall Shorts is not only based on weight but height (both short and tall). In your press release you mention that SA365 allows a person “to become an example to others concerning size (weight or height) acceptance.” The size acceptance community traditionally focuses on weight issues. What information will this program have for people of below or above average height?

AS: It will take time to develop and cultivate existing resources concerning height but it is an attainable goal. For too long, the movement, including ISAA, has expressed the desire to include height in size acceptance. However, due to differing goals within the movement, not much progress has occurred yet…but now is a good time for that to change.

B&TS: Looking at the site for SA 365 and the Facebook page there is an introduction and promotional tools, what information can we look forward to seeing there?

AS: Banner images and initial suggestions as well as a discussion board. This is a long-term effort. We will have to find out together what works and what doesn’t. But we will develop educational information, recipes and exercise tips and recommendations.

You can look forward to seeing SA365 expand over this year and beyond. As the discussion forum on the Facebook page develops and we find more ways to encourage others, people will begin to come up with their own innovative ways to share SA365 with others and the whole process will evolve with the changing circumstances. SA365 is designed to be adaptable for the long haul.

B&TS: What impact do you hope to make with SA 365?

AS: In the short run, SA365 can cultivate new innovation inside and outside of the SA Movement. In the long run, SA365 can help unite elements of the size acceptance movement and use that to reach more people with size acceptance than ever before.

B&TS: What other comments can you provide regarding SA365?

AS: SA365 is not ISAA-specific, although ISAA is participating in SA365. It is open to any person, group or organization. There are only two circumstances in which a person, group or organization would find themselves disavowed of SA365: if they break the law in their efforts or if their efforts are not size acceptance (feederism, weight loss, etc.).

Size Acceptance 365 Press Release

Here was the original release that we referred to in the interview:

Posted By: Allen Steadham

To: Members in International Size Acceptance Association

New Year, New Activities!
It’s a new year and it’s time for some changes! Without Measure (WOM) Beta is finally going out of Beta; it’s becoming WOM 365. The url is still the same: http://womeasure.wordpress.com/

And yes, this is in association with another important change: Size Acceptance 365!

Size Acceptance 365, or SA365 for short, is quite literally about creatively expressing the need and value in improving your own quality of life from day to day, and becoming an example to others concerning size (weight or height) acceptance. SA365 embraces the concept of health at every size, including fitness and making healthy food choices.

The very nature of size acceptance means to reach beyond the numbers on a scale or a shirt or dress size, to find ways to be healthy without embracing failed methods such as weight loss dieting, drugs or surgery. SA365 does not exclude those who have dieted, lost weight or undergone procedures such as surgery but it does not endorse those methods. SA365 starts today and looks forward to the future.

While SA365 is a concept created by myself, Allen Steadham, the Founder and Director of the International Size Acceptance Association, it is not ISAA-exclusive. ISAA is not sponsoring SA365, only participating and hosting the SA365 webpage at http://www.sa365.info

SA365 is open to all people, organizations and groups. It is not limited to the size acceptance movement or size activists. SA365 does not exclude anyone unless their planned activity or participation is either illegal or blatantly against size acceptance (such as feederism or dieting/weight loss).

2011 looks to be an interesting year!

Best Wishes,
Allen Steadham
Director ISAA

So Size Acceptance 365 is a work in progress, but it has a direction and a chance for everyone to participate by contributing as Mr. Steadham suggests. At Big and Tall Shorts, we will keep you updated on information regarding SA 365. To contribute of become part of SA 365, visit the links below.

On one final note, I would like to thank Allen Steadham for him time and participation in this interview.

Size Acceptance 365 Website

Size Acceptance 365 Facebook Page