The Cristina show, for those of you who don't know who
Cristina is, she is known as the Spanish Oprah.
Her show is in Spanish and it the most well known show
in the Spanish community. Everyone loves her.
My experience on her show was a over all positive
experience though a few choose moments didn't sit to
well with me. I have to say though I don't believe
anyone was being malicious towards me.
What the
Show was About - from The Cristina Website -
www.cristinaonline.com
“Obesity:
A Mortal Epidemic”
Sixty-four out of every 100 adults in the United States
are obese, according to the Pan American Health
Organization, an international medical organization that
serves as the regional office to the Americas for the
World Health Organization. In addition, 50% of all
adults in Latin America are overweight, while 30% are
obese. Moreover, according to a study by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation, approximately 13 million children
and adolescents in the U.S. are considered obese. With
these startling statistics in hand, Cristina reports on
the human side of the epidemic that is sweeping the
United States—and the world.
American adolescent are the fattest in the world—and
24% of them are Hispanic. Abel and Anthony, who are ages
11 and 14, respectively—and who, between them, weigh 600
pounds—share their dramatic personal stories with
Cristina. Another guest, Manuel Uribe, considered the
world’s heaviest man according to the Guinness Book of
World Records, also tells the cautionary tale of being
morbidly obese. Other guests, including one man who
weighs 500 pounds, share stories about what it is like
to live with—medically and socially—a heightened level
of obesity.
Cristina’s special report on obesity airs on Monday,
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:00pm/9:00pm Central on the
Univision Network.
How I
feel about My Part in the Show: Article from my
LargeInCharge Magazine - Issue #43
October 2007
Living my Life
Breathless
As a FAT person in today's society I observe
many things. As one of the Biggest Women you will
probably see in your lifetime, (6'4 and 600 lbs) I tend
to notice reactions. As a hell bent woman ready to put
you in your place, I take both and turn them around in
my head and spew it out for you in this nice little
article. (LOL
- YES I AM LAUGHING)
Seriously this months article started taking form in my
mind when a particular event happened.
It was
August 15th, 2007 and I was in Miami taping the Cristina
show. It was a long afternoon waiting for my segment to
come up. I had been shooting all the B takes. I walked
up and down the halls, kissing he camera and giving my
shoulders a shimmy. I stood for the camera, I held
little conversations with my man in the green room while
cameras were inches from my face. Me and my man stood
side by side while cameras zoomed up and down my body.
I provided them with all the pictures and information
about the many things I do.
(SADLY None
of it was used and the most important thing the mention
of my ONLINE MAGAZINE was not included) Got my make up done, and
chatted with other guests. It is my time I am ready to
go out on stage. But they don't want me to just walk
out on stage, or to resume the segment with me already
seated. They want me to be the sexy super sized diva,
so I salsa out on to the stage. Using a bit of style
and grace I slink over the wires that could trip me and
shake my booty with Spanish style. Finally I seat
myself on the super almost low to the floor seat.
Wow
the excitement was pumping through my veins, the crowd
clapped and Cristina herself said "Wow you can move" I
found myself breathless. Dancing is a regular thing for
me, but I must have been holding my breath as I danced
out because now I was breathless, and was expected to
speak! Ok I can handle this. The interview goes its way
and I catch my breath and even though I didn't get to
say all I wanted to, and though my segment was cut super
short because of the previous guests, I hoped that I
represented properly. Now it is time for the end of my
segment. I was requested to lift two men back to back
one over the shoulder and the other with my legs. Each
man 200lbs each.
Here I
go, as the two gentlemen approach me. The first man I
will lift over the shoulder. But he didn't relax he was
stiff as a board and I struggled to keep him from
falling off my shoulder. I held him in place and set
him down. Then I kick off my shoes and get down on the
floor, No there wasn't a mat provided, no I wasn't
given an elevated platform like I usually use. I was on
a throw rug on a hard word floor. Suck it up I say and
down I go, I direct the man into placement and begin to
lift him. He keeps himself stiff just as asked to and
you see him perfectly go up into the air on my feet. I
hold him in place for a while and then slowly bring him
down. He gives me a hand to help me up off the floor.
But I know the best way to get up and bring myself to my
feet.
Yes
now I feel a bit tired and breathless AGAIN! I sit on
the VERY LOW COUCH and resume the interview. She thanks
me for coming and says to take care of myself because I
am a bit out of breath on the show today. Afterward
she asks me if I need help to get up off the couch (Says
she even needs help sometimes) But No I don't need help
after a little try and my foot slides on the throw rug.
I grip my feet to the floor and get up on my own steam
and go off stage.
Breathless! I am a little breathless on the show
today? Well lets see I am a 600lb woman who just Salsa
out onto the stage and then lifted two 200lb men. Not
only that but I threw myself down on the floor for you
and got myself back up off the floor. Not to mention
you gave me the lowest seat in all creation. I know
slim people who would have to try a couple of times to
get out of that seat. Hey I am going to be on a
national Spanish speaking TV show. She is considered
the Spanish Oprah. YES I AM BREATHLESS! Did you have
to point it out on TV for all to know that I am
Breathless.
Now in
her Cristina's defense I will say I don't believe she
was malicious toward me. She is like most slimmer
people who see a FAT person and sees them breathless and
is suddenly alarmed by it. This makes me think, and I
rolled the thought over and over again in my brain. Why
are people alarmed if they see a big person do a form of
exercise and be BREATHLESS?
-
If you
saw a slim girl doing an active Salsa and then be
Breathless would it concern you?
-
If you
saw a body builder lift up two 200lb men and be
Breathless would it concern you?
-
If a
slimmer person who weighed 200lbs, put on a body
suit that weighed 400 lbs, and did all the things I
did on the stage that day, and was breathless
afterward, would it concern you?
-
If you
saw a slim person taking a brisk walk down the
street and be Breathless would it concern you?
-
If
someone was climbing up flights of stairs and was
breathless would it concern you?
NO IT
WOULDN'T! Slap a Fat person into the equation and LORD
HAVE MERCY CALL THE AMBULANCE! Something must be
wrong, Your Fat, your a bit flushed in the face, your
breathless, your having a fucking Heart Attack. Your
too fat to be breathless!
You
know what, I like to be breathless sometimes. I like to
feel the blood pumping into my heart and veins. I like
to feel flushed in the face with the cool wind blowing
my sweat away. I like to push myself to the limit
sometimes. Maybe not everyday, maybe not all the time.
But sometimes I do. I want to be BREATHLESS on the
dance floor. I want to sweat, because I have been
stomping my feet and having a good time. I want to take
a walk and let it be ok if I am a bit breathless. Let
me feel flushed in the face. I am carrying around
600lbs of weight here. Every day I get up I prove I am
stronger than the average person. Every time I walk out
my door and do something I show that I am holding my
own. LET ME BREATHLESS! Let it not be a crime.
Oh but
Raqui, you may say. Fat people get more breathless more
often.
So
what. So do people with asthma. yes I am usually more
breathless than other slimmer people. I am usually
breathless if I climb up stairs or if I am taking a
brisk walk. Yes I am breathless after lifting things
and doing exercise. Yes I am breathless after dancing.
You rather me sit on my behind so I don't become
breathless. I want to be active I don't want to be
worried that I am seen breathless. Why should I hide
the fact that I am working my body out. Why should I be
ashamed.
Maybe
because I am bigger I cant walk as far as some with out
becoming breathless. But god I am walking. Maybe I
cant dance as long as some can with out become
breathless, But god I am dancing. Maybe because I am
carrying this weight every effort I take is my
exercise. That is ok, I am going to keep on going. It
makes me feel good to go out and shoot a few hoops. it
makes me feel good when I am walking around enjoying the
day or night. I want to live my life. There is nothing
wrong with it. I am going to live damn it and I am
going to Live my Life Breathless.
So I can say that this experience was a bit dramatic for
me.
Especially because her show basically used me for
entertainment, promised that they would put my pictures
and Magazine covers for LargeInCharge.com on before my
entrance so that I would be seen as more than a squasher
and then broke every promise they made to me. My segment
was the shortest and I was the only woman representing
the larger female. I was previewed the most through the
whole show but actually showcased the least. What can I
say, I thought my own people (The Spanish Community)
would look out for me. But like they say, it is the ones
who you never thought would use you to be the first to
take advantage.
