Dec 20, 2022
“Stop commenting on their bodies. Stop commenting on what they're eating. Just clamp down on that urge because it's not helpful. It's not helpful. Start being aware of how you talk about bodies, including your own. And, you know, focus on things that the kids have control over, attitude, effort, manners, how they treat themselves, and how they treat others.“ – Pam Luk
If you’re someone who has ever shopped for plus size clothes, or if you’ve tried to find clothing for a plus size kid, you know how difficult it can be. The number of options is so limited, and often the sizes available don’t even go up that high, and you’re left hanging. All of this contributes to so much body shame, and it’s one of those ways that the world around us conveys that fat bodies aren’t ok.
Well my guest today, Pam Luk, decided to change that. Pam is the founder of Ember & Ace, an athletic wear brand for plus-size kids. Growing up playing sports, Pam learned firsthand the importance of finding activewear that fits. Not finding it is one of the main reasons kids quit sports. Pam launched Ember & Ace exclusively for plus-size kids with a focus on comfort and performance.
This is such a great conversation this time of year as we are shopping for our loved ones during the holidays, and as we are about to be bombarded with all of the New Year’s dieting propaganda. Pam is on a mission to change the way our world views bodies, by starting with making athletic wear available to kids so they can do the activities they love and see their bodies as capable and deserving of taking up space. She also shares so much wisdom about how we as adults can become more comfortable with our bodies, and how we can talk to kids about body diversity - particularly if you are plus size or have a plus size kid.
Regardless of the size or shape of your body, this conversation has something in it for you. I love Pam’s tips for clothes shopping to help us stay out of a negative body image spiral, and her insights into navigating hard conversations within ourselves and with our kids about weight and body size.
So, let’s settle in and hear what Pam has to say!
[00:01 - 03:52] Ember And Ace: The Focus On Fit And Performance
- Pam is the founder of Ember and Ace
- She shares her experience with the difficulty of finding clothing that fit her well
- Ember and Ace is designed to be comfortable and perform well, with a focus on fit and performance
[03:53 - 11:40] Changing The Way The World Views Bodies
- Pam shares that her goal is to change the way the world views bodies by starting with making athletic wear available to kids
- She shares her wisdom about how we can become more comfortable with our bodies, and how we can talk to kids about body diversity
- How a lack of plus-size clothing led her to create Ember and Ace
- Athletic wear is one way to fill in this gap in the market, as it is often more proportionate for larger bodies
- Parents have to be creative in order to find clothes that fit their plus-size kids
- Parents should size up until they reach the top of the available size range, and look for features like cuffs and cropped pants in plus-size clothing items
[11:41 - 36:15] The Need For More Clothing Options Of Plus-Size Kids
- Negative thoughts about plus-size bodies and these thoughts can be harmful
- Kids need to see more bodies that look like theirs in the media and in their everyday lives
- It’s important for parents of plus-size kids to not feel ashamed or embarrassed about their size and to have open conversations about body diversity with their children
- The importance of separating the negative connotations of the word “fat” from its actual meaning, which is a body size that falls within a range
- She encourages parents to have small conversations with their kids about body size, listening and asking questions to get an understanding
- She offers her advice on how to have these conversations with kids when they are still influenced by diet culture
- How the media does not represent the reality of the bodies around us
[36:16 - 56:50] Social Media Can Be A Tool For Connection, But It Can Also Be Harmful
- The importance of getting the right fit of children’s clothing right
- She discusses plans to incorporate a resale component into her business in the new year
- She advises parents to be aware of how they talk about bodies, and to focus on things that the kids have control over
- Her personal preference for winter over summer, and is more of a dog person
- Her favorite form of self-care is walking outside, which she does frequently without headphones
- It’s important to be aware of our surroundings and to pay attention to what others are doing
- Have compassion for ourselves and for other people, and to teach our kids about body diversity
[56:51 - 57:26] Wrapping up!
- Pam shares that it’s important to remember that weight stigma against larger bodies exists in all cultures, and it’s important to break that cycle
- Save tons of time and money by planning meals ahead! Grab Katy’s FREE Six Simple Steps to Menu Planning guide at nondietacademy.com/menuplan!
Connect with Pam:
Website: https://www.emberandace.com
Instagram: @emberandace
Plus Size Kid shopping tips to help parents find clothes that fit their kids. Download a copy at: https://www.emberandace.com/resources
Key Quotes
“Nothing should ever be tied to anybody's weight or size. Setting goals that are tied to the same kind of goals you would set for a straight-size kid.” - Pam Luk
“We got to take care of ourselves. There's always something interesting going on outside, even if it's just squirrels running across the power lines.” – Pam Luk
Click here to grab my free guide mentioned in the episode: The 5 Phases of Becoming a Non-Dieter
JOIN the Non-Diet Academy! Feel worthy at any size, and to live a life of total freedom!
https://www.nondietacademy.com
Get My FREE guides for Food Freedom & Body Acceptance: https://www.nondietacademy.com/freebies
Let’s get connected!
Instagram: @katyharvey.rd
Facebook: KatyHarveyRD
Website: https://katyharvey.net
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