Well then pardon the language but F*** them. F**** any drunken guys at Clarion. F**** whomever sends a dirty look your way. Your name is still Alison, you still look like a girl, and have boobs, a ghetto booty and hips. Guys arent afraid that they'll break you when they hug you and you wear a size 13.
GOOD FOR YOU.
You're still hot, no matter who decided to come on GC one day and have an attitude. (P.S. I DO have an attitude today, for the record. But there is no reason anyone should EVER make you feel bad. So lets get this thread back on track. You are the SHIT. And don't f'ing lie to me either, b/c I've seen your pic, Ali.)

Looks like I hit a nerve with my post... I certianly don't mean to say anything about anyone's particualr happiness or attractiveness as realting to their body shape and size, we all know attractiveness is a higlhly personal thing. However, this post that sugarandspice made is what I was getting at with mine. This is one of those un-PC views that I hold. Of course everyone's ideal body fat percentage is different, but having a *really high* body fat percentage is unhealthy, and as our above example simply states, is considered by many as unattractive (me included). Also, since young people are not often inspired by health reasons to eat well and get good exercize, using physical appearance to drive behaviors that are ultimately good can be effective (to an extent, since we've all seen it backlash).

As for the personal part of my post... I was making a statement about myself and how I feel about my body. My body fat % is about 28-30% now... which while isn't awful, isn't in the ideal range either (I wear a size 8-10 and would cosider myself normal and curvy). I'd like to hit that ideal range and take pride in how my body looks, since I haven't looked how I've wanted too since I stopped competing and all my muscle left me! I wanted to make that point because a lot of my friends don't support my goals. I get a lot of "you're dieting??!?!? OMG, are you bulimic?" I don't think you have to be morbidly obese to try and gain muscle mass or eat more veggies.

I don't know what you all look like, and I don't really care! I'm sure you are all sexy and beautiful, and people who actually know you and love you think so. But there are two sides to every question, and this is one of them.

Then they're STUPID, and you need to more elsewhere man! I'm telling you, a friend of mine is this modelicious guy(he has been a model for awhile), he's muscular, good dresser, talented etc, and his girlfriend is what some might place in the "large category", but she looks good and she knows it. Girl takes care of herself, knows and is comfortable in her own body, and knows how to play up her advantages with outfits!

Basically attractiveness often has to do more with proportion. If you have JLo's butt, and a full stomach, but also large breasts, you're going to look good dammit! There are other things that come into attractiveness, including carriage, self perception, and all those other fabulous things that people already mentioned. And it's so hard to believe this although we all know it's logically true, but how you feel inside and who you are really doe show through in your appearance. You all know those people who you may not think of as good looking in "pose", i.e. a photograph, but in "animation", or life, they are just beautiful, and you don't know how you ever thought they weren't. So blah, basically...

You should lose weight only IF:

You feel out of breath or in pain when climbing stairs or walking for short distances

You have high cholesterol, high risk of diabetes

You are eating unhealthy foods

You are not very active in your life

Being overweight in these cases is still not the actual problem, but can be a symptom of the above things, which are much more serious problems. Otherwise, you should still be leading a healthy life, but don't allow a bad self image to prevail!!!

Cloud9: You win the award for best post in this whole mess. Seriously, that was great. :)

I think it's a mistake to assume that guys don't like you because of your appearance. I mean, a quick look at your friends will generally tell you that you're wrong -- the amount of guys interested in someone rarely has much to do with their looks. One of the prettiest girls I know has NEVER had a boyfriend, because she's always been too busy with other things (namely ballet, which she wants to do professionally), because she's really shy, and because she lacks the confidence to approach guys or flirt with them. I know some beautiful girls who have only had one or two boyfriends, and I know some butt-ugly girls who are never without them.

Some of the girls I know who have had the most boyfriends have been overweight, but what they also had was enough confidence to go flirt and approach boys and put their feelings on the line when they had to. That is usually the problem -- not that the 20 extra pounds you're carrying.

Unfortunately, I know that it's usually HARDER to change your self-confidence level than your weight, so it's not really a reassuring thing to hear that. But it's a much more worthwhile thing to change your confidence than your appearance, too.

Tsk Tsk, I HONESTLY believe that some people on here (or anywhere else) would not like themselves, REGARDLESS of weight.

You probably shouldn't take the word of anyone over James, but hey thats just a personal preference.

Oddly enough Cream, my Doctor trains heavily and has given me a different set of numbers lol. As well as my research. However, since my Doctor is bigger than your doctor that should be enough :p . lol.

But honestly. I would never argue with a lady so will bow out of that portion of the discussion.

(James Bows)

you do not have curves so stop lying to us lol ;) .

lol! Maybe that is just my body type. Anyway, I have 21% body fat now so all is well.

(Cream curtseys)

http://www.timeoutdoors.com/run/wome...C01040501E.htm

Amenorrhoea is sometimes triggered in women by low body fat and does not happen to all women. The article above states that "often the main cause is insufficient calorie intake, a low body fat percentage (under 17%), stress, or a heavy training schedule without sufficient rest."

-Rudey
--Can't all you girls argue about something more fun? Like breasts or satisfying your man!

WORRRRRRRRRRRRRD to the tenth power on this one. FOR REAL.

I KNEW IT!!!!! :D

-Cream
--Thanks Rudey. :)

When under 17? At 16? Or sometimes under 17 percent? Thats kind of vague.

Men that have bodyfat percentages over 10 percent run a higher risk of diabetes . . . Greater than 9 anyway lol.

About people hating themselves and why I havent been happy with myself lately:

I have had HORRIBLE family problems in the past two years. We almost lost our house, we are bankrupt, I have had awesome supportive friends, but I have also had friends who suck. I have done horrible with school and other things. So lately I have been depressed. Ill get over it. Dont think Im a person who constantly hates themselves, but lately thats what it has come to. I sometimes think if I did things differently some of this crap wouldnt happen.

I am so sorry that you are having such a difficult time with so many problems. Sometimes problems build up and can be completely overwhelming. I suggest that you surround yourself with kind, loving, and supportive people and weed out the people who suck because they are not your true friends. I have gleaned from your previous posts that you are a sensitive young woman who is going through a very challenging time and it is taking its toll on you. As an older and (slightly) wiser woman, I can tell you that this too shall pass as in CT4's signature.

If you feel overwhelmed and depressed, I strongly recommend going to see a counselor or therapist. As I have posted previously, I went into therapy after college, and it did a world of good for me. I was incredibly hesitant at first, but it helped me learn some coping skills and how to live my life in a more fulfilling way. I strongly encourage you to do so. The only reason I write this is because you wrote that you have been depressed and that you'll get over this. There are qualified profesionals who can help you and point you in the right direction. I wish you the best in whatever you choose to do. :)