Reading through this thread has reminded me of many truths that I would like to share. When I was in college, I hung around "sticks" and always, ALWAYS felt I needed to lose weight. When I look back at old photos, I realize how STUPID I was-I was a normal weight person perhaps even on the lower end of the weight scale. I didn't see what I really looked like. I think many of you are in the same category.
Today, I still carry an image in my mind because I happen to have a "stick" for a sister. The truth of it is, between us, I am more approachable and make an effort to help others feel comfortable.
Likewise, many people comment on how "beautiful" I am...no brag, just a fact. It DOES matter and like Grandma always said, "Pretty is as pretty does." When we walk around thinking
"I'm fat so I'm ugly," we will draw that into our lives. Being skinny does not equate with beauty. Being "fat" does not equate with "ugly".
I saw my daughter gaining weight and I trace it directly to the Internet. I warned her about Freshman 15 and beer (it's the WORST plus it breaks some people out) still, she added a few more pounds. She has dropped a few, but because she is soooooooo endowed, it's hard to notice. Her aunt-the skinny one-says things like "Do you know how many guys she could get if she just lost 20 lbs?" I want to slap her! Yet, she has more guys around than you can shake a stick at because first, she really is beautiful by most standards but more important-she is warm and doesn't know a stranger. She also is a rarity in the sense that her morals are cemented in her religious beliefs. Her close friend is anorexic... She has had similar things happen/said to her BY OTHER GIRLS as Shine and DeltaSigStan have described. Take into account that her struggle is no where near what many have described on this thread. So, the facts-
You're not as "fat" as you think
Carriage matters
Girls are harder on girls
Stop trying to shop in the Juniors
Believe, REALLY BELIEVE in your own beauty
Cut down your Internet time and the beer/alcohol
When skinny people get older, their face hardens
Real men fall in love with real women
Rubens had it right!
The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens
http://www.abcgallery.com/R/rubens/rubens49.html
Charities (called in Latin Graces) ancient Greek divines for beauty, grace and artistic inspiration, and perhaps also, in their earliest form, of powers of vegetation. They are generally said to be tree sisters called Euphrosyne, Thalia and Aglaea. Their father was Zeus, mother either Eurynome, or Hera. They are usually depicted as naked girls embracing at each other. They frequently accompany Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite, Eros and Dionysus.