Great thread!

First of all,
no-one cares what anyone else looks like, they only care about themselves. In itself that's bizzare because, if we accept that, why would anyone care what
they looked like? Have I lost you yet? Thought so!

Posh is a miserable stick insect. Everyone says so. Yet still she pouts and poses and gets skinnier by the minute. Everyone lauds Dawn French and Fern Britton, and, yes, they're lovely, fun (and rich

) people but, admit it, you don't actually want to look like them. Back to my opening gambit.
I
hate being "fluffy". Hate, hate, hate it. Yet, I've spent a good proportion of my adult life (post kids, at least) in that state. Yo-yo dieter? Supercharged! I
am unlucky - I see so many people who don't have to think twice about what passes their lips - but I know I'm in good company and I haven't been totally singled-out. I love my food, but there isn't a day goes by when I don't question what I'm about to eat. Not fun. During 2005, I lost over 3 stone and felt great. During 2006, I regained it all, thanks to 3 holidays. I did try to lose the weight I'd gained on holiday, but it wasn't happening. Over the Easter Weekend, I put on 5lbs in 2 days. I
guarantee that none of the other people I spent that weekend with (and who consumed the same amount of calories as me) put on anywhere near that. Since then, I've been dieting and I haven't slipped once. Initially I lost 7lbs, but then for no reason at all, I gained 1lb two days on the trot. I'm exercising, not drinking and sticking to a sensible eating plan (around 1500 calories a day).
But it's not just about the way I look. At the moment I feel uncomfortable and unhealthy. I applaud you if you really are happy with yourself, Deborah, but I know I'm not going to be joining your crusade any time soon. I'm 46 and I know from bitter experience that no amount of positive thinking is going to change the way I feel about myself.
Funnily enough, elder dd and I were having a conversation earlier today about weight. Why is it that skinny people who eat themselves into oblivion have healthy appetites, but anyone who's overweight is greedy?