From Amanda, Age 14 - 07/03/01 - IP#: 172.157.79.xxx  Click here to reply  
Hi everyone. I'm 14, about 5'0", and maybe 105 or so pounds. Some people think that I'm 115 pounds, and it makes me sad. What I really worry about is how I LOOK, not necessarily the WEIGHT, but my waist is somewhere around 28 inches and i want back my old 25 inch waist!!! If anybody wants to work on slimming up with me or has some tips or advice or anything that will make me feel better, please respond to this message or email me at AmandaB587@aol.com
Reply from Amanda, Age 14 - 07/10/01 
This message is for Kelly.
Thanks for your reply. That was really sweet of you. You're right. I didn't worry until my "friend" guessed my weight.
Last night I was really tired & I cried a lot about how I look. My mom is one of my best friends, and she and my stepdad talked to me for about an hour. They made me re-realize a lot of what you had said. Nobody really cares how you look because they are worried about themselves. And humans were not created to look like half-starved skin-and-bones creatures. We were actually meant to have a little bit of a tummy (look at normal-sized little kids). Everyone was made dfferently, and we all have our own levels of muscles and fat. We are supposed to have some fat. It's what keeps us warm and what cushions our insides (like our butts--lol).
Anyway, thanks for replying-- I printed it out :) I'd like to talk to you, do you have an e-mail address? Mine is AmandaB587@aol.com
Talk to you later!
 
Reply from kelly, Age 17 - 07/06/01 
hi, i'm kelly. You know what, are you happy with the way you look? Did you worry about how you looked before someone guessed your weight? don't worry about what other people say. We grow up in a society that praises women looking half-starved and unhealthy. I once had an eating disorder and I lost 20 lbs in 3 months. I was 120 and 5'2'' and I went down to 100 lbs. Let me tell you, it was the most depressing time of my life during those 3 months. Now I am much better, and I have started eating healthfully, exercising, and lifting weights. I am very muscular, and I weight around 124 now. I am happy because I feel healthy and I have fun now. I don't look in the mirror and cut down on myself anymore. Please, look in the mirror and praise you positive qualities. Don't think that you are less attractive if you have a problem spot. To YOU it may be a problem spot, but to someone else, it may be what attracts them to you. Look into your innerself for modivation to stay healthy and happy, not anxious and depressed about your weight. Life is too short to worry about something so superficial. Have fun and please don't ever try to hurt yourself in any way, like how i did.