Anytime! In fact, how about right now? *hugs*

And thanks, UpsandDowns! (loved your 'embarrassing' story!)

As study after study after study shows, losing weight is not difficult. Keeping weight off, however, is nearly impossible, statistically speaking.

You might also want to read the article I posted in another thread about new studies regarding willpower. Very interesting indeed.

You're forever young, my dear.

All that's important is that you enjoy yourself. There's no 'what you should do' about this.

It's all about *your* pleasure...a liberty we almost never have!

I think this is always going to be risky, which you didn't want to hear. But most people, men and women, are so completely brainwashed to be fat-phobic that even if they have hidden fat fantasies they can't let 'em up to the surface. And maybe there are people who would really not like even a little bit of chub, but we won't know until we live in a non-fat-hating culture. (I'm not holding my breath.)

But if you are willing to take the risk, you might hit the jackpot. I would have LOVED it if a boyfriend said something like this to me. You could say "I know you don't feel comfortable with these few pounds, but I'm really enjoying the new softness. There are a lot more men like me than you'd ever suspect, and I feel really clear about this--I've always preferred softer, rounder women. I love you no matter what size--I loved you thinner, didn't I? But I really do love the way you look now."

This is plenty of info for a while, and it'll take a lot of processing and going over again. Be patient. Hope this helps!