Hah! Ilene-luv, you are indubitably correct - in most cases. Truly, in MY case, I have used that positive self-talk to UNDERMINE myself. Seriously.
I have been known to look in the mirror (face & shoulders only; no full-length mirrors for Ella) and thought, "Lordy, woman - you have barely changed since you were a fresh-faced undergrad at UMass!!!!! OTHER people in your age bracket look so danged old! Can't IMAGINE why they let themselves go like that...yadda, yadda, yadda." (Along the same lines as wearing 2x's because I like my clothes loose and flowing).

But to all there must come that moment of truth. In MY case, I DO have an abundance of "laugh lines", and I do NOT typically buy 2x's now because I like them LOOSE. I buy them because I can BREATHE in the danged things.

But, okay. I can be a little more positive. I can.

Hi. My name is Ella. I am a chunky monkey (which is, you'll note, much smaller than a cow!) but I have recently changed my life and plan on being a skinny lady in the not-so-distant future.

TTFN,

Ella