Ladies...snap out of this pity party!!!!

I have been reading this thread to my husband...and he made the same comment as me...why the **** would you want a guy that would be that superficial??!! Take some pride in yourself and ask him out now. Life is too freaking short. Your life will not get suddenly better if you lose the 24 pounds...sounds like you are just making excuses to avoid putting yourself out there.

Get yourself in the game...whatever size. Be who you are and true to yourself. Love yourself and project condidence...the right man is out there...but get in the freaking game!!!

Annie, if I had a chair nearby, I'd get up on it to applaud you! I only quoted a small part, but the whole post was just excellent! I am so happy you didn't let those hateful, negative voices stand in the way of your happiness with this new fellow -- he sounds simply lovely and I couldn't be happier for you! (You made me laugh reminding me of my words to you; it's true, your judgment was simply not to be trusted in that matter! )

As for you, Shelley -- I hope you can hear the above messages with an open ear and mind. You have value and appeal just as you are now. You deserve to be with someone who loves you for YOU -- someone who will enjoy whatever package you're sporting simply because it's yours. I found that in my partner after someone else found me just too heavy to date at 170. Lorraine's words? "What a f***ing idiot. Her loss is my gain." She had me at effing! Love is deeper than a number. At 199 you suddenly deserve to go make a move for your own happiness but not before?? I don't want you to feel like we're ganging up on you -- just want you to maybe look at it a different way. We all see so much in you that's great NOW -- stuff that lots of guys would find just great. You have achieved so much and have demonstrated to yourself and others so many positive, attractive qualities.....be alive NOW, not when the scale tells you it's ok to try. You know when you're feeling down but you fake smiles and good cheer and then find at some point that you're not faking anymore? Well, try that with confidence. Call on your inner courage (the same courage that you utilized to get started on this successful journey of yours) and project confidence, and after some practice and repetition, and seeing that the sky doesn't fall down, you'll find that you're not faking it any more. You can do it! At any weight. You're worth it.