When many people join, they are not in a good place - which is reflected in their usernames. Once they become involved in the community, their feelings almost always change.

You'd be surprised how many people contact us to change their usernames to something more positive. Sometimes within just days of joining! And sometimes it's way down the road. But it happens all the time.

It's all a journey and most of our members don't end up in the same place we started. If you see a member with a negative username, hold on to the hope that they are getting better inside and out and their names will eventually reflect that as well :)

Btw, the above does not apply to obscene names or names intended to insult others. If you see those, let us know and we'll give them pretty princess names asap :)

It's none of my business what people choose to call themselves. I don't really care.

I'm also not much of a rah-rah cheerleader type. My comments and advice are pretty no-nonsense. I don't use self-deprecating humor, but who am I to judge those who do?

What about rainbows and kittens?

I'm not sure if my name is one of the ones you guys are talking about, but I don't feel like it's negative. I am fat, it's not like I'm calling myself a beast or something. I'm generally pretty straightforward/realistic about things. I'm also not a self-loather, I have lots of great qualities and achievements to be proud of.

I actually liked my username when I came up with it, because it reminds me that I can do this all on my own. I don't need pills, surgery, or divine intervention. I like staying aware that the power is all mine, it's been a big factor in getting my train rolling again.

It's also (obviously) a nod to "physician heal thyself" - which is basically saying I have all the tools from years of research, attempts, failure, etc. If anyone can do this, it's the girl who's been to battle more than once.

I may change it as I move toward goal, who knows. But it definitely is not an indication of some destructive self-hate. It's half jokey, half serious.

fght ~ I love your name! (And if I didn't, who cares?)

I'm entirely happy to define my bodyshape as fat, to me that is a descriptor, not a derogatory comment ~ but then again, other think "fat" is such a meany word they don't like to see it used. Hey.

When I see other names - and none springs to mind at the moment - that seem to scream self-loathing, then I am sad that people feel so bad; that's all.

@Carter you made me laugh your post made my day lol

fatgirlhealthyself - I love your name, and I actually read it to mean "fat girl healthy self" before I read it as "fat girl heal thy self". Both are great :)

I agree. If you don't love your body the way it is and speak nicely to yourself, you will not be successful. You can love yourself and still want to make positive changes to your lifestyle.

A positive attitude is necessary to be successful in every part of life. It's really sad people don't have a vocabulary that doesn't include the f word and swearing. It shows ignorance.

Thanks for the nice comments on my username, guys. :)

I agree with you on the positive attitude aspect. If you don't love and believe in yourself, you will likely not succeed.

However, I must strongly disagree with you on the swearing thing. I have a very healthy vocabulary, am most certainly not ignorant, and I use the F word now and then (among other colorful words). Part of it depends on your age, too, I suppose. Younger people tend not to be so fazed by cursing and don't automatically link it to a lack of education or intelligence.

I don't know guys...For one thing I think that's what's so great about this site is we're all allowed to express ourselves in whatever fashion we wish. And secondly, if you can't laugh at yourself from time to time...well then I think we may be just taking life a little too seriously. I guess I personally just don't have an issue with it, if someone wants/needs to express themself in that way, then who am I to judge.

I am one of those that had a different name when they first began. It was fedup. It had a double meaning for me. Firstly that I was (over) feeding myself, so I was indeed FED UP, but it mostly meant that I was fed up with being super morbidly obese and my horrendous eating habits. But fairly quickly into my journey, I was no longer feeling those things. Fairly quickly into my journey I was certainly no longer overfeeding myself and I was thrilled with my new eating habits. I was fed up no more. So, I took my name and made it a little spunk-ier and juiced up.

I'm reading Don Quixote right now! :D It's spelled Rocinante.

I love my name, it's a french slang term for a hot chick ;)

I like the variety of names, regardless if they are "positive" or "negative."

I also agree with the previous posters who aren't totally into the "rah rah" attitude, I'm not always into it either and agree that some of the terms I see time and time again here are annoying, I notice it's exactly the same at all weight loss boards. But it's not really a big deal, sometimes I don't even notice it, I think it's just when I'm in a crappy mood :p It's also hard not to get "sucked in" and start typing like that myself sometimes!

I'm one of those that cringes at some of the names that I see. I was reading and writing by the time I was three, words are in my blood. So I react to them sometimes. That's me. My reaction stems from various experiences and I acknowledge that. I don't attach it to the person who uses whatever name triggers my particular reaction. It belongs to me and I deal with it.

Internet forums are one of the few places where we are relatively free to chose our own names, our own identities, and I would never want that to change. Whether people choose one of those names because they find it funny (we don't all have the same sense of humour), because it empowers them, or because that's just how they see themselves at the moment, that's fine. For all I know, someone might hate my screen name because they get seasick! Who's to say?

before we can love ourselves we have to accept ourselves. so for me, getting out of denial, and accepting I was obese, aka FAT was a big part of that. I may change it when I had no longer so fat, (although I am not obese anymore, but still overweight) but for now, being MAD about being FAT is part of it.
So please don't judge my screen name, its just an expression of my drive. I will assume others are using names that resonate with them, and thanks to the moderators that allow for changes when appropriate.

I agree with carter.....all of it!!! LOL!