Overweight girl elected to homecoming court

[bloodyjack]

It was the way homecoming was supposed to be.

Novi High School students clad in green and white clamored for a seat in the football stadium stands or milled about the periphery banging on cheering sticks and talking loudly the way teens in groups do.

In one row of eight guys, each had a letter painted on his bare chest -- Wildcats -- perhaps the ultimate show of school spirit.

School pride was in the air. Except for a group of cheerleaders making fuss over a pretty girl in a black dress, many seemed to have forgotten the controversy of the past week.

more

Now if only high school kids wouldnt terrorize the socially awkward FIVE DAYS A WEEK, am I right?

[librechik]

1. Did they dump pig blood on her afterwards and set the gym on fire?

heh--congrats to the queen.

[Teaser]

2. Dream on...

Now if only high school kids wouldnt terrorize the socially awkward FIVE DAYS A WEEK, am I right?

Ever since we invented the teenager they've been nothing but monsters.
Can't wait for the next revolution in marketting that defines them out of existence.

[bloodyjack]

5. Do you mean to tell me that teenagers

once behaved liked civilized human beings before they were granted the tremendous buying power they enjoy nowadays?

I did not know this, being born in the 80s

[St. Jarvitude]

60. Grunt grunt

Oonga, me no civilized.

[CO Liberal]

61. I Remember Being Civilized as a Teenager

Even though I was a hippie and had shoulder-length hair, I still ate with utensils and cooked my meat before eating it....

:-)

[mitchum]

62. "Teenagers" as a definable group did not exist until...

marketers in the 50s honed in on them . They (marketers) didn't want to pass up a chance at their disposable income brought about by postwar prosperity. Before that, they were considered older children or young adults.

[CO Liberal]

54. Better Than That....

We need to do something about asshole parents who teach their brats that it's OK to make fun of kids who are different than them.

[Arkana]

79. Hey hey hey...easy on the teenager bashing

I'm 19, and even though I'll be 20 next April, I take great pride in still being a teenager. :)

[Biased Liberal Media]

3. As someone who was overweight in high school

this would have hurt to no end. I was teased terribly. I know I almost got a superlative for the year book once and it wasn't too nice ("Most Likely to Be On the Ricki Lake show") but...never was anything like this pulled. Had it been, I think I would have left the school...I don't know.

I'm glad the girl is being supported though. However, with that said, I think the "prank" was a real fucked up thing to do.

[bloodyjack]

17. I hope its made her day, or week, or high school experience or whatever

But I think its fairly obvious this was just another example of the unmitigated cruelty of which teenagers are SOOO capable, of their tendency to isolate and ridicule anyone who is different. As a rule, most teenagers are total bastards and extremely conformist.

It is nice to see that she's taking it in stride though.

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. Sickening.

I hope this girl becomes a knockout, either in looks or charm or wealth or all three, just to dig into the kids that thought it would be funny.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. I have seen some not so attractive overweight women become

gems (physically speaking) after losing some weight... to be sure there was little wrong with them on the inside, and it is a shame that obesity has claimed so much self esteem and happiness...

[CO Liberal]

13. And...

...I've seen thin people gain weight.

Your point?? :shrug:

[Biased Liberal Media]

15. Well...as an obese woman I'm starting to really accept myself

for what I am...and I don't think that all obese/overweight women suffer from such low self esteem.

I'm a bit offended by your statement- saying that some "not so attractive overweight women were gems when they lost weight"...that's what perpetuates eating disorders IMHO. I know I'm a beautiful, vivacious young woman, I just happen to have more weight on me, I know there are others out there who feel the same way. Obesity is an issue but people need to get off the whole "if she'd only lose weight" bandwagon. There are tons of us who are trying, and words like those don't help.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. My bad.... apologies. I was referring to morbidly obese... as in life

threatening and was not trying to diss anyone.

I have family with weight problems... one even opted for that stomach surgery... scary when you HAVE to go through if for health concerns...

What irks me about obesity is that people rarely get good help from a physician...they are all too often told that their thyroid gland is aworkin just fine.. and in many cases this could not be further from the truth....compounding the difficulty in controlling one's weight.

I know some people who barely eat and still have weight issues. They should be afforded better medical diagnosis than they are given imho.

[Biased Liberal Media]

23. Well...I am what they would call "morbidly obese"

HOWEVER, it is NOT life-threatening. For someone who is morbidly obese I am quite active.

Another thing?? you said:

<<<What irks me about obesity is that people rarely get good help from a physician...they are all too often told that their thyroid gland is aworkin just fine.. and in many cases this could not be further from the truth....compounding the difficulty in controlling one's weight.>>>>>

I agree. It's hard to find a good doctor out there who knows what he/she is doing. It's hard to find an endocrinologist to take your case. In MY case, I have Insulin Resistance and PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome) and the IR itself helps me to gain weight despite not eating much and trying to stay active. I have been fighting weight issues for a long time but the one thing that threw me off was getting a Depo Provera birth control shot, I was almost at pre-pregnancy size (this was 4 mos after having my daughter). Anyhow- long story short: I gained 100 lbs and the scale has been flucutating since 2000 no thanks to everything going on with my body. Unfortunately we're a family like many others out there- cannot afford our medical insurance, so we have none.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

25. I know something.... about IR.... about PCOS... but I am afraid to say it.

[Biased Liberal Media]

26. ?? Why are you "afraid to say it"??? n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

30. FDA.... but here goes..... I really am tired of giving a crap about

an organization whose letters stand for Fatal Drugs Allowed.

If you were to be able to NATURALLY stimulate HGH in your own body... I said NATURALLY... you may receive health benefits you could only dream of.

I am not an advocate of directly taking HGH... don't believe in it, it has drawbacks... but I am in favor of materials that have been PROVEN to have NO deleterious effects as a method towards enhancing your body's natural healing abilities. Kyolic is nothing more than aged garlic extract. Pycnogenol is an extract from the bark of pine trees... if you goto www.Pycnogenol.com and click on documents, you will see beauceau articles showing the myriad health benefits of pycnogenol... it helps lower blood sugar, reduces inflammation, protects against smoking induced tissue damage, and on and on and on... I will post two or three other studies showing the blood sugar lowering effects, the anti-inflammatory effects, and the protective effects in the next post. My point is that most of this is very affordable, and available just about everywhere.

See this article from the NIH.

Kyolic and Pycnogenol increase human growth hormone secretion in genetically-engineered keratinocytes.

Buz'Zard AR, Peng Q, Lau BH.

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.

The amount of human growth hormone (HGH) decreases significantly after the age of 30. This decrease has been implicated as one of the major causes in the signs of aging, such as thinning of the skin and bones, a decrease in lean muscle mass and an increase in adipose tissue. Supplementing the body's dwindling supply with recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) has been shown to reverse the signs and symptoms of aging. However, drawbacks in rHGH replacement therapy include prohibitively high cost, the need for repeated injection and side effects such as carpel tunnel syndrome, gynecomastia and insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to establish an in vitro model using genetically-engineered keratinocytes to screen natural compounds for the ability to stimulate HGH secretion. We now report that a combination of equal amounts of L-arginine and L-lysine, aged garlic extract (Kyolic), S-allyl cysteine and Pycnogenol significantly increased secretion of HGH in this in vitro model. The data indicate that this in vitro model may be used to screen for other secretagogues.

PMID: 12127300

[Biased Liberal Media]

32. That is pretty interesting! Why were you scared to post it???

I don't get it! It's good to have information like this! I mentioned below that I used to be on Glucophage for the insulin resistance (NOT to be confused with Diabetes, IR is a pre-cursor for diabetes- it's high levels of INSULIN, not blood sugar), but it really messed my stomach up (to the point where 2 years later I'm dealing with the repercussions of taking it). I"m considering going the herbal remedy route. I know Flaxseed Oil is supposedly good, as well as Chromium, but I've heard some negative stuff about that. I have a lot of research to do.

Despite being okay for the most part (except the IR/PCOS/Obesity issue), I am already losing bone mass. A scan on my teeth 3 years ago showed I had bone loss. Thing is, I was good about making sure I took my prenatals and drinking milk during my preg but my daughter took all the calcium from me (that's normal) and I ended up losing bone mass. The dentist said I will be lucky if I still have molars by the time I'm 45. Oyy.

Thank you for this!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

33. A scan on my teeth 3 years ago showed I had bone loss.<<

Perhaps you should look here... this site will guide you to some of the most well researched and backed up info out there on natural health modalities. ---> http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-133.shtml

I didn't want to come off as a quack or a know it all... but I have seen things that if mentioned in here... would get me labeled a heretic and prolly get me booted as well. Great idea on the flaxseed oil btw.

Blood Sugar and Pycgenol ---> http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/3/839

Anti-inflammatory properties of pycnogenol ---> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11795505
Inhibition mechanisms of bioflavonoids extracted from the bark of Pinus maritima on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines.

www.alternativemedicine.com

www.lef.org

www.glycoscience.com <----- This one you will need to ask me about. This one could help you do the impossible. This one is the bomb. This is the one is the one that would label me a heretic if I let out what has been seen.

Let me give you an example: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Apr-22-Sun-2001/living/15843088.html

[Biased Liberal Media]

34. Totally cool

I will bookmark all of those. I got a huge Natural remedies book from my dad. I don't understand how people could think that's a quack thing. I don't believe in taking meds- I just don't. Too much bad has happened to me from taking so many. I've been on pretty much every SSRI (anti-depressants) under the sun, and a slough of other meds too. The only med I do take (have to get through my sis-in-law) is Prevacid for my GERD (acid reflux disease). Otherwise I have issues with everything I put in my stomach.

Thanks again! :)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

36. Prevacid for my GERD (acid reflux disease

The types of sugars mentioned in this site... are similar to the ones mentioned in the Sugars That Heal book.... work the same way... do similar things for the body. Miscommunication or faulty messages to and from your immune system are to blame for much of your concerns... and your PCOS is treatable... dare I say it, cureable.

www.cureanydisese.com

http://www.molocure.com/
READ TO SUCCEED
>>The answer is now in the palm of your hand – if you read the information. Why?? Our records show that Better than 9 out of 10 individuals who have utilized Molo-Cure® in successfully walking away from digestive disorders and disease have done so by first reading and understanding the Home Page and ALL the links.<<

[Biased Liberal Media]

38. PCOS is complex

there are so many issues with it- from fertility to obesity. I don't think you can "cure" PCOS- but I think things that RELATE to PCOS can be "cured" in a sense.

Hope I am making sense.

[the Princess]

66. PCOS - this I know about............

I have PCOS I have had it all my life and no one gave it a name until I was 40 and really really sick - probably close to dying. I have an Aunt who also was childless and had every symptom of PCOS but no doctor ever told her or me what was wrong - they knew - they just chose to not share that info with me.

PCOS - also known as Stein/Levinthal syndrom was identitified as a syndrome in the 1940's (I hope I am correct) and for whatever reason doctors chose not to use is as a diagnosis until recent years.

It is a SYNDROME - and as such is NOT a specific diagnosis. It means it is a complex group of symptoms that you can have some of or all of.
It is a very complex diagnosis to make. Unfiortunately I have every symptom you can find. And still my next to the last doctor chose not to share this information with me. Even tho - I was balding - I had almost a full beard - my blood pressure was out of control - I was gaining weight at an alarming rate - I had no menstrual cycle - I had horrible acne - my breasts were getting smaller and I had no sex drive. I was a classic PCOS sufferer. When that doctor finally said - "You probably do have PCOS" I walked out of her office and did my own research and figured out how to help myself with herbs and a doctor who listened to me. I saved my own life. No doctor gave a damn enough to help the fat woman. I now use a combination of herbs and medications to control the symptoms and my hair has grown back - the facial hair is all but gone - my boobs are much nicer and I have a regular menstrual cycle. No DOCTOR did this for me - I did it. And sadly there is still so much misinformation out there and arrogant male doctors still tell women to go home and get some rest rather than telling them what is wrong. *getting down off soapbox*

If you want more info about PCOS and how to help yourself there is a web site called http//:www.soulcysters.com and there is a yahoo group called PCOSholistic that is women helping each other to gain back their health the holistic way. I have very little faith left in the western medical community so I would suggest going the holistic route. But that's just me.

PCOS is not curable - it is only managable.

Sandie

[Biased Liberal Media]

39. PCOS is complex

there are so many issues with it- from fertility to obesity. I don't think you can "cure" PCOS- but I think things that RELATE to PCOS can be "cured" in a sense.

Hope I am making sense.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

43. Hope I am making sense.<< Check it.

http://www.womentowomen.com/LIBpcos.asp?id=1&campaignno=pcos&adgroup=adgroup1&keywords=pcos

>>At our medical practice, we treat PCOS with a combination approach, whether it is a chronic or a temporary condition of perimenopause. We’ve helped countless women reduce their polycystic ovaries through nutritional supplements, progesterone cream, enriched nutrition and regular exercise. (This support is available at-home through our Personal Program.) This combination approach is an effective way to start bringing the body back into hormonal balance.<<

www.glycoinformation.com

How many examples such as these, (there are 10's of thousands) would you have to read, how many people such as this would you have to meet, before you KNEW, that you could be positively affected, regardless the issue? This is a new technology in healthcare... the science of providing the body with essential sugars and letting it do what it is supposed to do with them. Even your insulin receptors are built from these sugars... so how important are they? Extremely important.

>>Within about two weeks of beginning to use some of the Glyconutrients that a friend shared with me, my stomach problems - acid indigestion and reflux - cleared up. I haven't taken an antacid since. And I can eat foods that I wasn't able to eat before. The arthritis in my hands also cleared up. But the most remarkable thing that happened is within four months of making some changes, my fibroid tumors were gone! (My gynecologist verified this.) Because I was so impacted by my health recovery experience, I gave up my twenty-six-year career as a real estate appraiser and writer of continuing education materials for appraisers in order to help people in the way I was helped. - Medical Disclaimer
- Peggy<<

[CO Liberal]

69. About Molo-Cure

Found the following by doing a Google search on "Mole-Cure":

The main consituent of Molo-cure is aloe. Aloe is not SCD™ compliant as it contains mucilaginous polysaccharides as well as increasing the release of tumor necrosis factor which is associated with IBD inflammation and increased immune stimulation.

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/molo-cure.htm

So essentially, you're advocating something that Native Americans have known about for centuries....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

73. Ya mean them "savages" that we committed genocide on??? Some of the most

spiritual people on the earth.... who LIVED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT ranther than make war upon it.

Yes.. I have trememdous respect for Native Americans... and I wish they were not done the way they were done.

The Sugars That Heal book delves into the role that various extracts of mushrooms (not that kind of mushroom) specific sugars actually, and their effect on the immune system. It is a great read. The www.cureanydisease.com website speaks of the role of eight essential sugars involved in cell to cell communication... and what can happen when those sugars are either in short supply or aren't produced sufficiently by your body either because of viral condition, toxicity issues, genetic flaws, stress, etc..... but yes... the molocure is some perty impressive stuff... aloe done right, kicks butt.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

35. If you purchase this book.....

you will know what I am talking about... you will see that a 76 year old, overweight diabetic man, taking shots, after one month of being given glyconutrients by Dr. Mondoa, while still seeing his primary care physician, was weaned off his shots, went on to lose 40+ pounds, started jogging again... and regained much of his former quality of life. One tiny example of what can be done, other examples are NOTHING short of miracles. There, now I can wear the heretic hat with pride.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345441079/qid=1097507103/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-2172669-7169513?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

>>As medical doctor and scientific researcher Emil Mondoa explains, these eight essential sugars, known as saccharides, are the basis of multicellular intelligence--the ability of cells to communicate, cohere, and work together to keep us healthy and balanced. Even tiny amounts of these sugars--or lack of them--have profound effects. In test after test conducted at leading institutes around the world, saccharides have been shown to lower cholesterol, increase lean muscle mass, decrease body fat, accelerate wound healing, ease allergy symptoms, and allay autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetes. Bacterial infections, including the recurrent ear infections that plague toddlers, often respond remarkably to saccharides, as do many viruses--from the common cold to the flu, from herpes to HIV. The debilitating symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War syndrome frequently abate after adding saccharides. And, for cancer patients, saccharides mitigate the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy--while augmenting their cancer-killing effects, resulting in prolonged survival and improved quality of life.<<

[Biased Liberal Media]

37. I will have to see if my library has it

That's really interesting. thanks again.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

40. What I am telling you is this... your freedom is at hand, you can win,

totally win in your present situation. I know of people who were on 10 sometimes 15 medications... and who are on them no longer.

I know of people who were in a FAR FAR worse condition than you are... near death in many instances... who are no longer.

If you follow the path I have laid down before you... you will come to a proper answer for your concerns.... I hope I have helped you to see a way to go, even if none was given by "those who know".

Bless you and keep on Duing what you're Duing :)

[CO Liberal]

27. I'm almost 52, Male, 5'11", 225 pounds

And I'm considered obese.

But other than moderate hypertension and slightly elevated cholesterol (whi bot appear to be hereditasry) and the pain in my back from the four herniated discs caused by three motor vehicle accidents, I consider myself to be very healthy.

[Biased Liberal Media]

29. My previous doctors were baffled

My BP was on the LOW-END (despite having hereditary high BP issues), cholesterol was LOW (again, hereditary) and I was retested twice for that. Generally I'm pretty healthy but the IR has done a number to me. I've been on Glucophage in the past and it screwed my stomach up real bad. Now with no med ins I can't do much about it but I am going to be starting alternative remedies (herbal) soon to help.

[CO Liberal]

53. Conventional Doctors Usually Don't Know How to Treat Large Folks

Other than to say "lose weight", many of them haven't got a clue.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

74. Do be careful when you start checking into herbs.... pycnogenol

has been through toxicity studies, teratogenicity and mutagenic studies... with dogs in Europe.. at a dose of I wanna say... 3000mg per day for 6 months.... nada, nothing zip no side effects, no malformed offspring, no genetic damage... absolutely nothing. An average human can benefit trememdously from as little as 100 to 200 mg/day.

It is also known as grape seed extract, however, if I can get ahold of genuine pine bark... licensed and sourced by Horphag of Denmark, I am much happier.

www.pycnogenol.com <----- Many docs use this sort of stuff both for themselves and their families... but and here is the kicker... they won't or can't tell you about it. Shame.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

75. Do be careful when checking into herbal thingies.... pycnogenol

has been through toxicity studies, teratogenicity and mutagenic studies... with dogs in Europe.. at a dose of I wanna say... 3000mg per day for 6 months.... nada, nothing zip no side effects, no malformed offspring, no genetic damage... absolutely nothing. An average human can benefit trememdously from as little as 100 to 200 mg/day.

It is also known as grape seed extract, however, if I can get ahold of genuine pine bark... licensed and sourced by Horphag of Denmark, I am much happier.

www.pycnogenol.com <----- Many docs use this sort of stuff both for themselves and their families... but and here is the kicker... they won't or can't tell you about it. Shame.

Pycnogenol has been used for senility, blood platelet aggregation issues, ADHD, allergies, neuropathies (however, alpha lipoic acid rules for neuropathies) as well as retinal bleeding... as effective if not better than medications issued for retinal bleeding.

Here's my Italian brethren at work... they aren't afraid to check out what is safe and effective, while here we worship companies that put out fatal drugs... hide the research that proves them fatal... and then gets off the hook afterwards... how skewed is that logic??? Link gives more text of the study....

Treatment of vascular retinopathies with Pycnogenol.
Spadea L, Balestrazzi E.
Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Cattedra di Clinica Oculistica, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, L'Aquila, Italy.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11351356

>>The fluorangiography showed an improvement of retinal vascularization and a reduced endothelial permeability and leakage in the Pycnogenol, but not in the placebo-treated, patients. The ophthalmoscopy and the electroretinogram (ERG) also confirmed the beneficial effects of Pycnogenol. The mechanism of action of Pycnogenol may be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. It has been suggested that Pycnogenol may bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary 'sealing' effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial<<

[HysteryDiagnosis]

76. Be careful with herbal thingies.... pycnogenol

has been through toxicity studies, teratogenicity and mutagenic studies... with dogs in Europe.. at a dose of I wanna say... 3000mg per day for 6 months.... nada, nothing zip no side effects, no malformed offspring, no genetic damage... absolutely nothing. An average human can benefit trememdously from as little as 100 to 200 mg/day.

It is also known as grape seed extract, however, if I can get ahold of genuine pine bark... licensed and sourced by Horphag of Denmark, I am much happier.

www.pycnogenol.com <----- Many docs use this sort of stuff both for themselves and their families... but and here is the kicker... they won't or can't tell you about it. Shame.

Pycnogenol has been used for senility, blood platelet aggregation issues, ADHD, allergies, neuropathies (however, alpha lipoic acid rules for neuropathies) as well as retinal bleeding... as effective if not better than medications issued for retinal bleeding.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

78. Do be careful with the herbal thingies..... pycnogenol

has been through toxicity studies, teratogenicity and mutagenic studies... with dogs in Europe.. at a dose of I wanna say... 3000mg per day for 6 months.... nada, nothing zip no side effects, no malformed offspring, no genetic damage... absolutely nothing. An average human can benefit trememdously from as little as 100 to 200 mg/day.

It is also known as grape seed extract, however, if I can get ahold of genuine pine bark... licensed and sourced by Horphag of Denmark, I am much happier.

www.pycnogenol.com <----- Many docs use this sort of stuff both for themselves and their families... but and here is the kicker... they won't or can't tell you about it. Shame.

Pycnogenol has been used for senility, blood platelet aggregation issues, ADHD, allergies, neuropathies (however, alpha lipoic acid rules for neuropathies) as well as retinal bleeding... as effective if not better than medications issued for retinal bleeding.

[the Princess]

65. OK this conversation is irking me a bit :)

I have been fat all my life - and I mean fat - not pudgy not plump - or any other cutesy name you wanna call it. I'm fat. I am technically morbidly obese. AndI for one am sick to death of being told I should lose weight. Don't you think if I could I would?? Don't you all think that if we (the fat ones) could be thin we would? What exactly do people think we do all day? And what exactly do you think is so much fun about being fat that we choose to stay this way? I'm 44 years old - I have been on ever single diet that has come down the pike. I was even put on speed at 16. But I kept getting fatter. The fact of the matter in - NO ONE - not even the most educated Doctor if he is honest - knows why some of us are fat and why some of us are not. They just don't know. And if it were as simple as eat less and exercise more we would all be thin - doncha think?? I exercise ever fucking day. You know what it does to me. It keeps me from gaining weigth and keeps my body healthy. It really never helps me lose weight. This is just the way my body is. Until medical science finds out for sure the connection between hormones - thyroid and weight gain I'm gonna be fat - and so are a whole lot of other people in this world. I think you all better just get used to being around fat people. We're here to stay. I've never had a problem finding men who find me attractive. I'm fairly confident. (I'm working on it) I've always had friends and I am educated and intelligent. Fat people are just like the rest of you - except there is more of us. Big fucking deal. Get over it already. And I am NOT gonna hack up my insides to make other people happy. I like my body - my hubby likes my body and really - what else should I care about???

If I over-reacted I am sorry - I'm just sick of the fat prejudice I have to deal with every day of my fucking life.

Sandie

[CO Liberal]

68. I Don't Consider That Over-Reaction At All

It made perfect sense to me, honey!!!! :-)

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. Despite the posts above,

I know what you mean.

Not all overweight women are well-adjusted. Although quite a few women I know are very comfortable with their size, I am not one of them.

I have had a weight problem most of my life. And in 1992, I finally took working out and dieting to a new level, becoming the thinnest, most incredible me I'd ever been, physically. I had double-takes from guys walking down the street; they were hitting on me everywhere. I wasn't used to it.

And because of all the psychological damage that had been done to me my whole life by cruel people and their remarks, I still didn't feel it. I was still the same person inside. It was just that the outside finally matched the inside.

FSC

[CO Liberal]

41. People Like That Think They're "Helping"

I've preferred larger girls and women all my life - since I was ten years old. And with the exception of my jr high and high school years (when I tried to "fit in" by dating thin girls), every woman I've ever dated (or married) has been large.

And most of them said they were sick and tired of hearing the dreaded phrase - "You have such a pretty face - if only you would lose some weight...." :puke:

[CO Liberal]

10. She Looks Like A Knockout Already, IMHO

And she's only 15. She'll be sensational in a few years.

[Beware the Beast Man]

16. Yeah, I should have rephrased that a little clearer.

She is a cutie already.

[Beware the Beast Man]

6. I would love, if we could,

somehow get in contact with this girl and congratulate her on behalf of DU. She looks like a real sweetheart.


ON EDIT- interesting blurb in the companion story- the Senator in her area, a Repub, is trying to pass anti-bullying legislation. Quite honorable.

http://www.freep.com/news/education/homecoming8e_20041008.htm

snip-
Alexandra's trial has brought to light a new layer of bullying and harassment in schools and is further evidence that anti-bullying legislation is needed, State Rep. John Stewart, R-Plymouth, said Thursday.


"The need for anti-bullying is based on the refined, more sophisticated forms of bullying," said Stewart, who has proposed a bill calling for all Michigan schools to set up policies with consequences for bullies. The proposal currently sits in the education policy subcommittee.

[Biased Liberal Media]

19. Well can I tell you all something that happened bc of bullying done to me?

Back in 8th grade I was terribly teased for my weight issues. Well, in my school district by my senior year, there was a clause enacted to add teasing someone because of their physical appearance as part of the sexual harassment clause. So if someone continually picked on someone who was (like in my example) fat, they could be charged with sexual harassment in the school district I used to attend.

It was a victory to me. In 8th grade I was bullied to the point of tears, even had a teacher who laughed alongside the boys, I would run to the counselor's office in tears, talked with the (male) principal who did nothing, and then finally, the (female) vice principal listened to me. All the boys I named were given suspension and referrals for the treatment of me. The teacher was put on unpaid leave because of his laughter at my expense.

I'll never forget it.

[Beware the Beast Man]

22. Amazing.

I was an overweight kid too (still am) and yes, the solution was "lose weight or suck it up," to paraphrase. You don't have to be an overly sensitive person for that negativity and self-insecurity to creep up on you. When I have children, one thing they will NOT do is pick on others based on their appearance.

[Biased Liberal Media]

24. I hear that

I have a 4 yo who will be starting school next year. I am trying to instill tolerance in her as much as possible, and she can say things that hurt me, about my weight, but she's young and doesn't know. A gentle "words like those aren't nice and hurt feelings" helps. :)

[CO Liberal]

42. If The Next Generation Learns Tolerance...

...life may be easier for the next generation of fat kids. But based on what I've seen from a lot of "compassionate conservatives" lately, I'm not holding my breath...

[CO Liberal]

7. I've Been Advocating for Size Rights for Years

Stories like this do my heart good. The kids at that high school saw Alexandra not as a fat girl, but as a young woman deserving of their votes.

Fat people are just like anyone else - they deserve the same respect and opportunities as others.

[Biased Liberal Media]

12. That is why I love you and Mrs. CO so much!

:)

[CO Liberal]

14. Thanks

:-)

[the Princess]

70. Thanks Sweetie!! :)

[bif]

9. She was elected to the homecoming court, not queen.

n/t

[bloodyjack]

18. Will correct

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. She and the school triumphed over the jerks.

When she was presented as sophomore princess (not homecoming queen) she got cheers, not jeers, and it was a good moment for her.

That doesn't make the "pranksters" any less assholes, however.

[pagerbear]

28. This story brought tears to my eyes

She's a lovely girl. I wish her the best. I hope the kids who wanted to be cruel got a lesson in love and acceptance, and not harsh punishment.

[CO Liberal]

64. In A Way...

...this story reminds me of the original "Revenge of the Nerds", where the jocks got the short end of the stick at the end of the film.

[LisaLynne]

31. I don't want to read too much into one incident ...

but it's really great to hear stories like this. It's like most of the school told those bullies that they don't think like that anymore, that teasing people because their overweight, dress differently, poorer than other kids in the school, or whatever isn't cool with them anymore. Maybe people are on their way to accepting people they see as 'different'. Ah, yes, I can dream.

[liontamer]

44. I can't believe that this was a news story

most americans are overweight, that one of them would be a homecoming representative is not in the least bit newsworthy. Heavier girls than her have been homecoming queens. Clearly this is not a big news town.

[Biased Liberal Media]

45. Did you miss the part where they said it was meant as a cruel joke??

that was the point. Personally I'm GLAD it was covered. These bullies need to be dealt with.

[CO Liberal]

59. This Story Reminds Me Of My High School Days

The "in" crowd at Morristown High School in Morristown, NJ had decided who was running for Junior Prom Queen 1970, and the ballots only contained names fo their approved girls. So a group of us organized a write-in campaign (with her permission) for "Frizzie Lizzie" Schroeder, a hippie chick with very frizzy hair.

Lizzie won the election for Prom Queen hands down - the football coach came in second. She attended to prom wearing an evening gown and combat boots. Her escort wore a tux and sneakers.

[Beware the Beast Man]

46. Well, it explains the ramifications of bullying in school.

As I posted above, a local lawmaker (Republican, believe it or not) wants to pass "bully laws" that require schools to enact stricter enforcement against bullying. I'm inclined to agree. In the years following the school shootings, I think this is a very relevant issue.

[Biased Liberal Media]

48. *Bats eyes* I think you're my new internet boyfriend!

Right on!

[Beware the Beast Man]

49. Thanks, dear...but I'm happily taken!

But I am quite flattered, nonetheless! :hi:

[Biased Liberal Media]

50. I'm just playing around! LOL!

I'm taken too, but want to thank you for defending something I so strongly believe in. :)

[Beware the Beast Man]

51. No problem!

Like I was saying, you don't have to be hypersensitive for the scars to run deep, so that's why it's important to me as well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. As a Michigander, clearly you have never been here in Michigan.

Novi is quite a bustling area. The expo center is there which holds many of the conventions, and shows in S.E. Michigan, it has one of the bigger malls...I could go on. What happened to Allie is horrific and needs to make the news. As a parent of two school aged children I have seen what bullying can do. I have also seen the school boards in our area sit on their hands...even going as far to blame the parents of the bullied for not making their kids "tougher". Sorry, I completely disagree. Plus, if you note, the newspaper is the Detroit Free Press, the leading newspaper in S.E. Michigan. :hi:

[CO Liberal]

52. Of Course It Was News

The "in" kids at that school planned a cruel joke, and it blew up in their faces. A classic case of good triumphing over evil.

[liontamer]

55. my objection to this being news is that something very similar happened in

my high school. And I imagine that it happens in every high school. Possibly every few years. The story essential states: there is a high school with a small group (5-10?) of very mean students. They decided on a target of the week. That week it was "fat girl" (actual girl as human being is unimportant) She was a nice enough person, with friends who thought she would like to be a homecoming attendant (there was nothing in the article that says she was forced to do it, and if enough people voted her in over other candidates people must have liked her. The entire sophomore class couldn't have been that invested in a cruel prank). When it came to light that she was nominated as a joke, the majority of the area was outraged that someone would do something so mean and worked hard to show their support for the girl. In effect stating, most people are nice and that it turns out her weight wasn't that big a deal.

I can see that the story is touching and it's certainly nice to read that people are basically good despite all the evidence we see to the contrary. I just dislike seeing the big deal people are making out of it. Why shouldn't people cheer her, why shouldn't she have enjoyed homecoming? Is her weight so offensive that we should expect her entire community to be against her? The fact that this is a news story saddens me.

And as for good triumphing over evil.. it doesn't seem like anything happened to the kids who set this up as a joke, so this just turned out to be an unfunny joke.

[CO Liberal]

56. It's Still Newsworthy, IMHO

In today's society, fat people are the last group that it's still "OK" to ridicule. As someone who has been involved in Size Rights for many years, I look upon this story as good news indeed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

57. You are so right CO Liberal...and to see this looked at as not "newsworthy

by a fellow DUer saddens me. Things need to change.

[CO Liberal]

58. Agreed. MrsGrumpy

:-)

There are many major things that are wrong with this country, and I believe that as Democrats, we're working on them. This is a sign of something else that's wrong with this country, that also needs to be addressed.

[Djinn]

82. just to throw a cat amongst the pidgeons

for most of my life I had the opposite drama - mega skinny could not put weight on - it got really bad for a few years and I had every test under the sun to find out why I never had an appetite and couldn't keep food down a lot of the time - people had absolutely NO problem telling me I needed to eat more, that I was scrawny, that men preferred a "bit of meat" commenting on anything I ate - I was sick and feeling really shite about myself yet strangely NO-ONE had a problem with all the comments I got....and guess where most of them came from heavy/overweight women, it made me a little cynical when it comes to hearing this stuff, I'm well aware that larger women (and men) cop flak - but they give it out plenty.

I would NEVER have dreamed of telling another human that they needed to go on a diet - I heard the opposite ALL the time

[cheezus]

63. the normals hate the bullies more than the fatties

and their bullying backfired on them. GOOD!

[the Princess]

71. Stupid question - but.............

What makes you *NORMAL*??

Even IF fat was the Norm in bodies - I still wouldn't be normal? What's it like?

LOL

[CO Liberal]

72. I Try To Keep "Regular"...

...but personally, I don't think I've EVER been "normal".

:-)

[DrWeird]

67. They did this to a lesbian girl a couple years ago.

Meridian high school in Washington state.

They elected a lesbian girl as prom king.

She took advantage of the bullying and accepted it in strides.

That crazy reverend guy came to protest at her graduation.

[GiovanniC]

77. There Was a Girl In My High School

Who was quite large... Like maybe 5'7" and probably between 200 and 225 lbs. She was pretty smart, and extremely nice. She wasn't bullied too much that I saw, although there were the occasional comments made about her weight. But mostly she was just ignored.

We graduated 7 years ago. A few months back I ran into her at a local store. She's a total knockout. She's lost some weight -- she doesn't look like an Olsen twin, she looks healthy. But she's unbelievable gorgeous. I wished some of the conceited cheerleader types or some of the preppy jocks could see her now. I've seen some of them around town, too, and they've packed on some beer guts or post-pregnancy weight.

I didn't really get a chance to chat with her much, so I'm not sure if she's as nice as she always was. It would be hard to blame her for resenting the attention that I'm sure she now receives just because she's beautiful.

[onebigbadwulf]

80. Our homecoming queen was severly overweight

she was really cool - surfer, druggie, nice to everyone, and best friends with the coolest guy in school.


(the coolest guy who was our valedictorian, football captain went to harvard on a scholarship and eventually dropped out because of weed)

[UrbScotty]

81. My cousin is a second-grader in the Novi Public schools.

She and her family might know about this.