I am fat. I know I am. No amount of "Oh you’re just big boned" will change that. But according to the BMI Calculator, I am obese. I happen to think the BMI is a load of crap. No one looking at me would ever think I was obese. Overweight, surely. I can settle for that. But the BMI takes no account of Male vs Female, body type, muscle mass, or any other important factors that determine a person’s total weight. Until they start using other factors do make that determination, I’m going to keep calling it bullshit.

So, I’m overweight. I have been as long as I can remember. I’ve never been one of the "skinny girls" even when I was toned and at my healthiest in high school. But then I went to college and gained the freshman 15. And the Sophomore 20, and the Junior 30. At my heaviest, I was 220 pounds, and only 5’8" tall. I’ve lost 20-25 pounds since January (I fluctuate back and forth) but I can’t seem to lose any more. I’m eating semi-healthy. I’m working out a few times a week. But I just can’t get past that point. I could probably eat a little better, but I’m a very picky eater, and I LOVE food that’s bad for me. Carbs and fat are my two favorite food groups. Salads are ok, but I only like ranch dressing, which is like the Holy Grail of fatty dressings. Pasta and bread are dietary staples to me. People keep telling me to cut out the carbs, but that would be the same as a starvation diet, and I’m pretty sure that’s not healthy. My sister swears by Weight Watchers and has been trying to get me to start with them. I just hesitate to spend money on something I could do by myself for free, ya know?

In a perfect world we’d all be secure with our self images, and not need to change ourselves to fit into society’s definition of acceptable. If only this were a perfect world…