Interesting convo about weight and perception. I've never been thin; I think, maybe, when I was a freshman in hs, I was my postpubescent lowest -- 150, at a guess. That's the last time I have ever been able to strap into skintight size 11's.

My highest was probably about 1 1/2-2 years ago, about 210. I'm 5'4".

I am almost 36, and I feel the most comfortable with my weight I have ever been -- I'm about 180 now, and I dropped weight due to digging out of deep, deep depression. Those of you who have been arounf Biffistas in its various permutations have an inkling of how low it was.

All of the stuff Tep and ChiKat (I think -- it's been another brain-drainingly long pre-back-to-school days) said about (a) gradual reassignment of brain patterns re: body, and also (b) damn, that mirror is weird, my body isn't that big-ness is true.

Part of it, I think, is getting a little older and more focused on other things, rather than an overweening awareness of what my body is and is not, and also, not caring so much about what other people people thought of me. I worried less about what I looked like, and, huh, I didn't stress eat because of self-hate as much. Also, I got control over other areas in my life (not total, but SO much better!) and the bodt just kinda...went along.

Except for hoo-ha issues and silly little brain-chems issues, I am very healthy. And moreover, while I am sometimes startled by the way I look, it is mostly due to the difference between how my body FEELS. I mean, tactilely. It's like, as long as I have a waist, I'm NSM with what the other measurements are. I have an hourglass; I loveloveLOVE the very distinct dip between my hips and waist, esp. in my lower back. I think it's so cool! And my skin is supersoft, and my legs are thick, but well-shaped.

I didn't wear sleevless tops till I was about 32, but now, I'm not caring. And I'll always have a little pot, but as long as I have that dip, it's not so worrisome.

It's just too bad it took me till I was in my thirties to figure out al this. I do think that spending the last 3 years in an environment that was largely non-white -- where if you DIDN'T have a booty and melones, and calling a girl or woman "thick" was a compliment and not a complaint -- this really just kind of helped all the other stuff settle into a smoother groove.

Plus? I walk like a fucking rockstar. I can't help it, and now I embrace it.

Go team egotastic me, and I don't care, because it's better than all those years of the same entries of "I fucking hate myself FATPIG" in about 10 journals.

o_a, I hate to have to say it, but it's been bugging... women's diving. Women's gymnastics.

interesting what Bela said about the Chinese female gymnists. What do others think? Are they over 16? Is that why they don't list a home town (so research can't be done)?

I saw one girl who did not look over 12, shortness aside. She just didn't have the facial maturity.

It's like, as long as I have a waist, I'm NSM with what the other measurements are. I have an hourglass; I loveloveLOVE the very distinct dip between my hips and waist, esp. in my lower back.

This is me. I usually think the scale is lying to me when it says 175, because I keep telling it "I've got a waist! I can't weigh that!" I've always gotten compliments on my waist being "tiny", no matter what my weight, so who cares what the scale says. And, even though I can't see it, I get compliments on my legs and ankles. Well, I'll take 'em, even if I don't quite believe 'em.

IOmeN, I hooked up a new router this evening and it's being a pain in the butt. My TiVo didn't want to play nice with it and after a lot of fiddle-faddle with its setup and my home network and other oddities, I've finally got it hooked up and loading the TV schedule for the next two weeks. Damn, I wanted to be in bed an hour ago.

amych. Sorry. My grammar & spelling skills are horrid. When I am at the computer, I'm pretty good about checking. But on the iPhone, it's too much a pain. It is the one glaring area where I am very unBuffista. I am getting better. Since joining, I am far more aware of my serial comma usage.

What do others think? Are they over 16? Is that why they don't list a home town (so research can't be done)?

Those three who did the uneven bars? No way.

Interesting thought about the home town thing. Though, if you're pulled at three into a central training program, is that even a meaningful concept?

Watching the lady gymnists now. I find it interesting that the Chinese list a whole province for 'home', vs. a city.

I asked Wallybee about this. She said that the gymnasts are first selected for the provincial team. The provincial teams compete against each other, and it's through performance in that competition that the national team gets selected. That's her guess on why they're identified by province, because it's the avenue by which they make it to the national team.

omnis, not to harp, but I think amych's point was about the term "lady" gymnasts, as opposed to women.

What is the advantage for having super young gymnasts? Maybe some of them could be on the edge of 16, but that wee little thing can't be anywhere near 16.