So, I have been far more physically active and nutrition-conscious from May of 2011 to now than I was at any time before, and where has it gotten me? Drumroll, please... I'm about 25 lbs. heavier. Brilliant. If there were a Hall of Shame in this category, I'd be this year's leading contender. What's even worse is that both my primary care physician and my endocrinologist tell me that working out and eating healthy foods aren't the keys to weight loss. Well then, what the heck is? Because if you think I'm going to continue my gym membership at this point, you are sadly mistaken. Here is the hard, painful truth that I have learned over the years: overall health means NOTHING. Nada. Zip. No one cares about how healthy you are in general, what they care about is whether or not you can fit into a pair of size 4 jeans. It hurts to say this, but it's true. Why do you think I'm still single? It's not for lack of trying. I go out on dates all the time, and mostly, they are good dates. Yet I never hear back from the guys I just dated. Now, I'm a lot of things, but I am not stupid, and I know exactly how they are judging me based on how I look. It doesn't matter that, overall, I'm in good health. No, they are turned off by the fact that I'm a size 14. My clothes are nice, my hair looks great, I have clear skin and a pretty smile. I could have rotten teeth, my hair could be falling out in clumps and I could have zits everywhere, but if I were also a size 0, none of that would matter. I've seen it for myself. Nothing can describe the hurt I am feeling right now. I feel trapped - I would take Hydroxycut or Hoodia if I weren't afraid they would severely mess with other things I am taking. So, to sum it all up, I am FINISHED with trying to be active and healthy, because where has it gotten me? Absolutely nowhere. I feel doomed to be fat and lonely and quietly ostracized. And if sweating my butt off in great discomfort while looking ridiculous doesn't pay off, why should I waste the time and the energy (to say nothing of the money)? Well, I won't anymore...