[Erica_Lynn_]

Hello,
My name is Erica and I believe I am obese. I am 5'2 and last time I weighed myself I was 135. My chest is 32, waist is 25, and hips are 35. My doctor told me I need to lose 15 pounds and I attempted to be a model but was told I would only be able to be a plus sized model. I frequently don't eat and I actually have recently been expiriencing terrible heartburn which makes me not want to eat at all. Also I am a student and walk about 4 miles a day going from class to class plus 2 hours of working out. My diet consists of 10 cups of black coffee, maybe oatmeal if I feel generous, and a salad of romaine, carrots, and cucumbers with vinegar and four weight loss pills. I do not consider myself obsessed with weight because I am still extremely large, myself image pushes me to depression and anxiety attacks. If I am obsessed with weight what can I do to get over it, or lose weight so I can be happy again? Attatched is an image of myself --> [IMG]IMG01379201109260816[/IMG].

[Erica_Lynn_]

This should have my picture attatched.

[joypulv]

I sometimes see young attractive women here with a picture of themselves posing and smiling and looking for all the world like someone who is very pleased with her looks, and it makes me a little suspicious (e.g. it might not be you at all, or you might just want to see what kinds of helpful suggestions you can get for some laughs with your best friend).
However, given that body image really can be distorted all out of proportion, I'll take this at face value.
You don't qualify as obese.
Being a model is a far cry from being a typical ordinary person. Models are expected to be overly thin and even remove all their back teeth so they can suck in their cheeks, give me a break.
That doesn't throw you into the plus size model bracket (although plus size models usually are not really plus sizes).
10 cups of coffee and diet pills (more caffeine, usually, have you read the ingredients?) would give anyone anxiety attacks. Cut both of them in half, at the very least.
Salad and oatmeal is not a complete diet. It lacks protein and many vitamins (lettuce and cukes are basically fiber and water). Dry roast or steam some chicken, or have an egg 3 times a week. You don't need much but you do need some. And have darker greens like spinach and broccoli. Vary the oatmeal with some brown rice sometimes. You need a few carbs or your body will burn the proteins instead of using them to build new cells.
Image self worth isn't something people can give you online. See a therapist or join a group at college.

[DaniCalifornia]

I don't think you need to lose weight. You look healthy, and that's all that matters. Though you're drinking quite a lot of coffee, that amount of caffeine isn't healthy! Don't replace solids for liquids, as it'll only end up you being UNhealthy, not losing weight.

What you need to remember is with modelling agencies they're always looking for a specific look. I've done some glamour modelling, but couldn't do fashion as I'm 'too short'! Have you seen shows like Next Top Model? They make these poor women feel like they're not beautiful enough!

Just to add, I have a 37/27/37 ratio, I'm 5'6", and weigh 9 stone 3-4. And I feel perfect!

X Dani

[Erica_Lynn_]

Joypulv, I haven't figured out how to comment on your answer. I really appreciate your criticism. In all honesty I understand your poin of view with my smiling picture. I was taking a picture for my fiancé who was in marine boot camp at the time. But I digress. I've always had self image issues and I'm trying to get psychological help. Thank you for what you said.

[oldhat]

Erica, you are a beautiful young woman who looks great and is nowhere near obese. I can understand being conscious of your appearance.. so much of our society pounds it into us daily.. must be "thin", must be "young" etc etc... but as you age you begin to realize that it is not so much what is on the outside, as what is inside that radiates out from within. You can be a size 6 or a 16 and be the most beautiful woman if you love yourself and take good care of yourself and treat others kindly. I think confidence is something we have from within also--I have seen women who were not particularly beautiful by "society" standards be regarded as such because they carried themselves as if they were beautiful any way, so other's believed it too--and I have seen beautiful women who hung their heads and act quite shy and felt very unattractive no matter what others told them. Your diet and pill habits concern me however--what you do to your body and health now may not seem to affect you presently, but it WILL harm you for years in the future, and as a woman I implore you to start taking in more calcium and other nutrients by a better diet. Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, get exercise, avoid too much sun.. and you will remain the gorgeous woman you are for a long, long time.