I think I see it this way because I used to weight about 100 pounds more, and lost it and have kept it off for a couple of years. I think women who say that being conventionally attractive sucks often haven't experienced the other side.

Yea, I'm a skinny white girl with naturally big boobs who isn't super attractive, and it has definitely helped me. While the unwanted attention can be annoying, anyone who says being considered conventionally attractive doesn't open some doors for you is being disingenuous. I work in non-profits and study the…

Could it be portion control? I haven't been to Italy, but when I've been to other European countries I lost a bit of weight since portion sizes were smaller. I was eating lots of delicious/fatty foods, but between walking and eating less overall I dropped some pounds.

Amen. I live in a smallish northeastern city, around 80,000, that actually has decent public transportation. We're a big college town, so a lot of students rely on it, but other than that it's definitely seen as something the Plebes use. I don't drive and instead use the buses. I live a mile from work so I can walk, I…

I'm joining you in not a humble brag territory. It doesn't happen as often, but I've had it happen while out with my boyfriend a few times. He could be David Tennant's younger brother, so I think the sexist assholes who do this crap don't see his very slender physique as threatening.

I'm an administrative assistant, and I can definitely see that contributing to weight gain. I live in a small city, and am lucky enough that I can walk back and forth to work a mile each way. I get an hour for lunch and take a 30 minute walk, but otherwise I am on my butt all day. For people in the same type of…

I'm glad to hear her speaking out about this, because this is the reason I don't want to have biological children. I have had Bipolar II my entire life, and I remember how terrifying and confusing it was to be severely depressed as a five year old. My teen and college years were hellish as they tried to figure out…

The tax credit is only for domestic adoptions—it's a stipulation that the child be a United States citizen or resident.

I've had this experience as well—I use a french press and espresso roast beans, so people who are only casual coffee drinkers often find the brew too strong. My friends who are avid coffee drinkers, though, think it's good, so I know I'm not screwing it up. The cone filter is a good idea.

I agree with this completely. I lost about 90 pounds a couple of years ago and have kept it off, and a big part of it has been learning not to snack and not buying "extras" like dips. I spend a lot less on groceries than I used to, but what I do get is higher quality—fresh fruits and vegetables, sustainable fish,…

I love the freckles that I get in the summer (I only have a few year round.) I can see, though, in a day when a flawless, pale complexion was the standard of beauty trying to fade them out. Since they're associated with sun exposure, it was probably seen as "common" to have any.

I like the concept of saying something back and have tried it with limited success...lately, though, it seems that if you acknowledge it at all, they either get more threatening or just laugh at you—in the last week alone, I've yelled back "go die, creep" at a couple of car full of guys and they've laughed and hooted…

It depends on how big your actual space is—if it's smallish, you might have room, but in my very small studio if I did that I wouldn't be able to have open walking spaces.

Eh, I think the term "magical realism" is overused, but it is distinct from fantasy. Compare 100 Years of Solitude to something like the Lord of the Rings—they are different genres, and the use of the fantastical elements have completely different meanings.

Francie Nolan and Jo March are both characters I've related to, but I think the reasons that I love them is due to my life being similar to theirs, and not necessarily emulating them. Like those two characters, I was a smart, bookish, and awkward girl who eventually hit her stride and found a place in the world. They…

My favorite way to eat oatmeal is with a tablespoon of those all fruit spreads. It mixes in very well and doesn't need additional sweetener beyond what's already in the spread.

For me, part of it was learning what correct portion sizes are and the other part was waiting it out. Many times, a correct portion size is plenty of food and we're just not used to seeing it. Now, after a 90 pound weight loss I've kept off for a couple of years, I'm still adjusted to smaller portion sizes.

Yea, that's one of the reasons I love living where I do. I'm in a smaller Northeastern city that has a very decent bus system, and I'm lucky enough to live in a walkable area where I can reach a great park, a couple of grocery stores, nice restaurants, and easily access most bus routes. I can even walk to work, as…

I use this method, as well. Since I only cook for one, or two if the boyfriend is over, I don't need a lot of groceries. I have spices, olive oil, pasta, etc., on hand, but other than that I only buy what I need for the next few days. Of course, I'm lucky enough to have a grocery store very close to my apartment and a…

Jessica Pare is from Montreal, but she grew up in an English speaking household (her father is a big wig at McGill, I believe.) Although she does speak French, it's her second language so that's probably why it doesn't sound as authentically Quebecois.