@Alldenwall

In some ways, I think the one-shot can be a lot tougher... If I hit the next big goal point in my martial art (you get a black belt in the "undergraduate" program, then a black SASH in the "graduate" program) I have to manage all my forms, basics, techniques, sparring, grappling, and weapons in one day. I think your test required a heck of a lot of preparation and guts, to tackle it all at once. So major kudos to you!!

Yeah, I detest our society's preoccupation with skinniness, if you couldn't tell from my post! I've been chunky my whole life-it just seems to be the way my body wants to exist. I think the only way I can drop below 120 is to either shock my body into some sort of weight loss (the one time I was 112 pounds, I'd just gotten into college and was doing some serious walking. Soon as my body got used to it, though, I went right back up to 120) or turn anorexic. It's pretty darn sad when I've seriously considered the latter option.

I'm not so sure about LW's wife. I mean, he never mentions if he ASKS her to participate. He also never mentions if she does like any sports... From his letter, we make the unconscious jump from chunky=doesn't enjoy physical activities but it's highly possible she does, and her body is just the way it is.

What clued me in that maybe she's actually AT a healthy weight and that the problem is her husband, was his admission that she hasn't really gained weight since they got married. 3 years of marriage and her weight is still steady?! That's amazing! Watching how much my friends started gaining weight after they got into marriage commitments, this admission makes me think that she probably DOES exercise in some shape or form, just not enough to make her skinny.

In conclusion, I don't think the problem is her health or her weight (and like I pointed out, the two are not mutually exclusive.) I think it's HIM, and his preoccupation that somehow skinny is the only attractive way to go.

F you, society!