INTRODUCTION WOGTOBER 26, 1999, | HAD A REALLY BAO day. First, the guy | was dating said he was ombarrassed to introduce me to. friends because | was fat (ouch: Then, Blue Cross of California decided not to give Mme health insur- ance because of ry weight (double ouch!) | felt ike part of the crowd: Instead. | focused on the areas whore I knee { could succeed. Ait of the independence and communication silts that | developed as 2 fat child started to Day off in unexpected ways. | loved'to write. sok became editor of my high school newspaper. 1peak up about the ky need on that remy uld mean that f to being banished { ee : | most certainly d —are all normal. | have nt smoke. | exercise ar nd pay illness etables | brush m teeth ai from my most personal ) to my official business wear a seat belt, yet moments (with that guy)until | had some a with a stack of hot-pink’