I'm not a size 0 and I never will be!

Its hard to come to terms with, but I'm working on it. Its really depressing seeing these people saying "I'm so huge at 115 pounds". I was 115 pounds in the 6th grade! I'm slim-ish now, with a healthy bmi, and I still wear a size 8. Anyone have any suggestions on how to take pride in my body?

You should be proud of yourself, you've lost over 20 lbs, and you look lovely.

As for actual suggestions...just remember that. You look great.

Mandakatz, 5'9" people aren't meant to be a size-0... :) It wouldn't be healthy, nor would it be pretty. Very few people can wear 0's, and they're usually very petite (short-ish or small-boned).. You're not built that way, and neither is 90% of the population!

From your picture, all I can say is that you look absolutely beautiful at the weight you're at now. Like icutoffmyhair said, you should be proud of yourself. :)

You're gorgeous! And a size eight is nothing to sneeze at. Only very few people in this world are meant to be size zero (namely, very petite/small boned people).

Congrats on losing 20 pounds! Thats around what I want to lose, but I'm just starting.

OMG, you look great as you are!!!!!! It's great that you are a healthy weight and height (btw, when I saw your pic, I couldn't believe that you are 144lbs, I would have guessed 130!!!). I used always aspire to being a tiny size, influenced by my impossibly skinny best friend. But, I have recently realised that just like being a size 24, size zero, is not healthy! What would you prefer??????? Being size zero and unhealthy and practically booking an early grave for yourself?? Or, being a size eight, trying your best to live healthily and knowing that life is only beginning.) Health all the way! BTW, I would classify you as very slim, not 'slimmish!!

I also hate it when people say that they're big just because they're over 100 pounds. I really don't understand it at all.

I think the best way to take pride in your body is to surround yourself with positive people who don't care about your body and won't say things to degrade you. You know, just put yourself in positive environments and always try to be optimistic about the way you look.

it's not about the size, but the way you look and feel in the clothing... after all it is only YOU who knows or needs to know what size you wear

some one who is taller can wear a 'larger' size but still look like they wear a smaller one..

like I myself can fit into a size 0, but I am 7 inches shorter then you! I am sure that if I was taller I would be a different size.. don't feel bad, you look great and that is what really is important.

seriously, in the REAL world do people honestly go around grabbing at your jeans or forcing you to step on a scale to see how much you weigh or what size you are in order to date you or talk to you, etc. ? I sure hope not!

Like I said before it is your business as to what 'numbers' apply to you. You cannot compare yourself to anyone else since we are all built differently... I know this site is exceptionally bad for this and can be a real self esteem kill if you constantly think you have to reach unattainble standards for your body.

love who you are, focus on how you feel, and surround yourself with positive people who like you for you, irrelevant of a weight or size.

i've got pretty large legs (thunder thighs that remain from my athletics training in high school) compared to the rest of my body, and i've got a slogan of sorts that helps me extricate myself from feelings of insecurity that are bound to arise when i engage in all sorts of comparisons with other people... 'Legs are made for walking (and running), and I've got big ones. All the better to walk with.' it helps me put things in better perspective. (:

I feel the same way!  I've lost about as much weight as I can, and I'm a 5/7 in pants.  It sucks!  I wanna be down to a 3 or a 1 and its not fair that my bones wont let me.  The only thing I can say is guys say they like 7's and 8's more than 0's anyway.  Cos as my guy friends say, "I don't like em flat, baby gotta have back"  (lmao i know its reallly stupid >.<)

Holy cow!  Normally I don't post on boards like these if I can't say anything perfectly sincerely, but YOU LOOK GREAT.  You look like the kind of person that I would look at and say to myself, "See!  You want to look like that!  Keep working!"  

And I'm the type of person that, if you wore a neon dress to a party, would say that "You look interesting/unique" instead of "You look great."  But I'm sayin' it now:  You look GREAT.  Awesome bod. ^^

xoxoxo Okie

Remember to just rock what your body gave you!

Im also not a size 0, and will never be--and much more shocking, most people my height CAN be! Im a 5'2" Petite chick with massive hip bones! People look at me and assume I'm a 3-4 when Im a 7-8! Even at 100 pounds, I was a 36" hips!! Its amazing, but the right pant size can make you look slimmer then squeezing in to a size or two smaller.

I just try to forget about sizes, and check out the mirror. Think you look great? Chances are, you do! and people arent noticing a size 8 pant when theyre not too small on you!!