Blair~  I applaud your loyalty. 

Blair although I feel she is way lucky to have a friend like you, she is.  She more than stepped on toes.  She was rude, hurtful and mean. She maybe compassionate with the people she knows well, but for those of us on line ( I was not the only one offended by her) Apparently I am the only one who hurt her feelings,  I apologize for that (Ali, it is that easy)  I really am sorry though. That is why I responded to her in the first place. I can't stand it when people say what ever they want based on their "expertise" on a subject, no matter who they hurt and that is pretty much what she was doing.  I am sorry that I "got too real" with her, but now she knows how that feels.  Ali wasn't even speaking about someone like me in her comment,  I am obese sure, but my child is not, and he is healthy and he eats healthier than most, because those are the foods he prefers.  I just hate when people are too free with their words.  It makes for a very hateful society

Ali,

I just wanted to thank you for all of your inspiration.  I have been overweight my entire life, and yes both of my parents are obese as well, so I have a lot of experience with just how much a parent's influence can have on eating habits.  When I was growing up, my family pretty much always over ate and my siblings and I had way too much fast food and junk food available 24/7.  Even though I am an adult now and responsible for my own actions, the bad habits that I struggle with to this day were formed a long time ago!  What worries me is that my son, who is now nine years old, will end up just like me and the rest of my family.  Everyday, I do my best to make sure that he has food that will keep him strong and healthy.  Thinking about my influence on him, which your words have reminded me of since I read them, and knowing that his genes are fighting against him, has forced me to consider our diets much more carefully.  He absolutely loves fruits and veggies which makes it really easy for me to get him to eat healthy foods, and in providing for him I have improved my own diet.  But, lifelong habits are not easy to break and I still struggle with them, and probably always will.  I thank God for putting people like you and my son in my life to remind me that my choices affect more lives than my own and, that by working hard to live a heathy life, I can set an example for others and help to remind them that they can overcome their struggles too!

Sid's comments are exactly why this discussion is an important one to have, but seriously shouldn't have been brought up that way.

Hey all! Just wanted to remind everyone of the Forum Behavior Policy:

You can read it HERE.

Dissenting opinions are welcome on the site, but one must be mindful of the way their message is delivered. Let's try to have fun, meaningful back and forth conversations, but try not to shut each other down. Please feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions or concerns!

Hope you're all enjoying Ali's posts (I think they're great!)!

Thank you.

- Jason
Site Admin

Thank you. I am the lucky one. I don't know where I would have ended up if my best friend wasn't there for me and even though she's 1100 miles away now, I still thank god to have her in my life. Obesity runs in my family. It lead to my grandma's death. She had the same thing that Nadia's dad has now (coronary artery disease) but it killed her. We didn't have the money for surgery because life is very tough in a third world country and one day she just had a heart attack and died (may you RIP always grandma). I miss  her so much sometimes and I wish she could have live a little longer to come to this country with us then maybe she would still be with us. Even though I was very young when she got sick, I still remember how tough it was for my parents and everyone. So I can relate to Nadia's situation but technology has come a long way since then. Meanwhile, I have read and reread all of the comments and I don't see why anyone would think they are rude, mean and hurtful, not till the last ones anyway but those were after a few people rip into her. They are good advice in those cases, maybe blunt but like I said before, she is a realist and tells the truth always. I have tried very hard not to be bias so please don't think I am. 

. I did not see anything to indicate she was rude nor was asked to shut up. There was a sentence from a Suzanne saying if she was an expert on human experience to shut up but I did not see her saying anything to and about that person so I am not sure why someone who doesn't know her at all would come to the conclusion that she needs therapy and is hateful etc. Isn't that a bit judgement for someone you don't even know? I do know her and I have seen her compassion, love and devotion for strangers lying in coma, for her patients at the hospital, for strangers on the streets and at homeless shelters, for her friends & family and yes even online. If she didn't care, she won't have offer to attempt helping anyone if she knew that this is what it would have come to and frankly I can't say that I blame her. That is exactly the reason I do not socialize online (please don't think I am offending anyone here because I am not) because it is very different talking to someone in person and talking to them online. It is just random words on a screen and no one knows the tone they are spoken in and the body language so it can be interpret completely different from how the writer intended it to. I am not pointing fingers or judging anyone but I do believe that sometimes the general public can perceive a person in the wrong light. Once pushed to their limit, the nicest person can become not so nice but that is up to the perceiver how they chose to handle matters. That being said, I bid you all a wonderful night and morning. I must get back to to grading quizzes and to bed before my soldiers realize I am not there. Take Care and have a pleasant week. 

Blair you need to reread your dear sweet innocent friend's posts, but anyway, I have discovered something.  I owe Ali an apology because all she did was judge a situation not so much a person, it was her fans that turned it into a hatefest.  I can admit when I am wrong. but as far as old devious doll I owe her nothing more than I gave her.  I will still say I am dissappointed in Ali's thank you note, but hey, she's a celebrity she has better thing to do than ignor the people who don't agree with her.