. Before I go on, let me say, that these are only my opinions…and my outlet is the pen.

I think that I’m violently sick of the whole body weight issue. Whatever happened to just wanting to be a healthy woman? Women with hips used to be revered and sought after because it meant you could give a man a healthy family. A woman with hips meant you were powerful. I mean, this goes for men too. What possible reason would you want to have an 8 pack, unless your career is in bodybuilding? I think that you should customize your lifestyle around what you love, and what your career and passions are. And believe me, if your passion is fine-tuning your body until there isn’t an ounce of jiggle on it, that is wonderful! I AM a woman with hips, and all that goes along with it. I am not necessarily an over weight girl, I believe that I am good enough for me. I have a “real” body, am proud of that, and have been trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle, while still leaving room for dark chocolate. Ha! The truth is, you should be confident and happy with yourself, do things for you, and not because some fashion magazine, or media, or parent, or peer says you should. We are targeted and told that we need to be bone skinny, with long thick hair, and plump lips, and model-like to be accepted into society. How many of you saw the MTV feature where a guy got calf implants? That’s a lot deeper than just wanting nice calves. Trust me guys, us women do not care about your calves.
Honestly, models are a rare body type, I have many friends that are models, and they all were born that way. There are also cases of anorexic models, which is just as tragic as any other woman who has anorexia. I also have friends that are big girls, and they like it that way. If you’re skinny or hippy by nature, be confident in all you are born with. Besides, every boyfriend I’ve ever had has always expressed to me that he wants something to hold onto. And, guys, girls want something to hold onto too. All ya need is love. John Lennon was smart. If a man or woman loves you, he or she loves all of you…anything less is not real.
We should not be controlled by what other people say is acceptable. WE as real women and men ARE acceptable. We look in the mirror everyday and take pride in what sets us apart from a Barbie and Ken doll. Having a perfect body and long flowing hair is a nice thought, but there are so many other things that are more important to be consumed by. Family; Being In Love; Music; Being the Next President and Taking Over The White House. Ha! I decided a while ago that I was going to try to eat healthy and eat when I’m hungry, but not count calories, and stress about whether I just had a bowl of ice cream or not. You do what you can, and get over it. I have many people I want to live for, I want to be healthy enough to play with my grandchildren someday, those are my reasons. Like I said, there are so many more important things then living in a vanity trap consumed with diets and whether or not you gained a few or lost a few pounds, whether you have a six pack, 8 pack, or like me, one pack (ha).
Kudos to Pink by-the-way for addressing in her new album “I’m Not Dead” the lack of ambition in women (mostly because girls are now raised to be consumed by their bodies and boys), and encouraging them to step up and become something more than just what’s “accepted”.

awesome, post, Lzzy!!!!

As a mom of two young daughters, your sentiments are exactly what I hope I can emulate, model, leave them with as they grow, mature and finally find their way in the world.

That and the fact that strong women who rock have the most fun!!!!

thanks for sharing your thoughts, heart and soul with us here and at each show. I can't wait to see you guys again...and lets hope it is in PA with my bitches!!!!

~mollie

Even as a guy I totally agree with everything you said there Lzzy!! Who cares whut other ppl think as look as we are happy and fans of Halestorm lol. Fuck the haters!!!
Ken

quote:

Originally posted by LZZY:
How many of you saw the MTV feature where a guy got calf implants? That’s a lot deeper than just wanting nice calves.

I saw that....dude has some issues! lol

As for girls or guys with curves, rock on! Who is someone to say how you should look, act, feel, etc?! If you're happy and content with life that is all that matters

Yeah, I agree too. I also think that Lzzy is beautiful, so I can't really imagine where the post is coming from. If she didn't have long flowing hair or a great body, as she does, it would be a little more meaningful I guess. I love Lzzy too, but this post is sort of like Howard Hughes saying money does not matter, and we should not worry about money so much.

On the other hand, if Lzzy has actually had such criticism, I take that back, and stand shocked that such nonsensical blitherings could occur.

Also, I think it's cool to be a "hippy" too!

Thank you Axl, I appreciate that. I am confident in how I look, I feel like I would be in this state of mind if I were any size...it is me. That's all I can do, is be me. I''m just sick of this whole "standard size" in general. In every magazine, every other commercial, in every truck stop for heavens sake! Everywhere, people want to be Angelina Jolie, or Johnny Depp, Nicolr Richie, Paris Hilton etc. The Point is that "Difference" IS beauty, and we all were never meant to have ONE standard size or shape. I know, having gone through puberty, how easy it is to get in the habit, and over-obsess about what you look like. And it can carry through for the rest of your life, thats no way to live!
Only once(due to this business) has anyone ever seriously suggested that If I lose ten pounds it would be easier for me to be taken seriously by a label. I have since proven him wrong and got signed by Atlantic anyway by being me. Surround yourself with people that believe in all you are...i can't imagine signing to a label where the deciding factor before we do work together is if I'm a size 0(which I am not btw)(ha).
I'm not saying you should be a slob(unless you really want to)(ha), take care of yourself, but don't worry about it so much. and for heavens sake..EAT. haha! I love you guys. Thank you for humoring my thoughts. It means a lot to be surrounded by a community I can talk to! Yours,
Lzzy

Of course we are here for you Lzzy. We love you!! We also know that if we were to need help or to vent some things youd be there for us!!!

quote:

Originally posted by LZZY:
Only once(due to this business) has anyone ever seriously suggested that If I lose ten pounds it would be easier for me to be taken seriously by a label. I have since proven him wrong and got signed by Atlantic anyway by being me. Surround yourself with people that believe in all you are...i can't imagine signing to a label where the deciding factor before we do work together is if I'm a size 0(which I am not btw)(ha).

that comment right there is one of the reasons i respect you and the band so much! you are obviously in this business because you love what you do. of course making a living doing what you love is a nice bonus, but you could have easily bleached your hair blonde, written some meaningless pop songs and been one of the many pop "stars" we hear on the radio and see all over the tv. but you didn't...you know who you are and aren't willing to change for anyone, and that is exactly how everyone should be living their lives...

LZZY, have I ever told you how much I LOVE YOU!!!! You speak so much of what I have been dealing with most of my life and I let all that bother me.

Then April 3rd, 2004 I saw this band most of you known of...their called SHINEDOWN. They have this song called 'Stranger Inside' that song changed my life forever. Since then I have found who I am and who I want to be and I don't let a single person try to tell me who I should be.

I know I'm a bigger girl and sometime I act like a guy. So, I don't act girly(I hate the color pink)...that shouldn't matter. I like who I have become as a person. I get about once a week my mother telling that I need to lose 50lbs...maybe I could lose that but that would mean losing muscle and that is not healthy. I stay healthy for the most part. I just don't lose weight like other people do and I have a big bone structure and I'm freaking 6 foot tall. I'm not afraid to tell anyone my weight(235lbs) either cause I'm comfortable with who I am and I have bands like Shinedown to thank cause music is what keeps me going and makes me want to live my own life.


Lzzy, I think you are absolutely BEAUTIFUL just the way you are and if someone says differently you let me know and I'll take care of them for you...I'm a big girl I can handle them!!!!! LOL
Love ya bunches LZZY!!!!!!

~~Lisa

Hey darlin'. Your confidence and and ability to be honest is beautiful. Music saved me too. (I also hate the color pink) And at some point and time you have to weed through all the bull sh*t and stand up for what you are. We may not look like Britney or Paris...but WHO WANTS TO??? Unless that is YOUR body type, why would you torture yourself to have that? You are living proof that no one needs to be anything but themselves. And that no one should live their lives in a box. I think you are the first woman who would publicly anounce her weight and height on a decently traffic-ed message board! What is with the whole stigma that girls shouldn't be honest about their size and weight. Everyone's healthy weight is different, and there is no "universally accepted number or pant size" like we are bludgened everyday with on tv and in magazines. It's only closed minded, insecure people, that would say that to you. It takes courage to rise above that. You have. I admire you for it!!
HA, sorry for rambling, it means a lot to finally talk about all this, and know some real woman who want to be real woman are out there.
You can be my body guard anyday baby! Yours in truth and rock n' roll, Lzzy

Thank you, and this is for everyone. This whole whole conversation has been kind of a final straw, and healing for me. Just knowing that you are all out there, not just in theory, but tangibly. It gives me strength and confidence in my own battles. Because we all know that, even if you are secure in yourself, there's gonna be that one person that you may even look up to, that makes "change' sound very glamorous, and even (like I was saying before) a business move. All of you give me that gasoline I need to carry on with what I believe in, and never let anyone change me, or any of the boys in my band. Thank you so much. My family. Love you.
Lzzy

How many times have I said it, but Lzzy you're amazing.

I guess this means I can indeed bring you cookies in New Hampshire? You might've just been upgraded to Montilio's cake. You haven't lived until you've experienced that place.

quote:

Originally posted by LZZY:
it means a lot to finally talk about all this, and know some real woman who want to be real woman are out there.

Amen, sister!

quote:

Originally posted by LZZY:
Hey darlin'. Your confidence and and ability to be honest is beautiful. Music saved me too. (I also hate the color pink) And at some point and time you have to weed through all the bull sh*t and stand up for what you are. We may not look like Britney or Paris...but WHO WANTS TO??? Unless that is YOUR body type, why would you torture yourself to have that? You are living proof that no one needs to be anything but themselves. And that no one should live their lives in a box. I think you are the first woman who would publicly anounce her weight and height on a decently traffic-ed message board! What is with the whole stigma that girls shouldn't be honest about their size and weight. Everyone's healthy weight is different, and there is no "universally accepted number or pant size" like we are bludgened everyday with on tv and in magazines. It's only closed minded, insecure people, that would say that to you. It takes courage to rise above that. You have. I admire you for it!!
HA, sorry for rambling, it means a lot to finally talk about all this, and know some real woman who want to be real woman are out there.
You can be my body guard anyday baby! Yours in truth and rock n' roll, Lzzy

Thanks you Lzzy, you are such an amazing person. Since I've discovered who I am as a person. I've not been one to hide who I am from anyone, not even to get a job. Why should you change who you are for a job..just cause yor appearance isn't something the public will accecpt. But is shouldn't be the appearance that matters it should all be in your attitude to work and get the job done. I'm just glad I found a boss that is like that. She don't care that my hair is 3 different colors and that my ears are gauged to a 2. All she cares is that I get my job done and do it good. Yeah, I'm a cook but I'm seen by the customers all the time and my boss says if the customers don't like the way I look then they don't have to come to our restuant. But I do my job and do it well. And that's all that should matter but no most places say you gotta have a certain image in order to work for them and those places I say BITE ME...cause your gonna hire some blonde haired(no offense to those of you that are blonde) woman that looks they way you want her to look that's not gonna do the job right when you could have hired someone that might not have the exact look you wanted but could do the job better. LOOKS AREN'T ALL THAT MATTER!!!!! It's all in who you are as a person and not what others think of you.

I think I'm done...hehehhehehe!!!!!!

PS..Lzzy, I'd love to be your bodyguard anyday!!!! I could be the guys bodyguard too, if they need it...LOL!!!!!!!!

Wow. Lzzy you impress me with what is in your heart. Most chicks I meet in bands are hard and put on an air of toughness. You are so genuine and thought provoking. I hope Halestorm becomes the biggest band in the country and you can send to all those, on both sides of that issue, a giant message that speaks truth and dignity to a world gone haywire on pop culture and obsession with looks over morals and kindness. Your message is so far removed from what rock ususally dishes out, that it make it so much more ROCK!!!!!!! Ya know what Im saying? Thank you Lzzy for being the person you are and for working so hard to make rock a much better genre.