KarmaMel

Frankly this type of ending is easier for my mind to process. This is especially so for someone of Kara's mindset (that y2quert described so eloquently). Everything came so easily for Kara that she never developed the skills to face hardships and to make the tough decisions. I think it is unfair to make assumptions on someone's nature based on a piece of fiction and a short description on what pique's their interest. I must say I find such changes, both in real life and fiction to be extremely intoxicating. The human mind and body are truly wonders in how they change and react. As for a "Happy" ending... That is easy for you yourself to imagine. Heck in a few seconds I imagined someone (amazingly like myself) meeting Kara and hitting it off) Or perhaps she does find employment and motivation to lose some weight. Her complexion clears up and she's dropped a few sizes. Too bad those last 40 pounds are stubborn and seem to remain.... Oh yeah, she found a discarded lottery ticket worth $50,000 while she was rescuing a puppy.

Just curious riptoryx..... How long have you been planning this revisit? Have you taken it different ways/places than you first intended?

I know you mentioned this story being in "OUR" universe. That didn't stop me imagining poor Kara in Cherie Bennett's "Life in the Fatlane" I don't know if you ever read the book, but the premise really caught my eye. No matter how much the beauty queen exercised or dieted she gained 2 pounds a week. (I'd have preferred a 1lb/week ratio) Imagine Kara getting inexorably heavier, little-by-little no matter how hard she trains. With the added weight, her times suffer. And that is without her dieting too hard. Once she gets serious with the diet, her body gets weaker AND slower. All this while people ASSUME she is lazy.

I must say by this point I admire the character Sarah. Despite all that the young woman has had to endure by the sudden snub and virtual loss of her best friend she took the high road. Although you hinted that she might've reached her limits. Too bad Kara didn't dance, that would be a sight. Then again, her beau is a DJ. Perhaps he might play a rather bouncy tune? Excellent touches with the minor details. Kara once able to throw together anything with no effort and still look stunning... now has to put some effort into it. And this, without her truly realizing the extent of the damage! Having Jessie taller just made it ever so more delectable. I love that you still have so many options! Kara could put up the good fight, she could even win. There could be varying degrees of success that still leave her humbled. She could lose (Or gain) weight unevenly. She could yo-yo. She could free fall. Or any combination of the above. And that's not to mention just who you decide to include in this growing adventure. My hat is off to you.

I must say I get a lot of joy just thinking about the story in general. If anything I like to dwell on some events unexplored or undisclosed in the story. With limited time and resources every author must cherry pick those scenes closest to their hearts. I usually revisit those a few times after rereading the story. After that, I imagine other scenes likely to happen. I am aided in this by reflecting on other favorite works, I remember one author made a deal about how the boyfriend's approaches to their dates changed. At first they were highly planned, and extravagant affairs. This gradually deteriorated until it was just stopping at a bar or nabbing some pizza. That same work had fun details given their sex life. Where as before much went into seduction and foreplay, the boyfriend would just drop by (Or show up after she practically begged) then after he would leave. Malls are always a great place to track the slender goddess' fall. Where once they strode tall and proud, they now tried to be in the shadows, often offering up other activities instead. Oh how they'd shoved their perfect figures in the faces of their friends, Now they are horrified in the changing rooms with those same friends. Here is where it is fun having a friend suggest a clothing item. In The Slowest Champion Revisited I loved the scene, although in private, where Kara got new outfits for Christmas, but couldn't fit into them. I can almost see her mother give Kara the receipts in the company of others. "Oh honey! Here are those receipts for the outfits we got you for Christmas. Feel free to exchange them for larger sizes. I' don't mind, really." Changes in daily activities and abilities are always fun to think about. Thanks again for such interesting material!

I'm not trying to force the release forward another half hour earlier... really I'm not. I forgot to mention a fun side effect this story has apparently caused. For months I bounce from one site to another. On Curvage here, there has been hardly any activity on the story forum. Usually I just glance here, go over to the celebs section ogle and dream over Juicy Lucy, then move on. But lately there has been a flurry of new story activity. I think riptoryx's efforts to get some steam built up in this story has worked for the WHOLE forum! WTG! Funny how it takes just a small catalyst sometimes. KarmaMel PS Just had fun reading Massachusetts Pounds! While I usually prefer slow inevitable gains, there is something about a woman suddenly finding herself about 20 pounds heavier instantly quite amazing. "Surely its something I can hide until I work it off right?" PPS If this does move the next release a half hour forward then... (Cue EVIL Chortle) "B'wah hah hah ha!"

Podracer2 had an excellent point on the fact that there were no real people trying to get Kara to gain. Sure, Delilah provided a lot of temptation, but I think she does so just out of a friendly care-free nature. It's obvious she doesn't put much stock into worrying about one's weight. There's a special place for characters that either mean well or are just oblivious as they can really hammer home some humiliating scenes. I almost just put one down that is a real whammo! but riptoryx has inadvertently (Or advertantly? ) gotten me energized enough to begin writing a story and I think I'll bring it out there instead! Other well-meaning jabs can be someone offering diet advice out of the blue and certainly uninvited! Having someone automatically bringing you a diet cola (And ONLY you) while the rest got regular is a real hit, especially if they single it out and verbally advertise the fact. "Oh, and here, I got you a DIET Coke" I remember a story set in high school where the main character had always been so athletic and competitive. She was always picked first. As time went by, other people began to get chosen, more and more so before her. Kara's grandmother delivered a nice innocent jab too!

There's that magical stage in college weight gain where the woman can still wedge into her jeans. Quite often they can convince themselves in short views in front of a mirror that they look thinner than they truly due. I'm not sure if it is that brief "Sucking in" so that their tummies and luv handles aren't pressing so tightly into their t-shirts or blouses that can continue the denial or not. I'm not sure if Kara is at that oh-so-sensual point where they walk around oblivious to the fact their tummies and luv handles are pressed so tightly against the fabric; pulling and twisting the top along with the pudge roll with every movement. Then seeing the way their tummies press even harder while sitting; highlighting their ever deeper navel... WOW! Further gains then bring about the ever so wonderful slide into insecurity. Sucking in, tactful tucking, layering clothes. I like it when they forget, only to suddenly remember! Ahhh, the simple pleasures in life. To me, Kara seems to be pretty oblivious. I mean she casually tugged down the fleece, and she was surprised at the threadbare holes. I think the only time it really hit home was when she first had to take her jacket off while wearing a swimsuit ordered 25-30 pounds ago. Here she has only lost a couple pounds, but hasn't really been hung up on the fact for long.... Then again her pressing schedule has dominated pretty much everything. PS Love the "Sustainability and Collapse" paper reference.

Drawn kicking and screaming from perpetual lurkerhood!! This story is so good I GOT ALMOST ZERO SLEEP FRIDAY NIGHT. Every hour or so I checked the forum for an update. No kidding. My two biggest areas of anticipation are when Jessie and Kara meet again, and just my total loss at what Kara is going to do over break. I just love when an author is so unpredictable. (And you do it so well!) Normally when two people are changing roles (rolls as well in this case) they get slammed at once with a vast discrepancy from their former forms. While that can be, and has been enjoyable, seeing Kara and Jessie gradually swap positions is very intoxicating. Kara's mighty battle vs Jessie's grim determination has got to be one of the best stories of this genre out there. How refreshing.