Some Body Image Questions for Ladies

I think I have a very pretty face -- nice eyes, especially. But I HATE my size. I could definitely stand to lose about 20 pounds, and 30-40 would make me ecstatic. I know I couldn't keep off that much, though, so I don't even try to lose that much. I had lost quite a bit of weight just before I got pregnant with my son, but have never been able to get that low again. He's almost 14 now, so I can't really blame this on "baby fat", now, can I? I do like my height -- I'm 5'7", so at least I can carry my weight fairly well, but I won't wear sleeveless or very short-sleeved shirts (fat arms), and shorts are right out. I hate to be seen in a bathing suit. I feel like I'm starting to look like the pictures of my great-great grandmothers that I've seen.

I know God loves me like I am. I know I'm beautiful to Him. I just can't seem to translate that to what I perceive of myself. The culture, even though I try not to buy into it, has totally slaughtered the whole idea that it's not the outside that matters.

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about my hanging skin after weight loss. Like I said I FORGOT

Wow..

I could go on and on about what is wrong with my looks. I think I have beauty potential, but always seem to fall way short. I will acknowledge I was pretty as a child, though -- seems I'm always thinking of those 'better days'... *sigh*

Unfortunately, I've had the bad self-image reinforced by people flat out telling me I'm fat, or not pretty enough etc.. That sure doesn't help.

If you are one of the many -- millions, billions -- of people who sit around and wonder if they're good enough, or who think they're "too fat" or "ugly" or whatever.... you have been successfully fooled. Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder; in different societies there are different people who "decide" what is beautiful and what is not. Clearly, here in our own American history, we thought at one time that a voluptuous (FAT) woman was desirable and a thin girl was, well, a "waif" -- she was obviously poor, and not getting enough nutrition. Quite the opposite of what is thought today! Just goes to show the changing times have nothing to do with you: it is just a social decision. Many other countries have different standards for beauty than we do. For instance, they think that SCARS are sexually attractive. Some think that the more metal rings you wear around your neck --- these rings stretch your neck permanently --- the more beautiful you are.

Think about it.

It's all BULL-

You decide what you want to look like. Your body might not be ABLE to look like someone else. Your body will consistently let you know what it wants to look like. Look at yourself. Love yourself. Stop letting "THEM" tell you what to do and who to be.

Bessi

Let's see

1.Am I beautiful?

God thinks I am and if anyone trys to tell me differently I tell them that He made me so take it up with Him.

2. Am I too fat/thin?
I am a tad bit on the heavy side. But it is being worked on.

3. Am I too tall/short

I am an average height for women. But, my family isn't average. I am the 2nd shortest person in my family. Even my 10 and 13yr old nieces are taller then me. Life is so unfair.

1. Am I beautiful? I have days where I feel pretty, and days where I'm like "ehh, not so much.." But for the most part, I like my looks. I used to have major issues (and looking back, I think "Man, I was gorgeous!!) - but they stemmed from when I was a little kid and .. well.. I was NOT an attractive child from around 6-12.

2. Am I too fat/thin? I've recently gained (the last three weeks) some weight, so I don't like the way my clothes fit anymore.

3. Am I too tall/short? I'm pretty short, but I think it makes me "cute." It's just hard to buy clothes that fit well for short curvy people!!

-We all know that in society basically sets the standard on what is considered "beautiful, the proper weight, etc." And I think A LOT of people, whether they want to admit it or not, fall into that and compare their looks and weight to that of a glamour girl, hotshot model, Whatever..

-For me, some days I think, "I look pretty damn good" other days it's like, "I look like shyt." Same with my weight, most think my weight is fine for my height, but me, it's like......You're effin' humongous, effin' fatty, Why are you SO damn fat, etc. My height is fine.

-I can NEVER take good pictures that I truly like, but I think I look better when I'm on web-cam though, it's odd.


Forealzchola I think you're very pretty; makes me sad you're a republican.

I'm super beautifull, too thin, and just the right hight. I realized that at age 16, and that's also when I realized that that wasn't enough to make people like me. On the contrary, they had higher expectations because of my looks!

Multi-Elis said:

I'm super beautifull, too thin, and just the right hight. I realized that at age 16, and that's also when I realized that that wasn't enough to make people like me. On the contrary, they had higher expectations because of my looks!

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Aw, Poor baby. *rolls eyes*

FreeBessi said:

If you are one of the many -- millions, billions -- of people who sit around and wonder if they're good enough, or who think they're "too fat" or "ugly" or whatever.... you have been successfully fooled. Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder; in different societies there are different people who "decide" what is beautiful and what is not. Clearly, here in our own American history, we thought at one time that a voluptuous (FAT) woman was desirable and a thin girl was, well, a "waif" -- she was obviously poor, and not getting enough nutrition. Quite the opposite of what is thought today! Just goes to show the changing times have nothing to do with you: it is just a social decision. Many other countries have different standards for beauty than we do. For instance, they think that SCARS are sexually attractive. Some think that the more metal rings you wear around your neck --- these rings stretch your neck permanently --- the more beautiful you are.

Think about it.

It's all BULL-

You decide what you want to look like. Your body might not be ABLE to look like someone else. Your body will consistently let you know what it wants to look like. Look at yourself. Love yourself. Stop letting "THEM" tell you what to do and who to be.

Bessi

Click to expand...

I agree with you to a certain extent, but I don't know many people that are proud of being obese or fat. Not to say that being size -2 thin is the way to go; but I think what's best for most is NOT be overweight and to be physically fit.
I mean how sexy can someone feel with their belly rolls hanging out and chunky thighs. Having some bootay is always good, because no one likes a flat butt. And who the hell thinks scars are sexy??! Unless maybe it was shaped like a heart..

i dont think im pretty, but i know im not ugly... and a man other than my husband told me i look great the other day which gave my ego a nice boost!!! but i cant stop remembering the day i met this bloke that there were these three stunning women waiting in the reception and me... and he automatically went to them to ask them if one of them was me first... that kinda kicks you in the stomach... but i did notice that i was the one of them with the wedding ring on my finger not them...
and i know that my husband loves me for ALL that i am...

im too fat... thats a medical given... to be within the 'OK' part of that charge i actually have lose half my body weight... well a little less than that now cos ive nearly got my first stone gone... which is cool!

but i dont mind my height... if anything i wish my husband was taller... hes a little under an inche shorter than me... which means i can wear heels when we are together and you know when you hold hands the man usually holds the womans hand, with hand being infront and her hand behind...

well we cant do that... cos its uncomfortable... so my hand has to go on the front... and i dont really like that cos i feel like im dominating him... and i feel that people think im being dominering... and its not that, its just that we cant hold hands the other way around...

but i dont have a great body image...

I can list off a whole lot of problems I see in myself, but not a lot that I like about myself. My self esteem is SHOT...most my body image, but also sometimes my intelligence, personality, shyness...etc. Still, the physical stuff is usually what gets in my way. My weight is probably the greatest problem that I'm not too ashamed to mention online...

My grandmother and my mother both often tell me that I'm beautiful, but I can't believe it. I see so many faults in myself! I guess it doesn't help that I'm so analytical, I can always see the details better than the bigger picture.

But, most of the time, how I feel about my body image is directly related to how I feel in my life at that moment. I have extreme mood changes (partially from hormones, and partially from stuff that might be Bipolar Disorder...not diagnosed yet), which are sort of a cause AND result of my changes in self esteem.

I guess I've always known that I won't solve my physical problems (overweight is the first that comes to mind...actually, it's always on my mind) until I've learned to love myself despite them. Or even love my flaws themselves. But, it's so hard to do! And, really, I make no progress until I do start showing myself more love.

I'm working on it, though. That's the important thing, and it's what all women (and men) with damaged self-esteems should do. I'm here to support anyone who has similar issues, because I know what it's like. I'm there, too. Just remember...when all else fails, find a way to laugh! Soemtimes it opens the floodgates so you can actually cry, but much of the time it just makes you feel better.

NOW WATCH ME DANCIN'! que?

I don't understand why women are concerned about their height. Why? Most guys want a girl shorter than them, and guys range in heights from very short to very tall.
Not to mention there are guys like me who find short girls especially attractive. The shorter the girl, the cuter she is.

I think I am a very good looking girl.
I hate my weight. (around 137) and I wish my chest was alot smaller. People think im nuts when I say Im fat but when I look in the mirror I see someone 10 times bigger than what people think

There is no prototype of beauty but only opinions on what makes some differences better or worse
I know Im beautiful, everyone is despite what the media brainwash wants you to think. It sells much telling u that u need to lose weight, gain weight, change your hair color, fashion, need this, need that, whos hot whos not garbage. Media could be satan.

God bless and know you are beautiful
dont let anyone let u think otherwise, ever, ever

Am i beautiful? To others, apparently. To my boyfriend, most definately. To myself? I have a beautiful smile, that when it is allowed to reach up my eyes, makes me truly believe that i am beautiful.

I'm not too far or too thin, although i do find myself looking at different body parts (mainly my belly and bum) and wishing they'd lose weight.

My height doesn't bother me. I wish i was an inch taller, but that makes no practical difference, other than meaning i wouldn't wear heels so often and make my feet ache so much :S

I'm kind moody when it comes to body image. I know i'm not pretty, sometimes i feel all self-conscience and ugly compared to all the other girls, but at other times i just don't think about it.
So basically when i think about it, im ugly, when i don't...i just don't!
I try not to think about it and compare myself to everyone else but i just can't help it, especially when it affects how people treat you.

When I look in the mirror no matter how hard I try I just can't seem to find anything about myself that I like about my physical appearance .Well other than the fact that I'm 47 ,but look 10 year's younger .

I feel its because my family never said anything to make me feel good about myself . I was teased all through school and I was in a verbally abusive marriage for 16 year's .

I'm 5'11".my hair's too thin and has been all my life as it's baby fine ,my ear's are too big ,my square shaped face just looks "hard",my chest too small,my feet too big (13) and I've got a bit of the middle aged spread .

When I look at myself in the mirror I don't see a woman looking back at me that lives on the inside .

I try not to compare myself to those women that society label's as beautiful and try so very hard to see myself though God's eye's ,but it's not easy.

I agree with what Justina (above me ) said

"I try not to think about it and compare myself to everyone else but i just can't help it, especially when it affects how people treat you."

It seems that in society if you aren't beautiful,if you don't drink and/ or use drug's then you are an outcast .

I've felt this way for year's . After 47 year's you would think that I would be better or accept the fact that few people accept others for their inner beauty alone .

Well mostly I like my body. But when I look at my legs, I don't feel pretty at all because of the scars. But you know, I learned from my past and am slowly moving. Soon they will be healed, and I will have more reasons to love my appearance.

i have struggled with insecurities for as long as i can remember people can tell me i am pretty but for some reason when i look in the mirror i dont see it i honestly dont think i am ugly just i always think most other women are more pretty not that it should matter at all i try not to compare myself to others at all but for me that is a big struggle i just try to tell myself we are all beautiful just unique if everyone looked the same it would be really boring

GOD BLESS