Body Image

[EmeraldKitten]

I think, in general, that the media plays a huge part in what you're 'supposed' to look like.
This would be why my 12 year old sister (who is like, 5'7 and 120lbs) grabs her stomach and says she's fat.

I'd say my body image was mainly influenced by my mom. (In a good way.)

A little background info:
I was born with Gastroschisis. In short, there was a hole in my abdomen, and 2 feet of my small intestines had grown on the outside of my body.
Due to that, I have a 8-9 inch long scar on my stomach, and they sewed my belly button shut.
At the hospital, one of the nurses was telling my mom how beautiful I was, and another nurse says, "Yes, she is, but she'll never be two-piece bathing suit material."
To which my mom replied, "Like hell she won't."

She always had me in 2-pieces, short shirts, etc. She never tried to hide my scar, or to make me feel ashamed of it. She said I was special and that I was a miracle baby.
(Which is why, for years, I'd show my tummy to anyone who'd look, LOL.)

Anyways, that particular lesson in my life has carried over to all aspects of my looks. I'm a bigger girl~ even if I only weighed 50lbs I'd still be big.
I'm not morbidly obese, but I am aware I'm overweight.
And ya know what? I don't particularly care what other people think of it.
I'm me~ like me for who I am, or don't. If you chose don't, its your loss.

But, whatever it was that really shaped me, it turned me into a self-assured, confident person.
(For the most part... I still have some insecurities, but they don't last long. )


Hmm.. I think that's about all I have to ramble about this morning.
I haven't had much coffee.

This was a great thread idea. I like it.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Me, and what I am happy with

What she said.

Well, not that Charley has been the biggest factor in me being completely happy with my own body image, and being entirely comfortable walking down the street naked, cos that would just be silly.

 

[Dar~]

Definitely my peers. As a pre-teen and then a teenager, my weight was fine for my height, but I've never been skinny. In junior high, I was tagged as "the fat kid" and the label never went away. By college, the tag was so familiar to me that I'd eaten my way into fulfilling it.

Looking back, I often woned why I thought I was fat at 180lbs or 160. I looked damned good back then. I wish I had realized how nice I looked back than and realized htat the people who harrassed me were stupid and wrong.

 

[R. Richard]

What do you think has had the biggest effect on your body image? Media? Family? Friends? Was it a positive effect or a negative effect?

Definitely enemies! I grew up [or whatever I did] in very nasty inner city environments. If you looked weak, you were weak until you proved otherwise. I worked out each and every day [still do].

 

[AppleBiter]

I am more confident when I am in shape. While I do think that my being in shape may make me more attractive, I know that being more confident does.

Hmm. I never thought of it that way before. Thanks, Bel. I'll have to write that down somewhere.

 

[sophia jane]

When I was younger, I think alot of it was family. My mom criticized me alot, my step sister was super thin, etc. I'm 5'8 and weighed 130 pounds all through high school (and until I married), but I thought I was overweight. Looking back, I'm disgusted with myself- I was fabulous!
Now it's mostly about my abilities. I know I'm overweight from having the kids, and it bothers me to be limited in what I can/can't do. Plus, I'm super self-conscious about what I consider my "fat" parts, so getting naked with someone is a little stressful.
I find that the more I exercise, even if the weight loss isn't obvious, the better my body image is. If I feel strong and fit, then I feel good about the way I look and about what my body can do.

SJ

 

[Boota]

Well, I haven't met you, but I have always held your opinion in high regard. you always seem well educated and well reason. (aside from which you are incredibly hot)

Wow! Thank you. I've never felt "hot", much less "incredibly hot". I'll have to take that on stage with me tonight.

 

[impressive]

Wow! Thank you. I've never felt "hot", much less "incredibly hot". I'll have to take that on stage with me tonight.

I'll second Dar~ ... so take a double helping onstage.

 

[BlackSnake]

Media, Billy D. Williams until I walk past a mirror. I say sweetheart, darling, beautiful, gorgious, etc. to begin every statement when I'm talking to a woman in person. It's habit that works. Billy D is the smoothest.

 

[Guest]

 

[Boota]

I'll second Dar~ ... so take a double helping onstage.

Thank you, Imp! I'll do that. I'm on my way to sound check, feeling all sexy.