Body Image...

[Morrigoon]

I definitely have my insecurities, but the more I listen to other women expose theirs, the more confident in myself I realize I actually am. Would I like to be thin and able to run around in a bikini? Sure. Do I place a high enough priority on it that I would be willing to go through what it would take to get there?

F* no.

And I think it is that realization that somehow makes me realize that I'm really pretty okay with myself. My appearance frustrations usually stem from the lack of availability of the kinds of cute clothes I like to cover myself in, in my size. When I see things which I think, "hey, that would look cute on me in my size", and then I realize that the designers or the store's buyers didn't agree because they don't have it in my size, it frustrates me. But that frustration stems more from how the world sees me and my size than it does from how *I* see it. I want to be me, and I don't want the world telling me that I should not like ME as well as I do.

I'm every fat-haters nightmare

(I do have an insecurity related to a baby tooth I have where the real one never came in, and I technically have a tooth in the right spot but sometimes it gives the impression of a missing tooth. And my left eye is squinty. But both those only really bother me much in photos which only capture a single impression of a person, rather than a moving profile)

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

(I do have an insecurity related to a baby tooth I have where the real one never came in, and I technically have a tooth in the right spot but sometimes it gives the impression of a missing tooth. And my left eye is squinty. But both those only really bother me much in photos which only capture a single impression of a person, rather than a moving profile)

I have that exact same insecurity! (The tooth, not the eye.)

[Ponine]

Oh where to start.... first, I ran into a Look Better Naked marathon or something over the winter break. I had never seen the show before, and never since. The very first gal i saw looked like me. Not as heavy, but a fairly pale brunette.

I like Carson, I Liked the show, and everything the show did reminded me of a friend of mine, and their pep talks.
I however, felt like garbage when the show was over.

I look in the mirror everyday. I detest what I see. At this moment I am 225-230. Whats odd, to me anyway, is that at 145 when I went to try on wedding dresses... what.. 14 years ago, I was told I was too fat to try anything in the stores on. Nothing they had would fit me, and I got that same answer in four store. So, I missed out on that little gem.

But even though I thought I was 'passable' then, I do not feel so now.
Every day I inventory those things that bother me.
I have a membership to a gym, I pay for it. Do I go? No.
Why? I lack the inspiration. I know I should, and i know that I might feel better if I did. I might start to lose that belly that I detest.

I hate having my picture taken; there's always a chance that you'll get my double chin, or that bad eye, and never a chance that you might see an attractive person.
Yeah, I whine that I am never in any LoT shots, but at the same time, I'm glad. I dont want to be the one that ruins the shot.

Originally Posted by Prudence

I don't think female body image would be such a big deal if women valued each other for more than our looks.

As in women valuing other womens looks? Yeah... we're like that as a whole arent we?
I'd love to comment on your ugly duckling'ness, but I havent seen you. I am sure that you radiate the personality that I have come to rely on and relate to on the board, and I cannot wait to actually meet you.

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'll never understand why women view each other as competition rather than comrades.

Have you ever noticed that it almost doesnt matter , its like they dont want each other to be happy at all. If one is, everyone tried to outshine that happiness and dull it?

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

So more random thoughts from one of the only guys posting here:

Seems physical beauty is often a foot-in-the-door sort of advantage - get's people to look and pay attention. I've certainly heard from a lot of people on the online dating front, that the profile picture was important for them to initiate any contact - or at least accurate physical descriptions.

Oh sure. And thats very true. For me, it works loads better if I meet someone over the phone, or initiate the contact in another way other than sight. Sight alone and I am likely to be dismissed.

oddly enough, my profile pic usually was a very skinny Frances Ruffle, and many people have thought it was me, and accordingly said very nice things about my wieght and etc.
How interesting their reactions are when I say, no, thats not me, and I'm actually two of her.

I dont know BE. Our culture, and our personal experieinces have made us very body concious.
Chances are that I will prob never watch that show again, mostly because it was so incredilby depressing for me.
I know what bothers me about my body. And its not just the double chin, the bad eye, the swollen feet and the HUGE thighs.
However, I don't suspect that it will change any time real soon, but I can live with that.

And what did you say BE? a rectangle with boobs? Hmm... I'm not a rectangle. Maybe an oval.
I dont remember your body shape at all. I will tell you that what I do remember is a wonderful smile, and a very exotic and intriguing face.

Here you go , a toast to our less than perfect body types.

oh, and CP, I've seen them. Personally, I never thought of teats.