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Maybe OT: Who here feels good about their body?

ironkurtin

Veteran

Sometimes I get the sense that some women really wish their body were different. I'm not even talking about AG's "fantasy body" - I'm talking about a deep sadness or even sense of shame about their roundness or lack of it, length or lack of it, or the general shape of their whatevers

So let's hear it? Who feels good about their bodies? And if you don't - why not?

I'll start!

ME!!!! I love my body and hope it washes and wears well for years to come!

46 replies

Latest reply was from transition

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'll join you in the body love. No, it's not perfect but what the heck is?! I got a good lesson body appreciation Valentine's weekend last year. I ran a half marathon on Sun. and then practically broke my ankle falling off a bike the next day. Went from 60 to zero you could say.

MsMary

Veteran

Me!! I battled my weight for FORTY YEARS and finally had weight-loss surgery in 2010 and am SO HAPPY I did!! I'm the size I always wanted to be, plus I work out six days a week and am in the best shape of my life at age 53. Gotta love it (shar pei tummy and all)!

Tanya

Veteran

I generally feel pretty happy with my body. There are a couple of things I wish were different that I can not do anything about ( e.g. longer leggs) so I just had to learn to accept my body the way it is.

Diana

Veteran

I love my body too! I love my long arms and legs and my defined waist, and yes, I even love my big booty. I love that my body gains weight evenly, so I am more or less the same shape no matter what size I am.

I do not love my flat, fussy, achy feet right now though. Darn plantar fascitis and bunions. =P

catgirl

Veteran

Honestly? I wouldn't say I have any deep sadness or shame, more like constant niggling irritation.

I am a proud feminist, if that's even still a current term these days, and I have a well-defined intellectual awareness of the misogynistic underpinnings of our society and culture when it comes to female body image, and I do my best to overcome it rationally. But it is a constant struggle to fight that irrational fear and self-deprecation. Any time I have to try on a swimsuit or certain other items, I am frustrated, especially by my unflat belly and disproportionate top-to-bottom ratio.

And this is with me being relatively athletic, fit and petite. Sad, really. I know this is not the upbeat response you'd hope for, but I'm assuming you wanted the truth.

ETA: I feel like I need to add this: I feel good about what my body can DO. I can run, hike, ski, rock-climb, mountain bike, roller-skate... I appreciate being mostly healthy and able-bodied. It's how I look that bothers me sometimes. And I'm not accepting of it yet. For instance, my latest goal is to work on abs and core strength, if only to have flat abs for once in my life!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Funnily enough...I DO! Amazing. Having been through a tiresome neurotic obsession with every perceived flaw (despite a daily workout regimen in my 20s) and some weight fluctuations (literal navel gazing - what a bore!), I am damn happy to say I LOVE my body - curves, softness, and all. This body has birthed two human beings. This body has travelled the world! This body has attracted my SO. LOL. Yadda yadda. So, YES. I've witnesses friends' cancer struggles and I am so fortunate I haven't had to contend with that.

jayne

Veteran

I am on the 'not loving it' side.

I couldn't answer Una's post because I am still, truthfully, trying to wear what I want, and not what suits this body.

I do go ahead and buy, not waiting for the day I lose weight, because it took me 45 years to start getting in shape, and 6 months of constant paranoia to get to this weight. I still 'ideally' have another 15 lbs to go, all from my legs and upper arms, and just cannot get motivated to do it. I tell my daughters I am proud of myself and try to set a positive example, but deep down, I just want to sit in a corner and pout about it!

Now for the good news, I did run 5 miles today, and 4 miles sunday, and 4 miles last week....so I am not sitting doing nothing here. But I am not at the point of loving my body. MaryK has her bootcamp Dave, I am thinking of having a private bootcamop this summer...kinda like poor IK is putting herself through!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Is this the first time I've been ashamed of how I look in a bikini? YES. But that's my own fault.

You know what? Yes, I'm happy with my body!

For my body to be as nice as it is after all I put it through, all I *don't* put it through, and all I put through *it* - my body is amazing. I feel like it should have rebelled long ago. I feel like, until I've put the effort in to change it, I don't have a right to complain about the results. My limbs are all intact, I'm fairly proportional, and I can handle the heels needed to correct the proportion that bugs me the most. No deep sadness.

Sarah A

Veteran

i am a feel good-er! sure i have let a few pounds creep on now and again but overall i feel my body is amazing. i have run marathons and bore children and i have my amazing body to thank for both. plus i am pretty gosh darn pleased with how i look in a swimsuit and a pair of jeans.... tally one more for happy!

Jonesy

Veteran

Yes, I love my body. I agree with MaryK about being in the best shape of my life right now (I'm 44). When I was a kid, and in young adulthood, I was pretty poor and didn't eat well. I rarely exercised, and drank and smoked a lot (starting in early adolescence). I rarely went to the doctor or dentist.

Now, I am able to exercise daily, eat really beautiful, healthy foods, and sleep on a comfy mattress. I have access to health care. I appreciate these things because I didn't have them for a long time, and I appreciate how strong and vital my body is! I feel really fabulous right now at this time of my life!

High five to MaryK for describing your tummy as a shar pei--they are so cute and cuddly!--I may have to borrow that description :).

Anonymous

Do I think my body's perfect? No, not by a long shot.

Do I dislike my body enough to have cosmetic surgery? No, not by a long shot.

I like my body, flaws and all. I'm come to terms with it, as I have with aging and a lot of other things in life.

I'm in good health and have a lot of energy, which for me is the most important thing.

Irene

Veteran

I love a line from a Regina Spektor's song that says 'I vae a perfect body but sometimes I forget, I have a perfect body coz' my eyelashes catch my sweat'

Beautiful sentence aside, I have my ups and downs regarding body image. I think it's because I'm younger and have a stronger interest for the external beauty, which I think and wish will go away with time.

I'm not fat. In fact, I'm actually bordering the too skinny level, so that I am overeating a bit lately to gain back some weight. I wish I was waaay more toned though, but hope I will get some muscle back with the weight. And I hate my skin, I don't think I'm ever going to love that. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy. Most thinks I don't like can change with hard work. I will never have beautiful skin, good blood circulation, cellullite free thighs or even eyes. But I can walk, dance, write, sing, love and enjoy life, so I'll try be grateful for that and let everything else go.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I feel pretty good! I recently lost 5 lbs which puts me within range of what I've weighed most of my adult life, starting in college. My shape is different after having babies, but who cares? I always thought my waist was too small for my hips, and now that my waist has expanded, I don't have that problem

Chrizzle

Alaskagirl said: "I am a proud feminist, if that's even still a current term these days, and I have a well-defined intellectual awareness of the misogynistic underpinnings of our society and culture when it comes to female body image, and I do my best to overcome it rationally. But it is a constant struggle to fight that irrational fear and self-deprecation."

I feel the same way, and I try to teach my tween daughter to love her body as it is, which is hard for her because she is sensitive about being significantly fatter than all her friends. I know that I don't have to be perfect to be beautiful, and after years of body dissatisfaction, I am basically content with the shape of my body as it is. I am working to internalize the fact that while it's nice to look good to others, I'm not here to be a decorative object.

On the other hand, I hate having blemishes on my legs (just when I had learned to like their shape and size!). I hate being so much hairier than is socially acceptable for women where I live. I hate that I have multiple issues with my joints which makes it painful for me to get the kind of exercise I most enjoy (anything dance-related).

Most of all, I am annoyed that my size is so variable. I'm not slim at my lowest recent weight, which is fine. But whenever my joint problems are acting up, I quickly gain a couple of clothing sizes, and then my size goes back down as soon as I can walk a reasonable distance again. It's hard to invest in nice clothes when I wear 3 different sizes in any given year, and I can never be sure which of the clothes in my closet will fit properly on any given day.

MsMaven

Veteran

Age has changed my perspective dramatically. Now I am not only loving my body, but am indeed happy with the way it looks. I could list my flaws and mention aches and pains, but when I compare my health and life to others of my same age, I feel silly for complaining.

I was a much harsher judge of my defects when I was young--now I laugh and wish I had appreciated those "defects" as being the items that make me an individual. It's funny to me now--I didn't ever want to look like everyone else, but I did feel quite uncomfortable if I thought I looked too different.

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

I do! It's mine, and even though it isn't perfect, it serves me well.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

To be completely honest, it depends on the day. I can go for loving my body to being repulsed by it. But, the "not loving" days are getting fewer and farther between.

Marie

Good topic post

Yes, I love my body - flaws & all. With age, I've "put a little gratitude in my attitude" & no longer covet what I don't have. One of my BFFs has leukemia (age 51) & is fighting for her life. She "had" the most gorgeous natural blonde wavy hair that we all envied. She is still beautiful.

Kiwichik

Veteran

It's a strange thing. I think I feel better about my body now I'm nearing 50 & nearly 50 lbs heavier than in my 30s. There are still things I feel self conscious about but overall I'm happy with my body & how I look. I like the functionlity of my body - I can still play sports & I regularly do yoga & go for walks. I see dressing well as a kind of cool challenge to see if I can make myself look attractive to others.

Classically Casual

Veteran

I second Ms Maven's comments totally. For a disposable "earth suit", mine is serving me extremely well!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Sadly, I can say there isnt a single feature I like, yet I am very grateful for the ability to move and walk normally (having not been able to take a normal size step for nearly a year) although if I go more than a block, I need my walker. Im so self-conscious of it I hate to go out in public with it. My hip, knee and back issues prevent me from doing anything but 'armchair exersizing' so Im about 40-50 lbs heavier than I should be Im really trying to dress to feel better about my looks, but its so hard. I know it goes hand in hand with feeling better, but I feel like Im hanging on by my fingertips

Laurinda

Veteran

ME!

Sure I could tweak a bit here or there but overall I am happy being big and curvy.

Cue the James Brown: "I feel good!"

Hugs >> ((Biscuitsmom))

krishnidoux

Veteran

Una, Jonesy and MsMaven have phrased it so well! I share their experience.
But at the end of the day, I have to say that I love my body the way it is.

In the course of my life I have been through phase of not loving my body, not treating it well as a result and foolishly thinking it would look better for it. It didn't, of course.

Only when I started to love and appreciate my body did it start to change, to bloom if you will. With nice, unexpected surprises too.

I have often fantasised over what it would be like to suddenly, magically, be transplanted into another's body and vice-versa (like the movie Freaky Friday). How would it feel? Maybe it would hurt. Or, reversely, it would be an immense relief of some pain up to then never known. How would I move if my hips were larger, my legs longer? Maybe I wouldn't be able to curl up into my chair like I love doing.

missvee

Veteran

I have to say I'm happy with my body just the way it is. I'm lucky to be healthy and fit, I can take part in the sports I like, and for the most part I can buy clothes that flatter me without too much trouble. That being said, if the cellulite fairy came around and wanted some back, I would happily oblige!

Velma

Veteran

At soon-to-be 44, I think I have finally arrived at "I am what I am." My body has excellent and not-so-good points, but overall, I'm happy, and I no longer think of "my body" as separate from "me."

I have celiac disease. There have been times in my adult life (especially in my 20s), when I was extremely slim and (oddly) raking in compliments--but actually quite ill and miserable and barely functioning. That disjuncture between my appearance and my health did NOT feel good. So to heck with that! Now I focus on my health and long-term sustainability in the choices I make (how I eat, what I put on my skin, and so on), and try not to sweat the small stuff.

Chrizzle

I've realized that most of what I've posted here on YLF includes at least one complaint/whine about what I can't wear because of one imperfect body part or another. I really don't feel as bad about my body as those posts make it seem. Most days when I get dressed to go to work I think I look pretty good.

Now I've got to go get dressed for a date night with my husband (out to dinner then to see Esperanza Spalding in concert) which will be a real boost to my ego, because he thinks I always look good, and when I make even a little extra effort his response is most gratifying!

Isabel

Veteran

IK, what a great topic !!! ME !!! I have a deep contentment with my body. Sometimes love, some times frustration, but overall contentment. It has done a lot for for me. It has given me two children, my hands have held the hands of an elderly woman who fell off the sidewalk, was bleeding and was alone with a couple of police officers waiting for an ambulance, my legs and arms have helped lift a car off a teenager after it flipped while she was speeding ( along with 6 men ) . My vocal chords have helped interpret for people in emergency situations, I have done 11 26 mile walks to raise money for food pantries....I am not trying to brag, I am just being so grateful for the things that this imperfect body has done. It has done ok and will continue to do so.

All this despite the fact that I am lopsided, have a crooked leg, huge feet, big belly and went up 6 sizes in the last 4 months.

Deborah

Veteran

Awesome thread IK. I love Classically Casuals comment that "for a disposable earth suit, mine is serving me extremely well"! CC I second that thought.

I would say I am very happy with my body. It is far from perfect but it's mine and for the most part it works well:). In recent years I have become very focussed on eating well to maintain good health as opposed to worrying about my weight. I am conscious of maintaining a healthy weight but not for vanity reasons.

I haven't really exercised for quite some time, but that's the next step for me. DH is awaiting test results to see if he has Type 2 Diabetes and this will mark some changes in our family diet as well (regardless of if he has it or not).

Of course I have had times of feeling inadequate and quite dissatisfied when I realize that the 6ft slim model I picture in my head is actually a 5"1, hourglass in reality lol but I can honestly say it's been a long time since I felt that way.

I may be going a little of on a tangent, but the truth is I am so grateful for the blessings in my life that I can no longer bring myself to complain about my body no matter how imperfect it may be.

Sylvie

Veteran

I feel pretty good about mine.

My body is competent, healthy and strong. I rarely get sick and I heal fast. I am not fast and I lift wimpy weights but I have endurance. I never worry that "x" physical activity will injure my body. I am lucky.

My body is not perfect and I would like to lose some weight. Yet I can walk into a store and find clothes that fit and look good. I am within the societally approved weight for my height and therefore do not get taunted or ignored. I am lucky.

I no longer have the perfect complexion and hair of my youth. I go barefaced 99% of the time and cut my hair 1x/year. Despite this lack of attention to grooming, I still look attractive to myself and my husband. I am lucky.

Also, I really love my arms, calves and shoulders and wouldn't trade them with anyone else.

(It goes without saying that I have my moments of body dislike/negative comparison to others but I'm trying to focus on the positive here)

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