Body image issues

Megan_Taylor_P

Anyone who can relate?

rower1018

I definitely can. I've dealt with body image issues since I was 11, even though I was a thin child.

spiriteagle99

I still look at myself and see only the flaws. When I see a photo of myself I'm always shocked at how thin I look, because when I look in the mirror, I mostly see the areas that aren't super thin.

wilsonunc

Yes, I can relate. I'm a normal weight BMI wise but my tummy and thighs look so large and jiggly. I'm working on self-love.

BeccaLoves2lift

spiriteagle99 wrote: »

I still look at myself and see only the flaws. When I see a photo of myself I'm always shocked at how thin I look, because when I look in the mirror, I mostly see the areas that aren't super thin.

This exactly. And when I look in the mirror I still see the chubby girl from before, it's like my mind can't process what I actually look like.

determinedtolivefree

I saw a video of myself dancing, and the first thing I thought was "whoever that is looks really good. They have a really nice body. Seriously, body goals." and then I looked closer and it was me, and I didnt feel like "they" looked so good anymore. Thats when I realized I definitely have some body image issues. Its crazy that I see myself 20 plus pounds heavier

Megan_Taylor_P

It's so frustrating because you can't see yourself for how you really look. I took pictures of myself in a bikini today to try and make myself feel good about my body, and although I realize how healthy I look, all I can look at is the fact that I don't have six pack abs and my "chubby" face. Others would think I am crazy for thinking this but it's how I truly feel. I just always want to lose more and more weight, even though I know ill never look like a supermodel.

bbell1985

Yep.

Sheisinlove109

So can relate. I've lost a significant amount of weight and desperately need new clothes but every time I go to the store to buy a new wardrobe I get so frustrated because while I'm happy to be going down so much in weight, I struggle seeing the difference and everything looks bad. I've worked my tail off and still have a ways to go but geesh...never thought about this part. So happy yet brain overload.

bbell1985

I'm relatively lean now. If I look puffy one day, or am a little bloated...I really notice it and don't feel as confident.

kommodevaran

I think most of us have, to a greater or lesser degree. I have a normal weight now, but I don't think I "look like it". The problem is that my concept of "normal weight" is in fact "underweight". Thank you, media

skymningen

I used to be happy. Then I decided to start working out more and used workout videos on YT. Don't get me wrong, they are great. But seeing those fit people made me increasingly aware of how I looked.
Yesterday I went for a BBQ. Chose a nice skirt, but could not find a top I was fond of and left unhappy with how I looked. A friend I haven't seen for a long time and who is very direct and honest told me how nice I looked and how I "glowed". Sudden realisation of body image issues there...

livingleanlivingclean

Yup. Moreso since becoming involved with bodybuilding/competing

sardelsa

Yes, definitely. Sometimes I look in the mirror and only see the parts that need work.

rainbowbow

Absolutely, and what's worse is that It's different from day to day. I think I struggle with seeing myself objectively at all as somedays (when i'm bloated or after cardio) I see my old self and some days I see myself as much more "fit" or better than i objectively look.

JessicaMcB

I feel this on the regular but especially every time I race. There are without fail a hoard of beautiful, much shorter, gazelle like creatures in my corral each and every time- I feel like Brienne of effing Tarth.

Raegold

YES... I've been realizing lately that I'm never happy with my body, even when I lose weight. Something always seems wrong or could be better. I'm trying to find the positives and the strengths in exactly where I am now. I know I'll look back when I'm like 70 and wish I had appreciated my body in my 30s, regardless of loose skin from kids or cellulite or whatever.

middlehaitch

Raegold wrote: »

YES... I've been realizing lately that I'm never happy with my body, even when I lose weight. Something always seems wrong or could be better. I'm trying to find the positives and the strengths in exactly where I am now. I know I'll look back when I'm like 70 and wish I had appreciated my body in my 30s, regardless of loose skin from kids or cellulite or whatever.

Never a truer word @raegold.
I am the same weight at 64 as I was in my 30's and have very few pics because I thought I looked chubby.

When I do find a pic I really wonder what my problem was.

(In retrospect, hanging out with tall pear shapes when I was a short apple)

Cheers, h.

nowine4me

I'm much more self conscious at 145 than I was at 220. I look way better in clothes, but the flab and loose skin look worse to me than the extra pounds when I'm in a bathing suit. A lot of what we do is in a boat, pool or beach and my husband thinks I've become completely anti-social, but really, I'm just embarrassed.

BeccaLoves2lift

nowine4me wrote: »

I'm much more self conscious at 145 than I was at 220. I look way better in clothes, but the flab and loose skin look worse to me than the extra pounds when I'm in a bathing suit. A lot of what we do is in a boat, pool or beach and my husband thinks I've become completely anti-social, but really, I'm just embarrassed.

Is that you in your profile pic? If so, you look awesome!

nowine4me

@MrsBeccaM5 It is and thank you for saying that. We are our harshest critics right? I've been trying to get from 150 (in picture) to 140 for over 6 months and it's been brutal mentally and physically. What you don't see in that dim light is the jiggly bits that are hanging on in to my arms, thighs, belly and the insides of my knees. I recently had someone say to me, "you look like someone who's lost a lot of weight", but he was a stranger who works in the fitness industry who is obviously familiar with the tell-tale signs of going from obese to normal. It leaves scars of a different kind. Only time will tell if my skin will snap back and more important, my joy for life.