The brave and the human

MireyGal76

I have struggled a long time with self esteem issues...

Common thoughts of mine:
- If you really knew me... you wouldn't love me.
- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed
- I'm a let down when you actually get to know / meet / see me

I have been on a blog campaign to bare the ugly in me... to be blunt and bold and open about who I am... fully expecting to have people delete me and walk away.

Instead, they have stayed. In fact, they seem to love me now more than ever.

It doesn't compute with my messed up self image, but it is something I have REALLY needed to experience.

So today, I am posting this thread, with a picture and a dare... because again - I need to be open and exposed and show people that perfection is something that you can strive for, but it is not attainable, NOR IS IT NECESSARY.

I take a lot of pics. I have struggled with body image and take pics to help my heart register what the camera and others see. I QA my pictures dramatically. I don't post pics where I look like crap. I don't post cellulite, or dimples. If I see them, the pic gets deleted. If I cant take a pic without them, I don't take it.

So today... here is a pic of my dimples. The lighting in my house at this moment is not good at showing them off (go figure), but here it is.



I have a cyst on my hip that I rarely allow out in photos... there it is... and yes... *kitten* dimples.



My dare: I dare you to be real and post a pic you normally wouldn't have put up (whether is is you without makeup, you with dimples, or back fat, or big feet)... and just get it out there. please abide by posting guidelines... no nudity, thongs, etc.

Anyone who comes in here to be cruel... think twice, think ten times before you respond. You can really mess a person up for life if you do that. And really, there are lots of other places you can be mean.

No_Finish_Line

lol certainly think this one quite a bit

- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed


i don't put up pics that aren't too flattering either... but take quite a few lol. oddly some of the ones i didn't like people said they did like the one i have up now.

i would post some of my not so good ones but its such a pain in the butt to post any pics lol

you are even more my hero now Mirey

PS, your stomach still looks sexy from that angle lol.

silvergurl518

you're beautiful, sandy!

here's a pic of me during the cupid's undie run. i loved the day and my outfit! but my tummy is not flat....and i have stretch marks. also, i had JUST shaved my 'pits that morning, but here they are, dark as hell. not so pretty but damn, i felt awesome that day!

BurtHuttz

Challenge accepted. Will need to think about it awhile because I'm actually pretty happy with who I am these days.

MireyGal76

you're beautiful, sandy!

here's a pic of me during the cupid's undie run. i loved the day and my outfit! but my tummy is not flat....and i have stretch marks. also, i had JUST shaved my 'pits that morning, but here they are, dark as hell. not so pretty but damn, i felt awesome that day!

I LOVE THIS PIC! and I love you too silvergurl! *MUAH* thanks for being brave!

@emany... you are open and honest now... that's why you are pretty happy with who you are... the more open and honest I force myself to be... the more I seem to love myself.

Desterknee

Not sure if it will post a FB pic.

This was a few months before I joined before MFP. I detest this pic with the fire of a thousand suns.



Glad I posted it though. I see progress.

MireyGal76

Not sure if it will post a FB pic.

This was a few months before I joined before MFP. I detest this pic with the fire of a thousand suns.



Glad I posted it though. I see progress.

I am curious as to why? I see someone who is happy and smiling and beautiful, and full of joy. It's a beautiful pic!

toomuchbootyindapants

Welp. Here goes. I tell people all the time I'm not nearly as hot as they think I am or they see in my ('posed just right and good lighting' photos). And I'm sick of people telling me I don't have anything to lose. Yes, I do. My front side (abdomen). Here it is this morning. Stretch marks, extra skin, and flab. Om nom nom. But it allowed me to carry two big ol' babies full term, so I embrace it anyway. Good thread Mirey...we're not perfect of body or mind sometimes...but we're works in progress and we shine no less!

Please dear God don't make these be hyooooge when they post!

Danieboo757

Ill post if u tell me how!

MireyGal76

Welp. Here goes. I tell people all the time I'm not nearly as hot as they think I am or they see in my ('posed just right and good lighting' photos). And I'm sick of people telling me I don't have anything to lose. Yes, I do. My front side (abdomen). Here it is this morning. Stretch marks, extra skin, and flab. Om nom nom. But it allowed me to carry two big ol' babies full term, so I embrace it anyway. Good thread Mirey...we're not perfect of body or mind sometimes...but we're works in progress and we shine no less!

Please dear God don't make these be hyooooge when they post!
*removed pics from my quote for dizzy's comfort*

honey you are brave and bold and amazing. you are one of my heros on here, and I think you are AWESOME.

are we perfect? no... and geeze baby making messes us up... thank GOD there's a boob ban - cuz that there is my nemesis.
your body is sexy RIGHT now... and you've done great work!

and really... I can't stop staring at those thighs! HHAWT! (in a non creepy way)

Krys_140

I aspire to have YOUR body. THIS body. THIS abdomen. So THERE. (sorry for the yelling, but I feel strongly about this)

calibriintx

I have struggled a long time with self esteem issues...

Common thoughts of mine:
- If you really knew me... you wouldn't love me.
- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed
- I'm a let down when you actually get to know / meet / see me

I have been on a blog campaign to bare the ugly in me... to be blunt and bold and open about who I am... fully expecting to have people delete me and walk away.

Instead, they have stayed. In fact, they seem to love me now more than ever.

It doesn't compute with my messed up self image, but it is something I have REALLY needed to experience.

So today, I am posting this thread, with a picture and a dare... because again - I need to be open and exposed and show people that perfection is something that you can strive for, but it is not attainable, NOR IS IT NECESSARY.

I take a lot of pics. I have struggled with body image and take pics to help my heart register what the camera and others see. I QA my pictures dramatically. I don't post pics where I look like crap. I don't post cellulite, or dimples. If I see them, the pic gets deleted. If I cant take a pic without them, I don't take it.

So today... here is a pic of my dimples. The lighting in my house at this moment is not good at showing them off (go figure), but here it is.



I have a cyst on my hip that I rarely allow out in photos... there it is... and yes... *kitten* dimples.



My dare: I dare you to be real and post a pic you normally wouldn't have put up (whether is is you without makeup, you with dimples, or back fat, or big feet)... and just get it out there. please abide by posting guidelines... no nudity, thongs, etc.

Anyone who comes in here to be cruel... think twice, think ten times before you respond. You can really mess a person up for life if you do that. And really, there are lots of other places you can be mean.

:flowerforyou: Can we be friends? :blushing:

TinaDay1114

I have struggled a long time with self esteem issues...

Common thoughts of mine:
- If you really knew me... you wouldn't love me.
- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed
- I'm a let down when you actually get to know / meet / see me

All these, AND :
~ If I'm not doing something / improving something / being productive / being Super____ (mom, wife, woman, whatever), I'm just a lump 'o nothing, taking up space.

I've been mired in that one for my whole life, and am starting to get really exhausted, AND sick of that voice in my head. Haven't conquered it yet, though.

Here's my dreaded photo. Yep, that's me in the ugly green sweater. I wasn't happy at the time, and felt tired, huge, ridiculous. I was working out then, too, and it wasn't doing a THING. GAH. Still hate it:

_DaniD_

I love you ladies! You're all beautiful and human, yes even the hot b!tches have stretch marks and cellulite.

Lt_Starbuck

not brave

ok brave



JULY 2012

I hate this picture of myself. I was so nervous, it was a black tie night, I was all red carpet and deer in headlights flying solo and just felt lieka blimp, had just started deadlifting and BLOOOMP

MireyGal76

I have struggled a long time with self esteem issues...

Common thoughts of mine:
- If you really knew me... you wouldn't love me.
- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed
- I'm a let down when you actually get to know / meet / see me

All these, AND :
~ If I'm not doing something / improving something / being productive / being Super____ (mom, wife, woman, whatever), I'm just a lump 'o nothing, taking up space.

I've been mired in that one for my whole life, and am starting to get really exhausted, AND sick of that voice in my head. Haven't conquered it yet, though.

Here's my dreaded photo. Yep, that's me in the ugly green sweater. I wasn't happy at the time, and felt tired, huge, ridiculous. I was working out then, too, and it wasn't doing a THING. GAH. Still hate it:

and yet that smile lights up the whole picture. do you realize that is all I saw until you pointed out the sweater? All I could focus on was the brilliant smile!
I am with you on all the above. and great big hugs to thank you for posting!!!

MireyGal76

not brave

darlin... I saw them before you took them down... and my honest to god first thought was... cmon hun, you're sposed to post an uncomfy pic... darlin you look absolutely stunning in both of them! I am not blowing smoke or sunshine - you have this inner beauty that takes over the entire freaking thread.

consider putting them back - they were both gorgeous.

TinaDay1114

and yet that smile lights up the whole picture. do you realize that is all I saw until you pointed out the sweater? All I could focus on was the brilliant smile!
I am with you on all the above. and great big hugs to thank you for posting!!!

Awwwwwwww, shucks. Thank you.:blushing: :blushing:

bookworm_847

I have struggled a long time with self esteem issues...

Common thoughts of mine:
- If you really knew me... you wouldn't love me.
- If you could see me in person... you wouldn't be so impressed
- I'm a let down when you actually get to know / meet / see me

I have been on a blog campaign to bare the ugly in me... to be blunt and bold and open about who I am... fully expecting to have people delete me and walk away.

Instead, they have stayed. In fact, they seem to love me now more than ever.

It doesn't compute with my messed up self image, but it is something I have REALLY needed to experience.

So today, I am posting this thread, with a picture and a dare... because again - I need to be open and exposed and show people that perfection is something that you can strive for, but it is not attainable, NOR IS IT NECESSARY.

I take a lot of pics. I have struggled with body image and take pics to help my heart register what the camera and others see. I QA my pictures dramatically. I don't post pics where I look like crap. I don't post cellulite, or dimples. If I see them, the pic gets deleted. If I cant take a pic without them, I don't take it.

So today... here is a pic of my dimples. The lighting in my house at this moment is not good at showing them off (go figure), but here it is.



I have a cyst on my hip that I rarely allow out in photos... there it is... and yes... *kitten* dimples.



My dare: I dare you to be real and post a pic you normally wouldn't have put up (whether is is you without makeup, you with dimples, or back fat, or big feet)... and just get it out there. please abide by posting guidelines... no nudity, thongs, etc.

Anyone who comes in here to be cruel... think twice, think ten times before you respond. You can really mess a person up for life if you do that. And really, there are lots of other places you can be mean.

Just like you, I've struggled with self-esteem issues for as long as I can remember. Going to school and having several classmates make fun of you for your height or glasses, or just how you look in general, and then going home to have your stepfather tell you how stupid, worthless, and lazy you are and how no one cares if you're around or not... that'll do some damage on the old self-esteem. Anyway, I just wanted to say how I admire you for putting out this challenge and for being brave enough to do it yourself. I'll post a picture later. I'm at work and my "weight loss" pictures are on my laptop at home.

You are all amazing.

Faintgreeneyes

I always have make up on, mostly because it hides my flaws and its something to mask under. I don't take pictures of myself without it on, even if I claim I have none on, I normally do. So heres me, nothing on and nerding out.



I also never take pictures where I am fully facing the camera- I have really wide hips and while everyone always tells me how "thin" I am, I never feel that way. I still don't feel that way. I always know my best angles and I too tell people "if you only met me in person you would see its not as good as the pics show"



Sorry if these end up being ginormous.

We all have our own demons to work through- at least none of us are alone in that. We all want to change something, but let us all try to slowly learn to love ourselves, even the not soo good parts. (i am working on it)

MireyGal76

I always have make up on, mostly because it hides my flaws and its something to mask under. I don't take pictures of myself without it on, even if I claim I have none on, I normally do. So heres me, nothing on and nerding out.



I also never take pictures where I am fully facing the camera- I have really wide hips and while everyone always tells me how "thin" I am, I never feel that way. I still don't feel that way. I always know my best angles and I too tell people "if you only met me in person you would see its not as good as the pics show"



Sorry if these end up being ginormous.

We all have our own demons to work through- at least none of us are alone in that. We all want to change something, but let us all try to slowly learn to love ourselves, even the not soo good parts. (i am working on it)

I love the first pic... makes me smile and I love the attitude! beautiful! as for the hips... they are perfectly in line with your shoulders. and cripes do you have a gorgeous tiny waist and a lean core! I have a very boxy shape, very little curve in the waist, so I find myself envious of those who have it.

silvergurl518

everyone is so freaking beautiful! guess what? we're human! we don't have a constant team of people to make us up, cook us food, train us for hours a day, and then photoshop the **** out of our stretch marks, moles, freckles, hair, and other such fun things that make us human--and women. so whatevs. i'm just gonna be proud of my body in the best way i know how! that will include ups and downs, but THANK YOU, SANDY/MIREY for this!

auzziecawth66

You guys are all totally my heros!!! I've always hated everything about myself sad but true but I am working on loving myself and learning to look beyond my body as my worth...

Wilson929

This is a great topic! I also have the extra belly skin, butt dimples, and host of other issues from housing a little bundle of joy. I have accepted my body and what it has become.... in my head. I still though take millions of pics wanting them to be good enough for MFP, but end up deleting most. We ARE our worst critic. If I wasn't at work I would add a "real" photo.
Sandy... YOU are the bomb!

ShellyBell999

All I see are:

Beautiful Souls :flowerforyou:

Brave Hearts

Human Bodies :drinker:

Much respect to you all!

Pixi_Rex

Well I am not anywhere near where the previous people are but these pictures are ones I hate showing anyone :grumble: :grumble:

This was after 31 days of Insanity

mayflowermn

Holy crap MireyGal76 .....are those your abs in your ticker picture??!!! Dang. Wow....and you're worried about your supposed butt dimples?? (which by the way aren't so special lol I have them too!)

theologynerd

Mirey, this was a fantastic idea. My problem area is my mommy pouch. It keeps me self-conscious no matter what I weigh. I have been happy to post pics of my abs that keep my pouch under control or only show above my belly button, but I NEVER let people see this:


I think you just released me from some kind of weird hold that this tummy had on me. Thanks

MireyGal76

Well I am not anywhere near where the previous people are but these pictures are ones I hate showing anyone :grumble: :grumble:

This was after 31 days of Insanity

thank you for sharing! :-D
I love the ink, and I love that you are pushing yourself through insanity! great job!

theologynerd

Thanks for helping me re-size it, Mirey

MireyGal76

Holy crap MireyGal76 .....are those your abs in your ticker picture??!!! Dang. Wow....and you're worried about your supposed butt dimples?? (which by the way aren't so special lol I have them too!)

they are my abs.. my profile is open - its a clip of the tapout pic, and thank you :flowerforyou: