Dealing with low self esteem while losing weight

Options
salemxo
salemxo Posts: 96
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm trying to achieve my goals, but my self esteem is horrific. I hate everything I see in the mirror, I compare myself to all the other beautiful girls with nice bodies and I feel sick with jealousy. Haha, anyways has anybody successfully beaten bad body image?

Replies

  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    You should not be comparing yourself to other girls. There will always be someone prettier, taller. smarter,---you get the idea. You should concentrate on bettering yourself---being the best that you can be. Take what you've been given and work with that. Serenity can make a person beautiful, and a smile. :)
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    Options
    I hated my body when I was 20, criticized myself constantly, compared myself to everyone else, made myself miserable.

    Fast forward to now. I'm 20 years older, got the beginnings of wrinkles, some gray hair. The weight doesn't move as quickly as it used to. And I look back at photos of myself when I was 20, and think, "I didn't look so bad after all." But I was so busy comparing myself to everything else that I didn't even see it.

    Improve on yourself certainly, but don't wish your life away.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,209 Member
    Options
    Maybe spend more time around people worse off than yourself?

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Options
    Yeah, I got older, LOL. I'm in my fifties and I am more interested in the things I can do than how I look.

    My experience is that women who are dissatisfied with their bodies heavy are just as dissatisfied when they are thin. Their arms are too skinny. Their belly has a little pot. Their hair is too thin/thick/curly/straight. Life is way too short to be fussing over those sorts of details.

    There's people who love us just as we are. If they can, why can't we?

    So do you have any interesting hobbies and interests? What mind-expanding thought have you come across lately? What makes you a fascinating human being?

    AAAAND, people will find you a fascinating and engaging human being if you show more interest in them.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Options
    The best speaker I ever heard on self esteem was John Wooden. Hint: it has nothing to do with body image.

    http://www.coachwooden.com/
  • amandastock
    amandastock Posts: 53 Member
    Options
    It's not your body, it's your mind. Think positive and become positive. One thought at a time. If a negative thought comes in, thank it for its opinion and show it the door. Replace it with something good.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
    Options
    You need to learn to love who you are, not how you look.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    Options
    Everyone has different body shapes, and every woman has that thing that they don't like about their own body, regardless of how perfect you see them as. Anyway move on, the more you lose, the higher your self esteem will go. Good luck and keep going!
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Options
    salemxo wrote: »
    I'm trying to achieve my goals, but my self esteem is horrific. I hate everything I see in the mirror, I compare myself to all the other beautiful girls with nice bodies and I feel sick with jealousy. Haha, anyways has anybody successfully beaten bad body image?

    Sweetie, I want to encourage you to stop comparing yourself to other girls and to accept you for you and work toward your weight loss and/or health goals.

    I beat low self esteem. In fact, you sound much like I did when I was younger, even up into my 30's. I had to learn to stop putting myself down and treat myself with the love and respect I give to other people.

    Self acceptance is an every day journey, just like health goals are.

    Besides all this, I bet you're beautiful too. :)
  • saraphim41
    saraphim41 Posts: 205 Member
    Options
    I have always had that problem. But lately I began giving myself one or two "spa days" each week. Long showers or baths, followed by moisturizing, nail care (feet too) and hair care. Then light makeup. OK, it's still me in the mirror, but it feels better. And I can live with that.
  • 4leighbee
    4leighbee Posts: 1,275 Member
    Options
    I know my daughter struggles mightily with self-esteem, and it baffles me. She is so busy comparing herself to others that she looks right past her own special qualities. I don't think she knows, for instance, that she has the most beautiful skin - it just glows. And when she worries about a friend who is unhappy, her heart shines through her eyes. She has the most beautiful spirit - anyone will tell you. No matter how desperately I want her to believe these things, she needs to discover them for herself. Likewise, you need to discover for yourself the things that make *you* beautiful and unique. Give it some thought - be positive - journal about it. xoxo
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Options
    Food for thought--I've lived in Italy for 30 yrs now, and have noticed that older women were usually covered with gold jewelry from head to toe, 3 rings on every hand, just overdone. Usually these women had a sour look on their faces, or just unhappy. I always thought "why don't you take off some of the gold, and expensive furs, and just smile a little. They would be so much prettier, and fun to be around. So, now that I'm "older" that's what I'm trying to do. This advice goes for the younger crowd too. Nobody likes to be around people that are selfcentered, and trying to be "someone else". As I said, be the best you can be. Assess what you've been given, and do the best you can with it--and for god's sake--smile. B)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Options
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    You need to learn to love who you are, not how you look.

    This.

    Also, I'd recommend focusing on goals that involve doing something and trying to change your thoughts to being about what you can do vs. how you look.

Categories