Home How do you see yourself?

[CrookedRock]

Date: 8/25/2008 11:51:05 AM
Author: Aloros
I do receive a lot of compliments on my appearance, but I honestly think that it''s the way that a person carries themself that forms a HUGE component of attractiveness. I''ve seen some unconventionally beautiful women who were just mesmerizing. They speak with intelligence and carry themselves with confidence. They look comfortable with who they are.

I''m slender right now, but I do wish I was a little more fit. I like feeling more strong - it makes me feel more capable.

Ditto to all of this!
I can tell when a woman walks into a room and isn''t confident. It''s then that I am likely to think to myself that she''s probably unhappy with her weight or whatnot... If she walked into the room with her head held high, walking with confidence, then I would never notice weight or anything else that may not be *perfect*. To me it really is how you carry yourself. Comfortable with oneself is a great way to put it.

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/24/2008 8:21:41 PM
Author: SarahLovesJS
I''m definitely not the stereotypical beautiful woman. I voted don''t like the way I look and ''m trying to change it because I am, but it isn''t because of the stereotype. I just want to be a bit healthier. Heh the problem for me is typically..I look so much better in my head than I do when I look in the mirror. I think of myself as about a size 10-12! Well, needless to say I am not anywhere near a 10.

I wish I was. I don''t want to be a 2..I just want to be like a 10, 12, or 14. I''m 5''9'' and about size 10 or 11 shoe-wise. So I''m a larger girl overall. I want to get in better shape, lose some weight, and maintain my hourglass figure. I want to be me..just a smaller version of me. Sometimes I get jealous of the stereotypical beautiful woman. On my don''t feel like a size 10 bad days, I feel kind of like some kind of huge thing or something sometimes because all of the girls around me always seem to be so much more petite (height and size) and everyone tells them how beautiful they are it seems. Oh well. I know being shorter can not be fun as well and just as hard to find clothes. FI loves me for who I am and that makes me happy. So I am just going to try to keep the good qualities and improve anything I am unhappy with. Going to work with what I''ve got!

Your post made me think of how I felt when I was in the Air Force.

I wore an XS X LONG uniform. I was a 4/5 in my dress size, and have been a full C to D since I was 16... NOW... I''m a 10/12ish... size 11 shoe...

When I was in the Air Force EVERY woman was smaller than me. When I say smaller I mean height. I noticed that they were all always surrounded by guys at every turn. I think my height makes me intimidating to men, and women alike! But for men especially because they don''t want to feel small. And to be honest, I tend to walk tall and carry a big stick! LOL!

Good think I found me a giant! LOL! My DH is 6''5" and he LOVES how tall I am... he actually commented once when we first started dating that he loved how he didn''t have to lean down to kiss me, or look down to talk to me.

 

[snlee]

I didn''t vote since I''m 8 months pregnant and have a basketball-sized belly. Before I was pregnant, I was happy with my body. Sure, there were problem areas, like my skin not being the greatest and I could use some height. I will join the 5 feet club. I know how it feels to want to be a few inches taller and not be called cute all the time. I know how it feels to receive those short comments and going shopping for pants is always no fun at all!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 8/25/2008 2:02:55 PM
Author: LuckyTexan

Date: 8/24/2008 8:21:41 PM

Author: SarahLovesJS

I''m definitely not the stereotypical beautiful woman. I voted don''t like the way I look and ''m trying to change it because I am, but it isn''t because of the stereotype. I just want to be a bit healthier. Heh the problem for me is typically..I look so much better in my head than I do when I look in the mirror. I think of myself as about a size 10-12! Well, needless to say I am not anywhere near a 10.

I wish I was. I don''t want to be a 2..I just want to be like a 10, 12, or 14. I''m 5''9'' and about size 10 or 11 shoe-wise. So I''m a larger girl overall. I want to get in better shape, lose some weight, and maintain my hourglass figure. I want to be me..just a smaller version of me. Sometimes I get jealous of the stereotypical beautiful woman. On my don''t feel like a size 10 bad days, I feel kind of like some kind of huge thing or something sometimes because all of the girls around me always seem to be so much more petite (height and size) and everyone tells them how beautiful they are it seems. Oh well. I know being shorter can not be fun as well and just as hard to find clothes. FI loves me for who I am and that makes me happy. So I am just going to try to keep the good qualities and improve anything I am unhappy with. Going to work with what I''ve got!

Your post made me think of how I felt when I was in the Air Force.


I wore an XS X LONG uniform. I was a 4/5 in my dress size, and have been a full C to D since I was 16... NOW... I''m a 10/12ish... size 11 shoe...


When I was in the Air Force EVERY woman was smaller than me. When I say smaller I mean height. I noticed that they were all always surrounded by guys at every turn. I think my height makes me intimidating to men, and women alike! But for men especially because they don''t want to feel small. And to be honest, I tend to walk tall and carry a big stick! LOL!


Good think I found me a giant! LOL! My DH is 6''5'' and he LOVES how tall I am... he actually commented once when we first started dating that he loved how he didn''t have to lean down to kiss me, or look down to talk to me.

You know I think I might be the same way..intimidating I mean. Haha. My FI is an inch shorter, but he isn''t intimidated. Which I think it takes a confident man to be with a woman that''s taller than him. I do wear high heels when I go out and whatnot which is fun. Then FI looks really short compared to me! But he still doesn''t care. I guess I should probably stop complaining since I found someone who loves me for who I am.

 

[Allisonfaye]

Date: 8/24/2008 7:30:19 PM
Author: Dee*Jay

Date: 8/24/2008 1:13:41 PM
Author: iluvcarats
Lucky Texan and Princess - how I envy you!
I have always been on the other side of the spectrum - 5 feet tall.
What I wouldn''t do for a couple of your inches!
I''m sick of being called *cute*
I''m sure that in my 40''s and 50''s I''ll still be ''so little and cute!''
It''s not ok to say to some one who is really fat ''wow - your really fat!'' but people think nothing of saying to me ''you''re so short!''
I don''t get it?
I have a little gymnansts body(w/o) the talent
I would love to know what the view is like *up there*

At 5 feet tall (on a good day... ) I''m right there with you! Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time someone has commented on my height I would be rich as well as short. Sometimes I say, in my most sincere voice, ''thank god you told me that! I''ve lived my WHOLE LIFE with no idea that I was short.''

The other day I was in Ann Taylor trying on some pants and when I popped out to ask the sales associate for a different size she looked down at all the fabric puddled around my fee and said, ''honey, you need those in *petite*.'' Um. Yah. Thanks. They WERE petite.

And along with being 5 feet tall, I also have very small feet (I''m about a size 5, but depending on the designer I can sometimes get away with a 5-1/2). Sales people in the shoe department just LOVE to ''suggest'' that pershaps I should try the children''s department, especially for sandles.

Don''t even get me started about my short arms and having sleeves fall to my fingertips. And yes, also in petite sizes!

And doesn''t it irritate the sh$t out of you when someone so condescendingly refers to you as ''Honey''? Grrrrr.

 

[Allisonfaye]

I guess some days I am happy and some days I am not. I think I look pretty good for a 45 year old woman with two kids but I have a heck of a time finding clothes that fit right. I am very curvey and although I am technically not overweight, I have problem areas. I have been working out about 5-6 days a week for the last year and I am definately more toned but it frustrates me when clothes don''t work. Like my upper arms. They are big. I am lifting weights but it is not just from that. So things are tight there where they didn''t used to be. It bugs me. I can''t stand tight fitting clothing. It makes me so uncomfortable. Also, I have a lot of sensitivity to fabrics. I can pretty much only tolerate cotton, silk or cashmere and some synthetics like fleece. So if I lived on an island where I didn''t have to wear clothes, I would be fine.

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/25/2008 10:05:22 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
I believe any woman can be beautiful if they put effort into it. Am I stick thin? No. Would I want to be? No! I think women have curves for a reason, and I think it''s extremely attractive. The pudge at my belly? Not a wanted curve, but I love myself, anyway.

People are about so much more than how they look. I think that when you let how you look have an effect on how you feel, or how you treat others, that is when it''s a problem.

We''re active and we have fun. We exercise because it makes us feel good, not so that we can be attractive for others. To try to reach for what''s ''hot'' in this world is to run your life based on what others think, while I''d rather focus on what matters to me.

So, I chose ''I''m not perfect, but that''s okay!'' as my choice.

I am in 110% agreement with you on this!!!

Well put!

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/25/2008 11:51:05 AM
Author: Aloros
I love the way I look!

I do have a crook in my nose, but I rarely, if ever, waste any time thinking about that anymore. I think it adds ''character'' to my face

. And the prematurely gray hairs? I think they help make me look dignified (and I''ve always been pinned as younger than I am, so it''ll cut down on being carded!).

I do receive a lot of compliments on my appearance, but I honestly think that it''s the way that a person carries themself that forms a HUGE component of attractiveness. I''ve seen some unconventionally beautiful women who were just mesmerizing. They speak with intelligence and carry themselves with confidence. They look comfortable with who they are.

I''m slender right now, but I do wish I was a little more fit. I like feeling more strong - it makes me feel more capable.

I''m told by I''d say 4 out of 5 people who I tell I just had a baby that I look great... and I guess all things considered I really do... I''ve worked hard during both pregancies to stay fit, and have worked hard after to get where I am now...

I''m sitting here thinking really hard about what you are saying about how we carry ourselves, and now that I think about it... I''m one who walks tall, and holds my head high, and I make eye contact with people, and smile, and nod... I guess I do carry myself with confidence! I''ve never really thought of it as that, but I think you''re right!

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/25/2008 4:50:16 PM
Author: Allisonfaye
I guess some days I am happy and some days I am not. I think I look pretty good for a 45 year old woman with two kids but I have a heck of a time finding clothes that fit right. I am very curvey and although I am technically not overweight, I have problem areas. I have been working out about 5-6 days a week for the last year and I am definately more toned but it frustrates me when clothes don''t work. Like my upper arms. They are big. I am lifting weights but it is not just from that. So things are tight there where they didn''t used to be. It bugs me. I can''t stand tight fitting clothing. It makes me so uncomfortable. Also, I have a lot of sensitivity to fabrics. I can pretty much only tolerate cotton, silk or cashmere and some synthetics like fleece. So if I lived on an island where I didn''t have to wear clothes, I would be fine.

OHHHH if only!

I gave up this summer trying to find shorts and just kept wearing my maternity stuff!!! My skin on my stomach puts me in a 16/18 and that ends up making me look like I was wearing culottes!!! Thank god for stretch denim, at least in those I can wear a 12 and not look like a total reject!

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 8/25/2008 3:00:08 PM
Author: snlee
I didn''t vote since I''m 8 months pregnant and have a basketball-sized belly. Before I was pregnant, I was happy with my body. Sure, there were problem areas, like my skin not being the greatest and I could use some height. I will join the 5 feet club. I know how it feels to want to be a few inches taller and not be called cute all the time. I know how it feels to receive those short comments and going shopping for pants is always no fun at all!

If you go over to the prego thread, you''ll see that this woman is incredibly hot even with a basketball-sized belly. In fact, she has one of the most elegant prego-bellies I ever did see. So don''t believe a word she says!!!!

 

[Black Jade]

I''m from a foreign country, but grew up here. Where I''m from, we were poor, and didn''t have many clothes, but the clothes were all made by seamstresses. So the clothes you did have always fit. And you didn''t worry about it.
I remember my mother once saying, after going shopping here and finding nothing that fit (something that seems to happen to all women here, no matter what size they are) "America is funny. Where I''m from, they make clothes to fit you. Here they expect you to make your body fit the clothes."
People in my country also walked everywhere--there were no cars. So everyone was in good physical shape. Everyone was NOT thin--but everyone was in good physical shape and they were healthy. The last time my father went there, he saw a a 200+ pound lady, walking very fast down the street and said that that was something he never saw in America. Bigger boned people who were very active and athletic and not embarrassed about their size. I believe she was an older lady, too. Maybe the important thing to do is be happy and active and not get caught up in the nonsense here.
I heard this once, and it is true: If every woman in the U.S. woke up tomorrow and was suddenly happy with her appearance, the economy would collapse. No one would buy makeup, hairdye, nailpolish, diet products, plastic surgery--fill in the blanks--

 

[Kay]

Since I am in my eighth month of pregnancy, I am trying not to think too much about my appearance right now. I am 5''10.5". I hated how skinny I was in jr high and high school (size 0/2/4). I got teased all the time and one of the school counselors called my mom to say she was concerned I was anorexic -- never mind I was drinking weight lifter shakes every day to try to gain. It drives me crazy that it is now fashionable to be that thin -- boy do I have bad timing. I was really happy with the way I looked for the decade between age 22 and 32. I had gained enough to be curvy, but was still very slender (size 6/. After that, I started gaining weight and getting a bit flabby thanks to too much working and not enough working out. I was 20-25 pounds overweight when I got pregnant. Thank goodness I have not gained that much with the pregnancy -- I already had all the fat stores I needed. Expecting a child has made me re-evaluate a lot of my priorities, including about fitness. I am not allowed to exercise now, but once I can I plan to start exercising regularly again so I can be stronger and healthier and feel better about myself. (Right now I am just going to go eat ice cream.

)

 

[mimzy]

i started out trying to be positive, thinking 'well, my ______ isn't so bad', but i couldn't find anything to fill in the blank - i'm really really really unhappy with the way i look.i was always much bigger than everyone else growing up and i still feel like i am just a walking behemoth (i *know* i'm not, but i still feel that way most of the time). i have super fatty/huge thighs and calves (i stopped sitting crossed legged in first grade because the little buldge at the knee was so much bigger than everyone elses), i have a sizeable tummy and lovehandles, wide wobbly arms, huge eyebrows, a big nose,ugly brown fine hair that goes flat in .3 seconds, a widows peak AND a cowlick that makes it impossible for my bangs to ever lay flat and even and not look greasy, bad skin, the chest of a 70 year old women that had 15 kids, no upper lip, uneven fingernail beds, stains on my teeth (prenatal=impossible to get rid of) and hobbit feet. i've been on a diet since i was 11 years old and haven't spent a day not thinking about my weight. i'm almost 5'7 but i have to buy short jeans because my legs are so stubby. my torso is so long that nothing fits right so there's only 1 style of shirts and dresses that ever look halfway decent on me and i have to wear long white tank tops under all my shirts so that there isn't a gap between my jeans/shirt (without wearing a shirt that's two or three sizes too big everywhere else). i can never find jeans that aren't too tight in the thighs. the only time that i remember looking in the mirror and thought "not bad" was when i found my wedding dress....and that lasted a good 10 minutes. i actually went through a phase in undergrad where i took down/covered all the mirrors in the apartment because i was so disgusted with myself, both with things i could and couldn't change. it's not that bad anymore, but i still hate shopping for things that i have to try on (pretty much anything other than shoes and tshirts) and i usually end up wearing the same three outfits every weekend because i'm comfortable in them. and it doesn't help that i'm super unphotogenic

it's more of a lifestyle than anything by now. i don't obsess about it, but it's always there whenever i need to look in the mirror or thing about clothes (or when i voluntarily sit and think about it, like now.....which i am planning on avoiding in the future!).

. i just try to skim the thoughts and get away from the mirror as soon as i can (out of sight, out of mind-ish), if that makes sense. i don't *usually* think about the way that other people look in comparison, with the exception of those with good skin/complexion/coloring, hair, and those with the ability to wear skinny jeans. so i guess i'm okay in that respect, i keep it pretty internal. it's not something that i openly complain about because it makes me really uncomfortable when people (FI or mom/sister usually) say otherwise...it make me feel like i am coercing them into saying that i look good and that feels even worse than being unhappy with myself to begin with! so i definitely keep my mouth shut about it. apparently except for online when asked? haha. the one brightspot lately is that i recently got some super awesome glasses that i think are distracting enough to draw most of the attention to them, so that's good. but without them i'm genuinely scared that i'm going to be a hot mess on my wedding day, like an ugly little girl that got into her mom's makeup and went to town.

okay, now that i'm feeling pretty crappy, it's off to bed! looks like tomorrow's going to be a day spent in baggy jammies!

 

[divergrrl]

And oh how I envy tall pregnant women, who didn''t show until their 7th month, like Nicole Kidman.

I was showing on the 7th day...

And the reflux...a cheerio would give me reflux!

HEY! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

After 2 kids, I worry about my looks a bit. I used to be a hottie. Thin, pretty, muscular. Now I have flub-a-lub on top of my muscles and while I lost baby weight from kiddo #2, I''m still working on that last 15lbs from #1. Been workin on it for over 3.5 years. damn!!!

But I do try to reassure myself..its ONLY 15lbs. I''m a size 8 instead of a size 4, and that isn''t heavy by any standards. I may not like how I look, but I''m sure no one else notices.

I won''t lie, its important for me to keep my looks. I like looking nice, young, fit. Its why I jog/cycle/kickbox/do yoga/watch my food most of the time. if I watched it more closely, the weight''d be gone. Oh well. What can ya do?

At least I''m healthy and so are my kids.

 

[vespergirl]

I think that if I feel good about myself really depends on how much I''m working out. I''m 5''9", and I was a size 6 before I had my son, but even though I''m only 5 pounds from my pre-baby weight, now I wear a size 8 (my hipbones spread & never went totally back). However, I''ve been on a great workout routine since I had him, and I work out at least 5 days a week now, so I feel much stronger than I did before. I find that if I skip working out for a few days, I start feeling fat and lazy. I think knowing that I''m exercizing every day makes my body feel good & makes me feel good about my body.

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/25/2008 10:30:23 PM
Author: Kay
Since I am in my eighth month of pregnancy, I am trying not to think too much about my appearance right now. I am 5''10.5''. I hated how skinny I was in jr high and high school (size 0/2/4). I got teased all the time and one of the school counselors called my mom to say she was concerned I was anorexic -- never mind I was drinking weight lifter shakes every day to try to gain. It drives me crazy that it is now fashionable to be that thin -- boy do I have bad timing. I was really happy with the way I looked for the decade between age 22 and 32. I had gained enough to be curvy, but was still very slender (size 6/. After that, I started gaining weight and getting a bit flabby thanks to too much working and not enough working out. I was 20-25 pounds overweight when I got pregnant. Thank goodness I have not gained that much with the pregnancy -- I already had all the fat stores I needed. Expecting a child has made me re-evaluate a lot of my priorities, including about fitness. I am not allowed to exercise now, but once I can I plan to start exercising regularly again so I can be stronger and healthier and feel better about myself. (Right now I am just going to go eat ice cream.

)

Don''t you just love that? When I was in school, I got made fun of for wearing jeans at the length that they now SELL THEM at stores and call them ankle! I literally YELLED in the Gap when I saw that! LOL!
I was always rail thin too... tall and skinny... chicken legs. Accussed of being anorexic... and now I''m fat. Gotta love hormones! LOL!

 

[Kay]

Date: 8/26/2008 1:34:59 PM
Author: LuckyTexan

Date: 8/25/2008 10:30:23 PM
Author: Kay
Since I am in my eighth month of pregnancy, I am trying not to think too much about my appearance right now. I am 5''10.5''. I hated how skinny I was in jr high and high school (size 0/2/4). I got teased all the time and one of the school counselors called my mom to say she was concerned I was anorexic -- never mind I was drinking weight lifter shakes every day to try to gain. It drives me crazy that it is now fashionable to be that thin -- boy do I have bad timing. I was really happy with the way I looked for the decade between age 22 and 32. I had gained enough to be curvy, but was still very slender (size 6/. After that, I started gaining weight and getting a bit flabby thanks to too much working and not enough working out. I was 20-25 pounds overweight when I got pregnant. Thank goodness I have not gained that much with the pregnancy -- I already had all the fat stores I needed. Expecting a child has made me re-evaluate a lot of my priorities, including about fitness. I am not allowed to exercise now, but once I can I plan to start exercising regularly again so I can be stronger and healthier and feel better about myself. (Right now I am just going to go eat ice cream.

)

Don''t you just love that? When I was in school, I got made fun of for wearing jeans at the length that they now SELL THEM at stores and call them ankle! I literally YELLED in the Gap when I saw that! LOL!
I was always rail thin too... tall and skinny... chicken legs. Accussed of being anorexic... and now I''m fat. Gotta love hormones! LOL!

Oh yes, I remember the dreaded "highwaters." Why didn''t they sell ankle length or capri pants when we were younger? At least now there are a few pants manufacturers who sell pants with a 34" or longer inseam.

 

[saltymuffin]

In some ways I think your question should be "how do you see other people?"

I never get aggressive towards strangers for how they look, as it sounds like your mom does. BUT, if I meet some witch of a girl, who also happens to be skinny and beautiful, I hate her for the whole package, including her appearance! I might also get irritated with a group of obnoxious skinny teenagers, and think about how they won''t look like that forever! Mean, obnoxious or unpleasant behaviour has to come first before I get a negative impression of someone.

I do not really dislike anything about my body that I don''t have the power to change. But I am not happy with how heavy and out of shape I have let myself become. I know that healthy slim people exercise and eat right. If I did that consistantly, I too would be happy with my appearance.

The question of how you judge people based on their appearance is a tough one to answer honestly. If I am introduced to a very overweight girl, how is my first impression of her different than if I meet a very thin girl? What different assumptions do I make about the two of them? And I DO get intimidated by people who are very attractive and well dressed. I am much more comfortable around less glamorous people!

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/26/2008 12:31:08 AM
Author: mimzy
i started out trying to be positive, thinking ''well, my ______ isn''t so bad'', but i couldn''t find anything to fill in the blank - i''m really really really unhappy with the way i look.i was always much bigger than everyone else growing up and i still feel like i am just a walking behemoth (i *know* i''m not, but i still feel that way most of the time). i have super fatty/huge thighs and calves (i stopped sitting crossed legged in first grade because the little buldge at the knee was so much bigger than everyone elses), i have a sizeable tummy and lovehandles, wide wobbly arms, huge eyebrows, a big nose,ugly brown fine hair that goes flat in .3 seconds, a widows peak AND a cowlick that makes it impossible for my bangs to ever lay flat and even and not look greasy, bad skin, the chest of a 70 year old women that had 15 kids, no upper lip, uneven fingernail beds, stains on my teeth (prenatal=impossible to get rid of) and hobbit feet. i''ve been on a diet since i was 11 years old and haven''t spent a day not thinking about my weight. i''m almost 5''7 but i have to buy short jeans because my legs are so stubby. my torso is so long that nothing fits right so there''s only 1 style of shirts and dresses that ever look halfway decent on me and i have to wear long white tank tops under all my shirts so that there isn''t a gap between my jeans/shirt (without wearing a shirt that''s two or three sizes too big everywhere else). i can never find jeans that aren''t too tight in the thighs. the only time that i remember looking in the mirror and thought ''not bad'' was when i found my wedding dress....and that lasted a good 10 minutes. i actually went through a phase in undergrad where i took down/covered all the mirrors in the apartment because i was so disgusted with myself, both with things i could and couldn''t change. it''s not that bad anymore, but i still hate shopping for things that i have to try on (pretty much anything other than shoes and tshirts) and i usually end up wearing the same three outfits every weekend because i''m comfortable in them. and it doesn''t help that i''m super unphotogenic

it''s more of a lifestyle than anything by now. i don''t obsess about it, but it''s always there whenever i need to look in the mirror or thing about clothes (or when i voluntarily sit and think about it, like now.....which i am planning on avoiding in the future!).

. i just try to skim the thoughts and get away from the mirror as soon as i can (out of sight, out of mind-ish), if that makes sense. i don''t *usually* think about the way that other people look in comparison, with the exception of those with good skin/complexion/coloring, hair, and those with the ability to wear skinny jeans. so i guess i''m okay in that respect, i keep it pretty internal. it''s not something that i openly complain about because it makes me really uncomfortable when people (FI or mom/sister usually) say otherwise...it make me feel like i am coercing them into saying that i look good and that feels even worse than being unhappy with myself to begin with! so i definitely keep my mouth shut about it. apparently except for online when asked? haha. the one brightspot lately is that i recently got some super awesome glasses that i think are distracting enough to draw most of the attention to them, so that''s good. but without them i''m genuinely scared that i''m going to be a hot mess on my wedding day, like an ugly little girl that got into her mom''s makeup and went to town.

okay, now that i''m feeling pretty crappy, it''s off to bed! looks like tomorrow''s going to be a day spent in baggy jammies!

With your proportions, I bet you would look awesome in an empire waisted knee length dress! It breaks your body just under the bust, instead of at your crotch... the way clothes are made today is just dumb. I think I''m going to start making my clothes again. I did it all through high school and college. I hated shopping so much!

 

[Haven]

I see myself as a pretty average American woman.
I''m 5''9.5", and anywhere from a size 6 to 10 depending on the month and the designer. I''m generally in the 8 range, though.
I have brown eyes and brown hair, very average shmaverage.

But I''m happy with that.

There are things I''d love to change about my body, and I definitely have the power to change them, but I choose not to out of sheer laziness.

I''d love to get the definition back in my arms, lose weight in my face, and slim down my tummy, but those chocolate chip cookies and Chipotle burritos are just so darn good!

I''m sure I judge people based on their looks because I''m human and I learned all about how appearance affects our perception of people in those social psych classes I took in college. I wish it wasn''t so, but it is.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/26/2008 1:28:59 AM
Author: divergrrl

And oh how I envy tall pregnant women, who didn't show until their 7th month, like Nicole Kidman.

I was showing on the 7th day...

And the reflux...a cheerio would give me reflux!

HEY! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

After 2 kids, I worry about my looks a bit. I used to be a hottie. Thin, pretty, muscular. Now I have flub-a-lub on top of my muscles and while I lost baby weight from kiddo #2, I'm still working on that last 15lbs from #1. Been workin on it for over 3.5 years. damn!!!

But I do try to reassure myself..its ONLY 15lbs. I'm a size 8 instead of a size 4, and that isn't heavy by any standards. I may not like how I look, but I'm sure no one else notices.

I won't lie, its important for me to keep my looks. I like looking nice, young, fit. Its why I jog/cycle/kickbox/do yoga/watch my food most of the time. if I watched it more closely, the weight'd be gone. Oh well. What can ya do?

At least I'm healthy and so are my kids.

Well you have succeeded chikita!

 

[diamondfan]

I also get worried, though I think I look pretty good for 42 years old and three kids.

I feel like I was so pretty when I was in high school and college and took my looks and figure for granted. It is fine now, but I do feel that youthful loveliness is fading. Hubby does not agree, I mean, of course, I am not a teen ager any more, but I am not too bad...I do miss those days though when I could wear a bikini, had a size 24 waist and a totally flat stomach and long pretty wavy hair. No one will ever catch me in a bikini in this lifetime again!!!!

I have lots of hair still, and it looks nice blown out. I have nice eyes, that was always one of my best features and people noticed them. I am not tall but I am not too small either. I would like to lose some weight (what else is new) but know I cannot be a size 2 anymore.

 

[snlee]

Date: 8/26/2008 5:19:22 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 8/26/2008 1:28:59 AM

Author: divergrrl

And oh how I envy tall pregnant women, who didn''t show until their 7th month, like Nicole Kidman.

I was showing on the 7th day...

And the reflux...a cheerio would give me reflux!

HEY! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

After 2 kids, I worry about my looks a bit. I used to be a hottie. Thin, pretty, muscular. Now I have flub-a-lub on top of my muscles and while I lost baby weight from kiddo #2, I''m still working on that last 15lbs from #1. Been workin on it for over 3.5 years. damn!!!

But I do try to reassure myself..its ONLY 15lbs. I''m a size 8 instead of a size 4, and that isn''t heavy by any standards. I may not like how I look, but I''m sure no one else notices.

I won''t lie, its important for me to keep my looks. I like looking nice, young, fit. Its why I jog/cycle/kickbox/do yoga/watch my food most of the time. if I watched it more closely, the weight''d be gone. Oh well. What can ya do?

At least I''m healthy and so are my kids.

Well you have succeeded chikita!

Ditto! If you look at the picture she just posted on the Mommies Thread, you''ll see she is one HOT mama!

 

[snlee]

Date: 8/25/2008 8:51:23 PM
Author: Independent Gal

Date: 8/25/2008 3:00:08 PM

Author: snlee

I didn''t vote since I''m 8 months pregnant and have a basketball-sized belly. Before I was pregnant, I was happy with my body. Sure, there were problem areas, like my skin not being the greatest and I could use some height. I will join the 5 feet club. I know how it feels to want to be a few inches taller and not be called cute all the time. I know how it feels to receive those short comments and going shopping for pants is always no fun at all!

If you go over to the prego thread, you''ll see that this woman is incredibly hot even with a basketball-sized belly. In fact, she has one of the most elegant prego-bellies I ever did see. So don''t believe a word she says!!!!

Awww, you are too sweet Indy! Thank you! You just made me blush!

 

[divergrrl]

Ok, you guys are all sweet...thanks. Perked me up after feeling lousy today. (hugs) But I had one heckuva hardcore shaping garment on under that dress!! LOL.

And truly, what matters most is on the inside. (shaping garment!! j/k)

To the OP, I think your mom was judging that woman to mask her own insecurities. She probably didn''t mean to be mean spirited, but my MIL is the same way. She actually gets mad if an older woman is in good shape/health. She let her health go & gained an incredible amount of weight, so she puts down those who take care of themselves. But from a more serious side, my MIL had a grapefruit sized aneurism removed 3 years ago (it was pure luck we found it) and now she is battling uterine cancer (with a GREAT prognosis) but I worry about her ability to make it through the surgery ok. She has extremely high blood pressure & its hard to control post-op. We almost lost her last time. So her upcoming hysterectomy has me worried.

So she''s 5''2" and about 70/80lbs overweight, never exercised, eats tons of junk & smoked for 40 years. (she did give that up, I''m very proud of her!! ) She was thin until she quit smoking 15 years ago, so of course she blames all her problems on quitting. LOL. Then she''ll eat an entire pizza, but have a salad & tell me she has no idea why she can''t lose weight. If she wasn''t in such poor health, it''d be funny.

So...its never too late to start taking care of yourself. All things in moderation eh?

 

[Dreamer_D]

I chose "I''m not perfect but I am happy with myself". I have struggled with body image issues all my life, and I think that being a professional actress as a teenager didn''t help. I was constatly told to lose weight! When I finally quit the business and went to university, I rebelled and gained a bunch of weight. Now, I *choose* to accept myself the way that I am, but it is a choice I have to remind myself about daily. And I try to live a healthy lifestyle for the sake of being healthy, not to change what I look like per se.

Being pregnant is a strangely liberating thing for me: Now I can embrace my rxpanding size instead of feeling embarassed by it!

 

[mimzy]

Date: 8/26/2008 3:34:13 PM
Author: LuckyTexan

Date: 8/26/2008 12:31:08 AM

With your proportions, I bet you would look awesome in an empire waisted knee length dress! It breaks your body just under the bust, instead of at your crotch... the way clothes are made today is just dumb. I think I''m going to start making my clothes again. I did it all through high school and college. I hated shopping so much!

thanks for the suggestion! i have tried on a few empire waist dresses, but i usually feel like the seem at the waist (which is usually marked by something other than just a seam) draws attention to the biggest part of my arms and then pucker out so that i look pregnant (not that there''s anything wrong with that...but i''d prefer to wait to look that way until i was actually expecting!). plus most empire waist things are usually low cut, which i can''t wear at all the only empire waisted things i''ve found that look decent are these really cheap jersey shirts from forever 21 (go figure, right!?)

i made all my homecoming dresses in high school because i could never find ones that look good on me, but right now i just don''t have the time with school

i would do my whole wardrobe if i had the time too!

 

[iluvcarats]

For me, the way I feel about my appearance is directly linked to my cycle. (sorry if tmi)
Days 1-14 I''m fine. I''m ok with how I look for the most part, but days 15-28 I''m an emotional hormonal train wreck. So the 3 or 4 lbs of water bloat might as well be 10, and since I am small, 3 lbs does make my clothes fit differently. And then it''s day 1 . And then like magic, I feel better again.....And then in two weeks it starts all over again.

 

[dragonfly411]

I''m younger, but I have to work to be fit. At the same time, I feel better when I do that work, it makes me feel better physically and mentally. I enjoy the fact that I am a very well rounded person. I ride horses, and exercise, I like to read, do photography, and go out and enjoy life. Life is far to short to spend it begrudging others who look "perfect" and being down on one''s self. Besides, to me, the definition of perfect is skewed. In the Midieval ages, the perfect woman had lots of curves and wide wide hips, more for child bearing. Marilyn Monroe was a size 10-12. and Dammit Liv Tyler is beautiful. So why worry so much? I enjoy myself for what I am every day.

 

[LuckyTexan]

Date: 8/27/2008 10:44:16 AM
Author: dragonfly411
I''m younger, but I have to work to be fit. At the same time, I feel better when I do that work, it makes me feel better physically and mentally. I enjoy the fact that I am a very well rounded person. I ride horses, and exercise, I like to read, do photography, and go out and enjoy life. Life is far to short to spend it begrudging others who look ''perfect'' and being down on one''s self. Besides, to me, the definition of perfect is skewed. In the Midieval ages, the perfect woman had lots of curves and wide wide hips, more for child bearing. Marilyn Monroe was a size 10-12. and Dammit Liv Tyler is beautiful. So why worry so much? I enjoy myself for what I am every day.

I heard 14! I wonder if the sizes are even the same from back then?