Body Image (A little long)

[luvmydogs]

Do you struggle with your body image? Even though you've lost weight or have improved your fitness level, and are looking and feeling better than ever, do you ever look in the mirror and hate what you see? I don't know if I'm PMSing or just feeling blue or what, but lately I look in the mirror and think I just look head-to-toe ugly. I went from 235 to 123-125 pounds and FEEL great--so much more strength, energy, and stamina--but I just look ugly to myself. Believe me, I don't think any person of any weight is "ugly." 100 pounds or 1000 pounds--character, kindness, and inner beauty is what I find attractive in people of all sizes. But I just look at myself lately and think BLECH! How can my dh even stand looking at me? I swear I'm not looking for sympathy, but has anyone else ever gone through this, and does this ever happen to someone after a big weight loss? Sorry so long, and thanks for listening...

 

[YangYang]

I've lost 81 pounds and really don't see the difference. I know I am smaller - my clothes tell me that - but I look in the mirror and see the same person I saw 81 pounds ago. That's okay for me because I've never had a negative body image. I didn't have a problem with how I looked before and definitely don't have a problem now. It's funny that you posted about this because I was just thinking about it this morning - this morning I thought that it would be nice if I could see the change. Maybe we're just experiencing midwinter blues and need a trip to someplace warm - like Disney World!

 

[sharoncity]

Kim -

We all go through this sometimes. I think it is especially common in the winter, right after the holidays. What would be great for your moral is a new haircut or color. Or how about a trip to the Estee Lauder/Clinique counter and let them give you a free makeover (you don't HAVE to buy anything if you don't want! )It's probably just a case of the winter blues. Of course that trip to warm WDW would certainly help too!

Just keep exercising and eating healthy. Like you said, you have more energy, are healthier and in better shape. So keep that up and figure out some little pick-me-up for yourself to try to beat these blahs!

 

[septbride2002]

Good Morning. I think we all go through this and it worries me. People who are anorexic describe that there is a voice in their head constantly telling them how bad they look and how fat they are. Now obviously these people take their weight loss to the extreme. I say a documentery once of making women recoving from anorexia journal. they were to journal what they were feeling that way they could take a look back at it and see if it was really justified. I know that I am way to hard on myself and my body and journaling helps me to get through it.

~Amanda

 

[Disney_1derland]

I have lost 40 pounds and I don't *see* the difference. There are days that I feel it. There are other people who see it but I myself don't see it. I worry about whether or not I will ever see it even when I'm at goal (whatever that is!)and maintaining will it be enough to help my body image? Probably not. So, I am being proactive about it now. I had a specialized hypnosis session to begin changing my internal dialogue. I taped that session and listen to it often. As I lose more I will have the session re-done and retaped to fit the smaller me.

It does help and now there are times that I see myself and think, hey, that's not so bad! Before it was always negative and slowly it's changing.

 

[vfb2girls]

Count me in on the poor body image. Everytime I stepped out of the shower and see myself in the mirror I cringe! Even though I work out on a regular basis and diet it seems that old age has not been kind to me, my body is all going south and every other direction. It can be very depressing somedays. My DH thinks I obsess way to much about my body and thinks I am the hottest thing around. I guess I just should be thankful for what God has blessed me with.