How do you learn to love your body?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
How do you learn to love your body?
8
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 9:25am

OK, ladies....help me out!


I'm sure this is the case for many women, but I'm really not a big fan of my body. I was an overweight kid, and even though I'm on the charts as being a healthy weight now, I still often feel big and unattractive. Also, I feel my marriage definitely contributed to the way I feel about my body. In the back of my mind, I would always think, "If I were more attractive, he's actually WANT to stay home and be with me....."


This just seems to be a hurdle I can't clear. Has anyone gone from having a problem with their body image to feeling good about it?




Follow me to my partner in the siggy exchange....


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 9:37am

Hi Christine,

I do not "love" my body. I am 32, have given birth twice, and don't work out like I should... but... as I am getting older, I have gotten "more" comfortable with my body. The past 15 months especially. I met a wonderful man, who tells me I am beautiful 100 times a day, "sneaks" peeks when I'm getting out of the shower, whistles at me when I squat down to tie our two 3 year olds shoes, etc. He shows me passion for my body like I have never experienced... not even when I was 18 and had "the body". Maybe it's age, wisdom, or maybe just a hell of a man... but the older I get, the "happier" I am with my body, and sexuality.

Kerry

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 5:48pm

It's funny you're bringing this up because in the Wild Wednesday thread I thought about answering that something wild I'd like to do would need to be regarding my body. Like skinny dipping or something. Something...anything to get past feeling bad about how I look. I just didn't end up posting it because I thought it would sound like I meant it some slutty way or something.

I really don't like my body and I know I need to get over it, take care of myself and embrace what isn't perfect instead of loathe it.

But to answer your question, I don't know. I wish I did though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 6:51pm

OK, gwen, if you ever visit CT, we're going to HAVE to do it...lol!




Follow me to my partner in the siggy exchange....


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 6:54pm

My pediatrician (mine, as a child) would call me and my sister "junk food junkies".


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 7:01pm

Slutty?


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Sun, 05-21-2006 - 4:05pm

Yeah? Well how about THIS????


The other day, dd, who is 6, saw me naked & said "Wow! MOMMY!

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 05-21-2006 - 5:27pm

When Brooke was around 4, she commented to me, upon seeing me naked, "mom, you've got 3 belly buttons!" (remnants of 2 c-section vertical scars).


One of my girlfriends (who doesn't have to worry so much about the whole "budget" thing) had her boobs "lifted" after her 3rd child.... must be nice.


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-30-2004
Sun, 05-21-2006 - 5:50pm

I've always been on the small-ish side as a young teen and my first pregnancy took a toll on my belly. I got really big because of toxemia and eating with reckless abandon. Needless to say I've got a "road map" where my nice belly used to be.

I've kept all my weight off and I workout a lot, but still have stretch marks. One year I had surgery on my leg and was laying on the operating table and the nurse said "you're so little, you don't look like you've had four kids" then she whips the sheet back to prep my leg and saw my belly and said "ohhhhh yup you look like you had four kids". I didn't have enough sedation on board so I've always remembered THAT comment. LOL.