What is your body image and are you happy with it?

When I saw this,I had to answer it.
I am a mere 14 years old,think naive if you want.
I consider myself a perfectionist at beauty,my self esteem is very low.People tell me I’m pretty a lot and I have a boyfriend,but when I get complimented,I smile and say thank you,but internally I don’t feel like I even got the compliment.I compare myself to Victoria’s Secret models and celebrities, and I often ask myself “Why cant I look like that?” or things similar.I don’t even watch TV that much anymore because I compare myself too much to the other girls.When I wake up and leave for school,I HAVE to look perfect.

It’s really a problem,and I’m trying to overcome it.My boyfriend tells me I’m perfect and that,but when he says things like another girl is hot,I get really insecure.I know he doesn’t do it on purpose,but it still hurts.I’m going to work on it though, as I know this is unhealthy,and I can never change how I look.
Good luck.

Me-http://a760.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/91/l_d8aa0fada8fb62b7d54f238067fd77af.jpg
What I compare myself to-http://wallace.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/victorias-secret.jpg

A tad unfair though,yes?

People tell me that I look good, but all I hear is my father’s voice in my head telling me that I’m fat.

Well I have a skin disorder called vitiligo. My cause is very minor and it is nearly inactive, but I have had it my whole life and it is visible on parts of my body that people can see. But I fully accept this, I have no choice but to. It makes me unique and it has given me a perspective of life that is so out of the norm, it has helped me in my spiritual quest and I would not be who I am now if I did not have it.

I can’t say I am happy with myself, but I try to detect every part of myself so that I can embrace it. If I do not embrace, even the parts of myself that do not seem to be the best, I can never move forward — I can never be in the moment where life is. Either that or I can be a slave to the past. So the choice is simple, I choose to know thy self, and in order to do this takes self works, so thus I must embrace every part of myself, for if I do not, then how can I ever achieve such happiness, which is a fulfillment of harmonious wholeness.

You must learn (develop yourself — unify yourself) to love yourself — everyone should strive to love themselves. Not one part, or the other parts of ourselves will work opposite to what we desire. We only suffer by that which our fragments of mind cling to. We must triangulate the moment with consciousness — don’t be a slave to the past, for it is done. Move your mind forward.

Well, I too am only 14 years old.
Um lets see. I am considred ‘thick’ amongst some people. I use to be sooooo fat. I had like 3 chins! But, I traded that cheeseburger for a salad and I lost a lot of weight. Now I can wear shorts without my thighs rollin down the river!!! Yay! I really don’t like the image i see today, as in the super skinny gals. i don’t mind my body right now. But some days i don’t like my body. Eh, my body is apart of who I am.

Plus I’m short. So, I guess my answer is that I am comfortable with myself on most days.

It’s me.

Definintely not happy with my body!! Which sucks really. I’m married with 2 gorgeous boys (hence the not so slim body anymore). I try to work hard on my body by going to the gym at least 3 times a week and try to eat well. I’m on a no carb or sugar diet. But the weight doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s so frustrating!! My husband tells me I’m beautiful and hot and whatever…but I cry just about everytime he says it. I even cry just after we have sex!! I hate my body so much and I’m terrified that he won’t find me attractive anymore and find someone who looks better then me!
People say – well, you;ve had 2 kids, you have an excuse. But I really don’t think that is an excuse!! Ppl can have 4 kids and STILL look better then me! I’m really only 5kgs heavier then what I would like to be, but I’m short so I think it makes me look worse. Plus my boobs aren’t as round and perky anymore. I just can’t seem to win! It’s so hard to just love myself!!

I think that everyone finds faults in their appearance; I don’t know how serious some people are about it, i.e. omigosh i’m so fat. So many people are just looking to have their egos stroked.

it’s hard finding a balance of liking yourself as you are and not seeming conceited.

i’m 16 and in ballet; it’s no party for your body image either, but i just try not to dwell on it.

I am bald,slightly overweight and I have a few front teeth missing. How I appear to others does not bother me anymore. Once I was at a wedding and I met this one guy. After talking for a while he asked me how he appeared. I said great without thinking and then I paid attention and took a closer look. He had on new clothes that were nice. Then I paid attention to the other guests even people that did not get my attention immediately and I noticed that everyone was dressed well. Then I thought to myself that these people went to great lengths to adorn their best clothing. They are so pre- occupied with themselves that they do not notice anyone else.

Let me tell you the story of how I lost my front teeth. One was pointed and the other was crooked. I took them out because they looked ugly and I made false teeth. What was superising that when I wore my false teeth for the first time it took close people a long while to realise that I have a new set of teeth.

From these incidents I realised that no one cares how you look because I know that no one really bothers because everyone is too preoccupied with themselves. I do not wear my false teeth anymore and I have three sets of clothing and one pair of slippers that I use for all occasions weather it is work or wedding or fishing. I ware what is comfortable. I do not like being overweight because of health reasons and not because of what others think. Because of my outlook I have a good relationship with everyone around me. I can talk to anyone -rich or poor – good looking or bad looking like me – young or old. I am content and have been for a long while.

I tell you this much- people notice me now espicially when I drive around in my rusted up beaten up car. I get more “hits” now than ever before. Not that it bothers me.

I’m on the short side. 5’1 but I love wearing skirts and showing leg. However, I have rather big legs. I’m 102lbs but keep thinking I need to lose weight. I can’t fit into the pairs of pants I bought just last year. I’m sad. But, I make the best of it and when I’m not trying to lose weight, I ignore it and go on with my life. Its just a small issue and I shouldn’t worry about it too much so I don’t.