Body Image and Self Esteem

[sigmagrrl]

Women AND men,
How do you keep your self esteem up and feel good about yourself in this age of "lollipop" actresses like Jennifer Aniston and Lara Flynn Boyle, naked Abercrombie & Fitch models, and constant weight loss commercials? What one thing were you taught reminds you every day that you are worthy even if you aren't a "perfect" size 2?? Especially when we hear tales of eroded pipes in sorority houses due to out of control vomiting and a rise in anorexia, do you think things are getting better for us or worse when it comes to body image and accepting all body types?

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by sigmagrrl:
Especially when we hear tales of eroded pipes in sorority houses due to out of control vomiting

Are you serious?

[Allie_XO]

I am going to sound SO vain, but oh well. Self esteem is not a matter of how I look! I think I am a great person. I like the way I look (although my looks aren't perfect), I like the clothes I wear (although they don't come from the Limited), I like the way I talk (light southern with a touch of New Orleans), and I love the way I think (rediculously logically, but I'm loosening up some)!!!!! I feel that if someone is going to judge whether or not they like me by ONE aspect of who I am, then I don't want anything to do with such a low character! Those girls on TV are not real. They are freaks of nature - that is why they are on TV.

And as for guys, I know for a fact that I don't want to date a guy until I get to know him. If he has great personality, then I will think he is the most hansome man. But once some of the most hansome men open their mouth, well.... they turn into ugly trolls!

I feel no pressure to look a certian way. I will never be 5ft10 and 102 lbs. Oh well. I'll have so much more fun in life not really worring about. Love me for everything I am, not the number on the scale!

Although I'm not perfect, I am beautiful in every aspect of who I am. Now give me some chocolate!

Allie

[Billy Optimist]

I lift weights. It makes me feel buff.

[amycat412]

I just try to be realsitic. It is those womens jobs to look thin and beautiful, they have trainers, they work out 4 plus hours a day in many cases. I work. A lot. I look damn good considering. Put any of the lollipops in a stressful 50 plus hour a week office job with limited time and access to trainers and people to do their hair and makeup for them and see how good they lo0ok--

Also, I know the guy I want to meet and be with is into me not because of the way I look, but because of who I am. Weight will change. Hair color and styles will change. But who I am will not. And I have enormous faith in who I am. That keeps me from going insane with the images in the media and in the city I live in (L.A.).


[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited March 18, 2001).]

[AlphaChiGirl]

Originally posted by sigmagrrl:
Women AND men,
Especially when we hear tales of eroded pipes in sorority houses due to out of control vomiting...

I had heard about that...in that People Magazine article about eating disorders. It also mentioned how the members had been storing Ziploc bags full of it in the basement. :::ewwww::: It doesn't surprise me, not because it's in a sorority, but because it's a group of women living together, and we all know how pressured an environment like that can be.

[33girl]

Originally posted by sigmagrrl:
What one thing were you taught reminds you every day that you are worthy even if you aren't a "perfect" size 2??

If I can get hit on (multiple times) at a bar with a bunch of 21 year old Barbie clones in attendance, I must still have it goin' on.

In all seriousness....the lolli ladies may be what you see in magazines and Hollywood, but your average guy would want nothing to do with them in their normal state. I mean when they wake up, before the 100 hair makeup & wardrobe people work on them. And to see some of these actresses makes me sad. Lara Flynn Boyle was absolutely gorgeous in Twin Peaks....now she looks like a scarecrow.

I've never been a perfect anything, but being around women who were drop dead beauties (specifically one of my friends in college) taught me a LOT. I mean, this girl was the type who caused car crashes on the street. It was such a revelation to me to realize that even though she was beautiful, she and I were having a lot of the same type of problems.

[bucutie02]

If you have self confidence than you will feel good about yourself. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. It all starts from the inside, if you believe in yourself than others will see it too!!

I am not greek, but if i were to join a sorority and they had me throwing up because i didnt fit their body image, then they are not for me!!!

I am not a size 2 and to be honest- i am glad for it!! Some women out there think that being that thin is sexy. I totally dont think so!! I am happy the way God made me, and i wish others would be happy the way they are too.

[Billy Optimist]

Originally posted by AlphaChiGirl:
I had heard about that...in that People Magazine article about eating disorders. It also mentioned how the members had been storing Ziploc bags full of it in the basement. :::ewwww::: It doesn't surprise me, not because it's in a sorority, but because it's a group of women living together, and we all know how pressured an environment like that can be.

bags of vomit??????

[juniorgrrl]

I admire some of ya'll for having such good self-esteem. I must confess that I'm not as good at it as I should be. I feel like most people use the "size 2" as a stereotype, when they are a size 4 or 6 themselves. I've always been on the chubby side, topping out at a size 14 when I was 12 or 13, and finally leveling out to a 10. But its a constant battle for me to keep my weight in control. I watch everything I eat and I mean EVERYTHING. I try to work out every day. But I still don't get any smaller.

Its not the lolipop actresses that keep me worried - its the fact that people were cruel to me about my weight my whole life. Its hard to not have low self esteem when people pick one thing about you and give you hell over it constantly.

I'm not trying to whine, ya'll I honestly have much better self esteem now than I ever did - and that comes from working out and doing something about my problem

[ahhkbah]

Okay the vomit thing was just FOUL.

The self image is intact. I'm not buff, not sculpted, just a regular joe. I love myself for that. I know who I am, what I like and what I want. Hanging around attractive girls in school I found out that theirlives weren't all cake. One of my friends was the best looking girl on campus...but she had terrible self esteem, was in a bad realtionship and couldn't find a guy who wanted her for her; not just a trophy to show off.

[Hootie]

For me I've come to realize that I probably won't be the same size I was in high school because my body is still changing and growing. I realize that a lot of guys (where I'm from) want something to hold onto...not someone who will blow away in the wind (no offense to the skinny girls)!
I DO have my "fat feeling days" but I just remember that it's not as bad as I think it is.
On a similar note, I was talking to MaryMayXO and I told her that I'd rather see a house of overweight, friendly girls than skinny, rude girls.
Friendly people go farther in life - regardless of weight!


[This message has been edited by Hootie (edited March 19, 2001).]

[Billy Optimist]

I hear ya juiorgrrl. I was the fat kid on my playground too.

[Billy Optimist]

Originally posted by Hootie:
I realize that a lot of guys (where I'm from) want something to hold onto...not someone who will blow away in the wind (no offense to the skinny girls)!

[This message has been edited by Hootie (edited March 19, 2001).]

yup we do. More cushion for the pushin'

[Hootie]

Originally posted by Billy Optimist:
yup we do. More cushion for the pushin'

Oh goodness