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Don't let self image drag you down.

3/21/2015

9 Comments

 
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If you think your bum looks big, or your stomach protrudes too much in an outfit you're wearing, you should ask your partner or friend for a second opinion.

According to a recent study, everyone sees their own body in a distorted way. Researchers at UK's University of Lancaster found large systematic distortions in individuals’ perceptions of their relative bodily proportions.


Another study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found the same thing.

Approximately 91% of American women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Unfortunately, only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed in the media.

Where did the concept of the ideal come from? Did early women consider body shape more important than health, attitude, and skill?

You form your perceptions of your body’s attractiveness, health, acceptability and fitness in early childhood. This body image continues to grow as you age and receive feedback from peers, family members, teachers, etc.

As a confident child, I appreciated my own looks and strengthened my self image as I matured. I can't remember criticizing other children for their looks. Of course, that's a long time ago. Let's break down how body image affects us.

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~ Symptoms of unhealthy or negative body image may include:

Obsessive self scrutiny in mirrors

Thinking disparaging comments about your body and frequent comparison of your own shape and size to other people



Envy or a friend’s body, or just as commonly: the body of a celebrity or someone else in the media.

If you are concerned about your body image, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is my perception of beauty distorted from years of media exposure that glorifies a very thin ideal that is unrealistic for most people to obtain in a healthy manner?


Do I find myself regularly criticizing my own appearance. ~

 Source: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/body-image 

At the age of 73, I'm unhappy with my body. My breasts have sagged and my stomach protrudes despite every effort I've made to eat less and exercise as much as I am able. I want to be young again. However, part of me knows I can't remain that way forever. I dislike the way some women artificially pump themselves up or have nip 'n tuck operations. I want to be natural, but don't want to be unattractive. Let me say right now the expectation is unrealistic. I perked up a bit when a health visitor told me I'd lost weight the other day. How pathetic is that?

So, nobody is immune to the ideal look that society pushes forward.

One important thing I treasure is my positive attitude. Despite trials that might have knocked me down, I've used them to strengthen and grow.

Perhaps the best we can do is to appreciate our health and ability, display a happy smile, and stop internalizing.


9 Comments
Melinda
3/20/2015 08:46:27 pm

I know for a fact I don't see the right image. My clothes say small but my eyes still see large. No matter, I have learned to FEEL good rather than worry about looking good.

Reply
Carrie Ann Tripp link
3/21/2015 12:10:00 am

Ugh. This is a battle. As a pre-teen and teenager I was accused of being anorexic. Mind you, I had NO form of eating disorder. I ate anything anytime and never gained any weight. This carried over into high school, but if peers said things I didn't pay attention.

I did hear everything about my lack of a chest, however, and that came from peers and family. You can probably guess which one impacted me the most.

After having kids, I hit overweight. Almost 18 years later, according to BMI charts, I am actually obese. "People" can't believe it if I admit that. I, however, not only believe it, see it, feel it, hear it echo in the recesses of my mind, and feel like a failure because of it.

I still like food, especially sugar, just as much as I did when I was a pre-teen, though. I could care less what models and actresses look like, but I do care what the tags in my clothes and the numbers on my scale say.

Muffin top? I like muffins. I despise my muffin top. Don't give it a cute name. It's a fat roll.

Perhaps your post was for me?

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Diane link
3/21/2015 02:30:35 am

What a great post! Although I was an underweight child and teen (who could eat all the time!) my metabolism slowed with the birth of each child and I am now quite overweight, though working on it. My concern is more for one of my daughters who has been told that she would be fat if she kept eating. She is overly concerned about her weight. All a work in progress! #ultrablog

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Joan Harrington link
3/21/2015 02:32:43 am

Hi Francene,

Awesome post and share :) I think as women we ALL have some kind of misconception about our own bodies and self image and I know that it is definately nice when you feel attractive to your partner, but sometimes you just have to go out there and be the best you can be, whether that means eating better, your diet, exercising regularly, and just really like what you see in that mirror, ya know?

Thanks for sharing :)

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Scott link
3/21/2015 03:24:27 am

We're all guilty of self-doubt and the desire for a youthful appearance. Even as a guy, I suffer from the same (especially when feeling guilty for overeating).

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Carol Cassara link
3/21/2015 06:09:14 am

Yep, it's true, we never see anything how it really is, including ourselves!

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Alana link
3/21/2015 10:28:35 am

I also have body image problems. Although I lost over 40 lb (and struggle daily not to gain it back) a couple of years ago, I still look in the mirror and see an obese person - one with wrinkles, a turkey neck, and underarm wings. Yet, people who have known me for years say I look fantastic.

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Corey Franklin link
3/22/2015 03:45:49 am

Love yourself for who you are, and a whole new perspective on life will come through. Also it is proven that those who love themselves and the way they look, impact more lives. So love yourself but work towards a better you if you want. Great post here!

Reply
K.Lee Banks link
3/22/2015 09:27:55 am

Thanks for such an honest post. I also struggle with self-image. I'll be 57 a week from today, and to be honest, getting older scares me because I'm dealing with more health issues in addition to being very self-conscious about my appearance.

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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