[Semlor]

I have had issues with body image since I was about 9 years old. Although I have never become anorexic or bulimic, I have very strong opinions on what I should look like. All my life I have been around 10 pounds overweight, and got bullied for it in elementary school. My parents constantly tell me that I need to lose weight. But recently, I have been challenging these thoughts. I exercise often and feel that I should move on and "live" life instead of feeling sorry for myself. But, the other side of me still feels ugly and agrees with those that tell me that I am too fat. I have episodes of depression often and usually battle it with my humour and "feistiness".

[Leed]

Hi ~ I wish parents would understand what kind of damage they do when they tell their kids they're "too fat." By WHOSE STANDARDS are they too fat??? The average American woman is 5'4" and weighs about 140lbs. Many people think that's too fat -- well, I don't. I'd rather have a little 'meat' on my bones than look like a refugee'. A couple of years ago, my weight got down to 92lbs -- I'm 5'2" and medium build. I found that I had cancer -- but still, I looked HORRIBLE. After I got treatment and all was clear - I put weight back on, and now maybe I'm bigger than I should be, but I don't FEEL bad.

To me, it's all about how you feel PHYSICALLY. If it isn't affecting your health, then forget it pounds. And if you're only 10lbs "overweight" by somebody's standards, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure you look GREAT!!!

Don't listen to peoples' ignorant remarks. Whatever is good for YOU is the way it should be. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[Sunna]

I would like to support the side of you that exercise and live life rather than feel sorry, or obsess about how you look. So maybe you are tiny bit heavier than some average. You should not aspire to be average. Maybe you are a little smarter than average too, do you feel compelled to act dumb to comform? Some do, believing it is unfeminine to be brainy, or to be proficient in technical fields or math, or play certain sports. You will hear lots of b.s. on the topic of how girls should be. Just ignore. Why on Earth should you try to fulfill people's stupid ideas of how you should be instead of being yourself?

And it is natural to have low times, most people have bad moments. Your daily cycles, monthly cycles, even amount of sunlight out there all affect your mood subtly. When your mood is low it is easier for negative thoughts to float up. I really admire you for not surrendering, but battling them. Please don't fall into a trap of getting a hasty label, such as bipolar, stuck on yourself along with pills tht will cure lows, and dampen your fighting spirit, replacing both with zombie-like blah.

Unless it interferes with your life. Unless you can't function.

There is a lot of self-help available to help you combat the body-image and negative self-talk. Maybe you could even benefit from a good talk therapy, a skilled therapist will help you shine light on internal workings of these thought forms and help diffuse them.

[Indie'sOK]

Wow, I could have written your post almost exactly, except I am about 60lbs overweight and it does interfere with my health. Since I'm dealing with the same thing, I guess I can't offer much more than empathy - hope it helps. Know you aren't alone in feeling this way. Keep talking if it helps too

[arcangel]

Originally Posted by Semlor

I have had issues with body image since I was about 9 years old. Although I have never become anorexic or bulimic, I have very strong opinions on what I should look like. All my life I have been around 10 pounds overweight, and got bullied for it in elementary school. My parents constantly tell me that I need to lose weight. But recently, I have been challenging these thoughts. I exercise often and feel that I should move on and "live" life instead of feeling sorry for myself. But, the other side of me still feels ugly and agrees with those that tell me that I am too fat. I have episodes of depression often and usually battle it with my humour and "feistiness".

I'm really sorry that you were bullied or teased. A lot of people are just like that. It probably comes from insecurities. Or maybe just meanness
Your battle with depression is commendable and admirable. Consider yourself commended and admired
You mention you have strong opinions on what you should look like. Can you explain that?

[filensave]

I can also empathize...There are times I feel as if I'm getting close to average, but there are times I feel awful and that I will never look great....My parents also tell me but in different ways..The annoying thing is I eat the healthiest out of all my friends, and exercise just as much. I don't have much advice but I feel better knowing there are others who feel the same as I do...

[Semlor]

Originally Posted by arcangel

I'm really sorry that you were bullied or teased. A lot of people are just like that. It probably comes from insecurities. Or maybe just meanness
Your battle with depression is commendable and admirable. Consider yourself commended and admired
You mention you have strong opinions on what you should look like. Can you explain that?

By saying that I have "strong opinions on what I should look like" I meant that I am very hard on myself and am bothered by every little flaw I have.

Body dysmorphic disorder
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bod...9/METHOD=print