[Amandaxx3]

I'm very glad I found this site. I'm Amanda and I'm 22. Basically, since I was a young teen my weight has fluctuated dramatically. To be honest, I didn't care about myself nor did I take care of my body. I actually use to be a little over 400 pounds...

I'm around 200 pounds now. I eat well and exercise daily. I'm so much healthier and I'm quite proud of myself except well... even though I've had a dramatic weight loss, my body is far from looking nice.

My body has had a lot of stretch marks since puberty and has gotten even worse with my weight problems. I just found a new set of stretch marks a couple of weeks ago and was completely devastated. I also have a lot of lose/saggy skin. My stretch marks are ALL OVER my stomach, boobs, thighs, lower back, and my butt. My lose skin is mostly on my belly and inner thighs.

The main reason I'm so upset with my body is because I feel like I will never find a guy who will accept my body. I have not even experienced sex yet and would be way too embarrassed to let a man see any part of my body. I will never be secure with my body. My stretch mark scarring will fade, but never go away. My body is scarred for life. My lose skin can probably only be corrected with surgery which I will never be able to afford.

I mean let's be real, what guy would want to be intimate with a body like mine? I'm disgusted when I look in the mirror everyday. Sure most guys don't mind a few stretch marks or a little bit of saggy skin but my body is literally covered in them and my saggy skin is ridiculous. I do not have the body a young woman my age should have. My self esteem is very low because of this. I'm only 22 and my body looks like I'm 70 (hope that doesn't come across as offensive.)

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do? I'm pretty much lost at this point. I've thought about seeking professional help but I don't think it will do me much good. Has anyone gone through something like this?

[Eva_Star]

Sweetheart, you should be so proud of yourself. You have lost around 200 lbs!!! Do you have any idea what an amazing accomplishment that is?! I know that its hard to look past our imperfections to see the beauty within ourselves....but I assure you, the beauty is there. You will meet someone, someday who will love you...scars and all. We all have scars, hon. Some are just more visible than others. True love doesn't keep track of our partners flaws...it celebrates them.

Keep taking care of yourself. Love yourself,faults and all. There is NOTHING sexier than a confident person who cares for themselves. You have done something so amazing. Congratulate yourself, embrace yourself and love YOU until the right person comes at the right time who will join you in that love.

PS...therapy can help. Give it a try. Maybe someone kind of like a life coach would help the most. Good luck!

[boutingTurtle]

exactly what eva said.

i tipped the scale at just over 300lbs and i've had 2 kids. with gastric sleeve surgery 3 years ago i'm now a healthy and active 170lbs.

i've got stretch marks, a tire of skin around my stomach and arms that wave at you twice...but ya know what? i'm learning to LOVE my body BECAUSE of my imperfections.

i still have body image issues and when i look in the mirror most of the time i still see the 300lb girl looking back at me...but i have to tell myself that i'm being my own worst critic and that i look so much better than i give myself credit for.

i started playing roller derby at 260lbs and many of my derby sisters have seen my transformation. i was shy, timid and scared of everything.

just having the confidence i do now - guys have taken notice of me. impefections and all.

there ARE men out there that will love your body...and they won't just love your body because it's a body. they'll love it because it's YOUR body.

trust me....if you OWN your body for all it's imperfections a man will find that MUCH sexier than you pointing out all your flaws.

there was a fantastic article on fb a while back about WHY men love the imperfections...wish i could find it again and share...it was eye opening.

men don't care about imperfections. they don't care that you're not a supermodel. they're not holding you to the standards you hold for yourself. they're just happy there's a woman there with them, that appreciates THEM as much as they appreciate YOU. and THAT is what matters.

be PROUD of your body, just as much as you are proud of the journey your body has taken to get you to this point in your life. you deserve it.