Why are we ashamed for our bodies?

As much as I try not to be ashamed of my body, sometimes I am. I have droopy boobs and a big belly after having my son, I have a C-section scar, I have cellulite. I know I should be proud to have the body of a mother, because I have the most amazing child to go with it, but it's hard to fight the upbringing and cultural influences sometimes.

When I think about it, I'm amazed I didn't develop an eating disorder. I grew up with control-freak parents, one of whom is a habitual overeater, and the other who constantly talked about how fat she was. My mom is a size six and is in her late 40s. She thinks she's hideously fat, even though you can see all the bones in her wrists and hands. She overestimated my weight by two sizes - was always bringing home size 16 pants when I wore 12s. When she brought home fancy clothes, they were a size too small and she would insist that it would fit if I only lost five pounds. When I joined the military, she encouraged me to go on a starvation/laxative diet in order to get under the weight limit. Despite her concern with health and weight, we ate total junk. Fast food, Hamburger Helper, hot dogs, bologna, crap like that.

I did end up with a mild emotional eating problem, but I consider myself lucky not to have full-blown anorexia or bulimia. My sister takes diet pills because when she went vegetarian and lost weight, my mom raved about how great she looked. It was the only positive attention she'd gotten from Mom in living memory and she wants to keep it.

This turned into a saga, so I'll close by saying that thanks to this and another natural living forum I'm a part of, I'm much more accepting of my body, droopy boobs, flab and all!

 

i used to be until i lost some wait
i think everyones self esteem gets screwed by the unrealistic, manufactured "beauty" thats in the media

 

i am.
i dont know.people say i'm skinny but i dont think so,cause they didnt see me <naked> or whatever so i am kind of uncomfortable..

 

Every now and then, I used to feel hideously bloated. That's what friends are good for, though. They'd usually thwap me upside the head and say something along the lines of "You're full of crap, you 110-pound hussy!" Granted, I'm very short, so that weight number makes me sound skinnier than I am, but still...it makes me feel better, and I always feel a little silly after I realize that I could actually be morbidly obese, with health problems and stuff like that. And thanks to the heaps of praise that my boyfriend lavishes on me, I can now appreciate my full butt. Add my perky but still rounded boobs to the list, and I'm doing all right. Sure, I have flaws like everyone else, but why focus on that?

 

Not satisfied, not feeling good about it mostly. Still insisting that I'm beautiful and I should be given the right to be who I am as a whole. If something I am ashamed of not being able to break free from the immaterial expectations that I've been infused with. I hate fashion as a whole especially for the impact it has on people's ability to feel satisfied with who they are, being proud of their bodies. What ever kind of model we are given, if it's just one type. There are a few billion people with very different bodies around. I'd hope we could respect that. Starting from me.

*hugs everyone*

 

Most People Are Out Of Shape. Eat Horribly And Do Not Exercise Like They Say They Do, Or Not At All. Somewhere Around 67% Of Americans For Instance Are Overweight. That Is Why So Many People Are Ashamed Of Their Bodies.

 

hanging at nudist beach all the time so it means no, not ashamed

 

Im too skinny, I eat and eat and eat, but I just dont gain weight. As for muscle, Im reasonably strong, but my muscles arnt big. As for fitness, Im quite fit, but there is always room for improvment.


I believe that there isnt really much I can do about my skinniness, and I dont really care what people think if I go swimming or what-ever.

 

In no way am I ashamed or ever been ashamed. I was born with a birth defect of my right hand and it was hard a few times in my life growing up, I would hide it. Now I can perform anything, most things better then others. Let short-comings give you the strength and motivation to persevere. I did and now I am a recreational rock climber, participate and excel in sports and I always always always am conditioning my body to get to the next level. There is no better high then achieving what others believe you couldn't have.

 

Ok. How's this: "You people need to stop acting so pathetic. Love Yourself for who you are."

Um, women have been judged on their appearance since the beginning of time. Men have high expectations. I realize sometimes our own are higher than men's, but we're driven toward this need for perfection because society has taught us from the very beginning that if you're ugly, you will pay a price. Ugly girls are ignored. Pretty girls may get special treatment in their careers, hot, skinny girls get the best-looking men. We want to be valued. We want to be looked twice at. We're conditioned to believe that less attractive women have less value. We thrive on being desired. It may be pathetic, but it's true. Men can say some pretty shitty things about women, even in jest or simply 'guy time'. We don't ever want to be the ones getting ripped on.
I'm not sayng down with confidence. Just give us a break. It's a lot of pressure to be a woman.

 

I hate it when people tell me stuff like that. They sure as hell haven't seen me naked. One of my friends tells people she wishes she was like me and could eat whatever she wanted and not gain weight. What?! I have been gradually gaining weight since I was 13 years old. I did recently lose some, but I always gain it back. And when I go to her house and eat junk food, I certainly do gain weight. I know it should make me feel better, but it doesn't. I guess it's better than being thought fat, but geesh. God help me if I ever meet a guy who likes "curvy" girls. He will have to deal with my aspirations for a size 8 body.
Plus, it's awfully hypocritical of me that I like lean men. Got to have something to offer in return.

 

Well, I'm no longer ashamed of my body since I got into nudism, and I feel comfortable being nude around others. My opinion of course.

 

I am like others not ashamed per say but very uncomfortable I guess. I have always been told that there is something wrong.. that is life though society believes and forces crap down our throats of how we should look etc...

 

I have a dilemma with this poll, I am very comfortable with my physical body because of my athleticism. But I have so much leg hair that sometimes I wish I could just wax it off and tell people I'm a swimmer.

 

I shave all my body hair so I can swim faster.

 

I like my body. I'm slim and healthy and can eat as much as I want without looking any different. Many people hate me.

 

I Hate You!

I remember my first quarter century. Could eat what I wanted, butter, pizza, pastries, all sorts of fattening things and still look trim and fit for a guy that didn't really work out.

Now, I'm probably in good shape for a "guy my age" but I hafta run and bike and force myself to expend more energy than I want and I don't keep margarine or any fat stuff in my house.

 

I'm fat and I feel somewhat ashamed when people see me riding my bike... Mostly cuz I don't like to be noticed too much.

 

That's what the nudist movement is for: to learn whatever about your body - show it off regardless. Be natural, accepting of others, and learn that sex is not a synonym for nude.

 

Yeah, everyone in my family is that way.