How do you feel about your body?

My body is not perfect, but it is mine, and it does the things I want it to do (most of the time). I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin. I'm a little overweight right now, but generally my height and my frame mean that I carry weight well; I have a classic hourglass figure, which helps considerably. I eat reasonably well, I exercise moderately as I'm without an inhaler at the moment, and I take pretty good care of myself. I'm at a point where the only thing that really bothers me about my body is when other people try to project their ideas of what my body should be like on to it.

What do you like or love about your body? Is there anything you dislike? Anything you're working towards?

 

That's part of it for me--the parts I would fix are not really related to my appearance. They're more about the mechanics of my body than anything else. I'd like it if my back would behave, and if my knees would stop creaking. I'm working on those parts. It's hard because I can't be more physically active than just lifting weights, walking, and doing yoga due to exercise-induced asthma and no inhaler. And if another person tells me that I can't breathe simply because I'm out of shape, I'm going to beat the crap out of them. There is a difference between being out of shape and having an asthma attack. The winded feeling from being out of shape dissipates quickly. Exercise-induced asthma sneaks up on you; you'll be breathing fine, maybe even done with what you were doing, and suddenly it feels like you can't catch a breath because some invisible force is squeezing your lungs and throat shut.

I've had to explain this to both my own father and my MIL multiple times. Funny, I seem to be able to tell my dad that talking about my body is not an acceptable topic of conversation, but I have yet to be able to really do so with my MIL. Last time she was up for a visit she asked if I'd had my thyroid checked. I asked why; my energy levels are fine and I have no signs of hypothyroidism. Because I'd put on weight, she said. Well, yeah, I just got done with two years of graduate school after being a preschool teacher; it was a huge lifestyle switch, and the weight gain wasn't overnight. I've actually lost 30 lbs. in the last year. I said I was fine with my weight being what it was, that I'd actually lost weight but didn't want to lose too much, and my husband butted in then to agree with me, as being too thin makes me become hangry all the time, and he hates it. Instead, I'm focused on becoming more fit, doing what I can to improve my body mechanics, and enjoying healthy food instead of having a love/hate relationship with it like my MIL seems to have.

 

This helps, I'm sure.

Maybe that's the tack I ought to take. "I don't care what you think, so why are we still having this conversation?" But saying that to my MIL sounds harsh.

 

Love/Hate Dislike

Meaning...I like what I have...and what I can do with it.
At the same time, I'm don't like what it does or doesn't do well at times.
And I don't believe I'm in the shape/fitness I could be.

Age has something to do with one, wear & tear...injuries, genetics, working over the years and other life impact.
Lack of exercise and sport...I'm sloooowly getting myself back in gear...after several years of crisis management for my Ex.
(you see what you look like after supporting 24/7...a 3 autoimmune disease, drug addict, bitch from hell, narcissist, shop-a-holic no exaggeration BTW )

And it also likely has to do with my higher expectations of myself from the past.
I used to "live" the Martial Arts life once, dedicated and focused...and I worked out with the pros at Gold's Gym in San Diego (including pro atheletes)
Did Triathlons (halfs), Basketball, Football, Track & Field, etc...
So I "got up there" back then.
I also modeled...at Elite/John Casablancas ...not big time, but I'm "trained"...this also affects my expectations.

So I know what I can do...and what I did...so I'd like to get up there again...within reason.
Now, I'm 46, with heart conditions in my family, current & past lung issues, periodic heavy allergies, injuries on my arm, hip and ankles
So I'm aware of my limitations and how much I can press them.

I'm trying to be realistic...and understand it doesn't happen overnight.
Stresses of my current career and obligations, eating habits and exercise patterns also are a battle.

Do I believe I can get back to "then"? Not at all...but the image is still there.
Basically, I'd just like to get healthier, back in shape
...and avoid the whole heart attack thing that got my dad, his dad...and his dad. (2, 6 and 4 times respectively)
I don't need to be big like I was...I just would like to be in shape...smaller. Heart has to work against mass, everything counts.
And being a larger man has its disadvantages...on your joints. (especially as you age)
I do not want to be like my 6.4 big framed uncle who has back, hip, knee and other joint issues. Gravity works...always. (large dogs have this issue too)

So...how do you get there again?
I like me
But I could be better.

 

quite a few of us want as much as we can hold...and then some...
more than a handful is still lots of fun and won't go to waste.

 

I tend to think of my body in terms of physical ability more than looks. I like the feeling of running and moving and jumping and dancing. I like that my body allows me to do all of these things at least some of the time. I like the appearance of my form, and do not have trouble looking in the mirror or at pictures of myself. My mother always hated to be in photographs, so we have very few of her. She has always been insecure about her body, and even during the years when she was perfectly proportioned, she always felt fat. I am glad that she raised me in such a way that I don't deal with the same struggles.

I am not fond of the limitations that my body places on my life. My health is a near-constant struggle and I do not like placing limits on my activities for the interest of my health. If there were one thing I could change about my body, it would be this.

 

My mother has a dislike of parts of her body but she always made it clear that those were her issues, not mine. I grew up in a pretty body positive environment.