I agreee with emotional. Womanly curves are indeed sexy:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59...ek/Nigell4.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59...k/Nigella3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59...k/Nigella2.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59...k/Nigella1.jpg

I wish I could feel beautiful, I struggle just to be satisfied with feeling that my body is strong and physically competant. I can hike, bike, carry loads, I'm very limber.

I figured that I should add a couple of beautiful women here...

http://www.art-antiques.ch/special%2...20(Medium).jpg

http://www.julieharrisphotography.co...mens_shirt.jpg

http://aminata.exto.org/gallery/dbim...92-o-43965.jpg

http://www.weinstein.com/otherc/MM0013.jpg

I needed this today. Woke up saddened by the extra 5 gained at my 6-day Thanksgiving vaction with my family... who is convinced I'm hiding an eating disorder. No matter how hard I tried to convince the women that I love food waaaay too much to avoid it or puke it up, it was the men that surprised me. They told "their women" to shut up because I'd worked really hard to get healthier, I looked like "a million bucks", and I'm "reaping the benefits of all of the hard work".

So I went out and bought a damn sexy bra and panty set. :) I feel better now.

Way to go fredweena!

I'm happy with myself too. Over the last month or so I've lost five pounds. I know it's not much, but I feel better already. :)

There are lots of times I don't feel beautiful. Especially lately. I put on quite a few pounds stressing about my wedding. Well, now that's it's over with, I'm not gaining any more weight but I feel unattractive every time I look in the mirror.

I used to look in the mirror and think how pretty I was no matter what other people saw. My husband loves me and constantly tells me so, extra pounds and all. Reading this thread made me feel better. While I am far from where I'd like to be, I know I am still beautiful no matter what.

It's hard to change thoughts about myself when they've been there so long....and I feel that unless a miracle happens, and I turn into the muscular girl in the right photo of lurkette's post, I will never feel that I am pretty. I'm not ugly, I don't think, just plain (and currently overweight, although I have high hopes about working to change that). Also, all mothers out there, be careful what you tell your daughters over and over as they are growing up. Sometimes it sticks in their minds and won't ever leave, no matter what, or how many, people say differently.

I am jealous of all of those ladies who are strong enough minded to be able to prove to themselves that they are beautiful.

If only I had bigger boobs, I'd be happy...
If only I could get rid of the bags under my eyes...
If only I didn't have cellulite on my thighs...
If only my thighs were thinner...
If only everyone who saw me wanted me...
then I could love myself.

^^ Me too.

*hugs*
I think you're beautiful. I wish that helped. When I see a picture of you smiling, I can't help but smile myself.

I feel like utter crap myself - I'm broken out like crazy but I can't stop picking, every single pair of pants are tight on me, I am weak and too many body parts hurt, and I feel ridiculously unattractive. I hope I can go to the gym next week and start to become stronger, but I know that in this I am weak as well.

May our new years bring us new hope and determination to be healthier.

*hugs back*

This makes me feel better. You're utterly gorgeous, and if you feel bleh too then maybe the stuff in my head is just stupid and maybe I'm not as bleh as I think.

Have a good holiday!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59...eepinglady.jpg http://www.acclaimimages.com/_galler...20-5343_SM.jpg
http://shilohpostcards.com/p10437.jpg

[hugs lurkette]

Anybody who knows you knows that you are worthy of being loved.

Gilda

/me gets up and holds up a full length reality mirror to lurkette and Just Jess -

you ladies are both beautiful, both inside where it's most important with your warm hearts and your compassion for your fellow human beings (and little beasties too), your intelligence, and your sense of humor, and the outside where you are both gorgeous... There are so m any women who would kill to look like either of you... lurkette pulls of cute in a very sexy way -- not many women can do that and Jess, well... you're just beautiful..

Put away those imaginary flaw filled mirrors away and use the eyes of the rest of the world to see how you look...

If ONLY's seem to be invented by those silly magazines that are supposed to help... they don't. If ONLY's ONLY MAKE US FEEL BAD...

YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH EXACTLY AS YOU ARE...

Amen!! im so sick to death of the images on tv and in magazines these days, ive never been a small person and through out my life i have been taunted about my size... i remember at school there were a few people that called me thunder thighs. I now have a beautiful partner who loves me for the way i am and we have a beautiful little boy together...... he makes sure that i know how beautiful i am daily.

It makes me sick when you hear reports of children as young as 5 getting eating disorders to look "right"

oh sweetie :icare: ((( BIG HUGS )))


Most mornings when i wake up, i feel very ugly, at 5'5" and 130lbs sometimes i am even convinced i am fat ... but then i remind myself that i'm my own unique beauty and there are people who think i'm sexy, so i have to trust their judgement... the things is, sometimes i feel like the most beautiful woman... so i know it's all in my head.

You are stunning, i would give anything to be so petite and yes, my dear, i am attracted to you, i have looked at your "lurkette sez happy halloween' thread more times than i can count :love: , so trust me when i say, it's all in your head...

I think i felt better when i recently watched the Victoria's Secret fashion show last month... and one of the amazingly perfect models said she was insecure about her body! :eek: And if someone that perfect could be insecure... it was a wake up call to me that sometimes, every single woman on this Earth is insecure...

I hope you're feeling a little better :icare:

to JustJess: :icare: kisses and hugs for you too sweetie ((( hugs )) all that i've said above also applys to you.

sweetpea

Apologies for my grinchiness :) I woke up on the wrong side of the bed (hell, wrong side of the PLANET) with raging hormones and a streak of self-loathing a mile wide. Thank you everyone for the positive vibes, and happy holidays to all you BEAUTIFUL women.

/whine
(((hugs)))

There are no apologies needed :icare:

We all feel like that sometimes and the best way to get over it is to complain a little to a sympathetic audience :)

sweetpea