June Challenge: Body Image

[gitfiddle]

I am always searching for a realistic picture of what my body looks like. I can’t go by how I feel. I’m either feeling slim and athletic or as wide as a barn. I hung a mirror in my bathroom, which helps. Looking back at photos of myself after a big weight loss many years ago is surreal. I don’t remember feeling normal-looking, yet I was. I do remember, however, of feeling alien to my self, sort of like homesick for the old me. I was surprised to find that other people are like this too, and have even studied it.

This link discusses why we might have trouble seeing ourselves in real size. BTW, I've been cautioned if you actually join the realage site, it's got lots of spam...

Do you see yourself as fat or frumpy? Blame it on your brain. Here's why: Your brain routinely maps your body using visual cues and signals from your skin, joints, and muscles. But snags in this system can distort the image and make you mentally overestimate or underestimate your actual body size.

http://www.realage.com/News_Features/tipPrint.aspx?cid=16690 (http://www.realage.com/News_Features/tipPrint.aspx?cid=16690)

This link shares ways of learning body awareness.

What do you look like? How big (or small) are you? How tall (or short)? How much do you weigh? To feel comfortable feeding the smaller person you’ve become, be honest about your weight, silhouette, image, and self. You might be having a hard time giving up the big person image with which you are so comfortable. It is, after all, familiar, possibly since childhood. Unhappiness about weight is a public manifestation about unhappiness about self. Real or imagined. Recent or ancient.
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/ce...ody/index.html (http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/diabetes/body/index.html)

[Missy]

Maybe if we exchanged our home mirrors for fun house mirrors we could finally feel statisfied! :eek: ...naaa...I doubt it! :rolleyes:

I have those "old" photos too Carol...and now I'd give my EYE TEETH to look that way and BE SATISFIED with myself...but as I clearly RECALL back then I felt "FAT" "LARGE" "BIG"...and the truth is, I wasn't....not for being 5'9" since sixth grade. I was the "tallest" girl in my class in school..and therefore I took it to mean "biggest"..and I shouldn't have.

I don't remember buying "normal" sizes of clothing, I don't remember buying clothes in a "regular" non plus size store either...well, hardly. I NEVER recall choosing a size in the "middle" of the sizes available either. What a shame. I guess, I just BECAME what I felt. :rolleyes: Now I want something different.

[Billie]

Fancy seeing something on body image, it was like the something to think about prompted you Ms. Carol :D Too cute!

You know I took the realage test before, in fact I think we posted a link to it on the old board. It maybe some phooey but it really does get you thinking about emotional age, safety age etc., which all has to do with how we consider ourselves, how we see ourselves.

Thanks for this link and for challenging thoughts on body image
B

[gitfiddle]

Billie, I haven't explored the realage site at all. The mention of spam being generated was a deterrent for me. Plus, instead of making a perfect presentation (and never getting it done) I went casual and threw it together quickly. Lynn was right--June is half over! If it's that interesting, I may risk it. My home computer is a Mac. I wonder if that would make a difference.

If I run into any other material on the subject I will post it, although I'm sure others will contribute as well.

[Missy]

She buckled to my pressure...:evil: