Petite? Small? Average? Big?

Many of us have body dysmorphia.  That is, we cannot view ourselves realistically.  What we see in ourselves differs from what others see when they look at us.   

Well damnit MsLee's 'regain' post got me thinking.  I don't like to think too hard about some things and this body image issue is among them.  Its hurting my brain. 

With that said, I wonder how others view themselves.  I have a few questions:
-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general?

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you? 

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it? 

I'd like to get out of my own head and get a glimpse of how other people think.  Thanks BAF. 

A year ago, I would have cried after reading these questions and would have never answered them.  I thank God for a different mindset. 


When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?
I see a beautiful person inside, but not satisfied at all with what I see on  the outside that is why I am doing something about it.

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general? I feel I am HUGE! Not pleased at all. But again, I am doing something about it which is a good thing and I feel good about it.

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you?  My husband knows I am overweight, but always tells me I am beautiful. When I tell others how much I weigh, they cannot believe it because I am told I carry my weight well.  I carry this ****t all day and I DO NOT carry it well.  I get tired as hell carrying all this weight around.

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it?  Mostly pleased with my mindset right now because I know the problem and willing to do something about it.  The main thing that displeases me is my stomach.  It is hella large and I will get this off me.

-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?
I see a smaller me beautiful but very overweight still.

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general? I feel my size has improved but I am not pleased in the slightest.

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you?  Others feel I look fine because they were use to seeing me at all most 400lbs for many years. So no my views do not match others.

-  What are you most pleased with? I am most please with not always being the fat-est person every where I go.

What displeases you and how would you change it?  I am most displeased with I let old habits creep back in.  I will change it by using portion control as while as good old fashion will power which I know I have.

 In the mirror - I see a growing balloon - I'm getting rounder by the day. I am not satisfied at all - not the least lil bitty bit. 

I hate my size right now - I am really starting to think something else could be wrong - either that or I am so far in denial, I need to research real estate and just buy a house there, rent is killing me. 

I think others are trying to spare my feelings - I'd respect someone with the nuts enough to say 'dawg - you and the cheeseburgers need a divorce'

I am most pleased with my level of athleticism at this point.  The running and the weight lifting are really my 'zen zone' and it's how I keep from being totally insane.  I need to drop 30lbs to get back to a point where I'm not ready to jump from a cliff.  If I could get back to 185 - I'd be a happy camper! 

Vewwwy interesting. I still consider myself a thick girl. I wear mostly 10s, some 12s which is not skinny by any means....but errybody calls me skinny. When I look in the mirror I see one thing but when I look at pics its amazing. I kept lookin at this pic from a few weeks ago


(sorry its so big I didn't feel like takin it to Photobucket and resizing...lazy lol)

-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?
         When I look in the mirror I see a *smaller* me, but not as small as I really am??

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general?
        I feel good about my exact size. I would like to tone up a lot but not get smaller than a size 10

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you? 
        I still feel a lil uncomfy when I see people that I haven't seen since I lost weight. I sometimes forget I was ever sooo much bigger than I am now. When my close friends give me compliments I take it a lot better

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it? 
           I'm most pleased with my overall proportional shape. I'm quite even on all fronts and I think it gives me a "normal" look. I'm most displeased with myself lately how I can never stay on teh exercise wagon for long. Now that I'm not in a dash to lose it my motivation is flighty at best. I really want some nice muscles

Overall, I'm satisfied.  I'm average size.  I've been post op so long that my size doesn't really come up in conversation anymore.  This is "normal" for me now. 

The only thing that I really dislike are the leftover rolls of skin on my sides and back.  I don't hate them bad enough to have another surgery though.  I've had enough of hospitals.

I don't want to answer these questions but I can't ask others to do what I am un willing to. 

-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?
I see an average person.  I'm not satisfied with my belly and thighs.  They look fat and sloppy but clothes hide them.   

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general?
I am not where I need to be.  I have a spare tire around the middle and disproportionately fatty inner thighs.  Both look their worst when I'm sitting down.  Since my weight fluctuates repeatedly some days are ok and others are awful.  I need to get about 10 lbs under goal to look ok despite my weight flictuations. 

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you? 
I think most people see an average person but many have skewed perspectives.  So many people are over weight today that less overweight is normal.  The other extreme compares everyone to models and celebrety's so normal is fat.  Others won't see what I see because they only see me fully dressed.  I evaluate myself in clothes that let everything hang out.  Its like apples and oranges. 

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it? 
I'm nearly as close as I've ever been to my prefered weight and size but I'm still not where I need to be.  I have hypertension; repeated cycles of weight gain; I'm fighting a gain cycle and still not 10 lbs below goal.  I don't know how to change other than to keep researching why I gain weight and keep working to loose.

Hey MSW! 

-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?

I honestly see beauty inside and out, but some days I swear I look bigger than other days. Thank God the big girl days are few and far between...LOL

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general?

I feel good about my size in general but would feel more comfortable 20 lbs lighter....then I would have more room to fluctuate without flipping out if the scale goes up a pound or two.

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you? 

Yes....I'm blessed with family and friends who are both very supportive AND brutally honest.  They don't see the big girl days though.

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it? 

I'm happy that I didn't loose my butt and hips.  The thing I'm most displeased about are my arms....those darn batwings!!!!
I seriously doubt I'll do anything about it surgically.  I'll just keep trying exercise.

-  When you look in the mirror what do you see?  Are you satisfied?
I see a skinny woman. I don't think I will ever be satisfied. I will always find something to ***** about.

-  How do you feel about your size?  Are you pleased with the way you look in general?
For the most part, I'm pleased. Almost two years post-op, the weight is beginning to redistribute. I swear my boobage is filling up (just a little) and I'm getting a curve back in my hips. 

-  Do your views agree to what others say about you?  
No. 

-  What are you most pleased with?  What displeases you and how would you change it? 
I'm pleased with my arms and back. I'm displeased about my freaking out about the  bounce back weight that could come and slap me in the face. I am ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED that I will wake up one day with a 20lb gain.