Follow-up about body image...

Thank you for this post. I'm one who ebbs and flows with how I feel about myself. On a day to day level, I think I'm pretty good lol. But, I know that I am allowing myself to be held back spiritually and religiously because of certain things I am afraid of - linked to weight. Divine loves me either way, but I need to catch up with that!

anyway, while I'm sorry that you struggled with it, it can reassuring to me to know that the change CAN be made, if given enough work.

I waffle back and forth. But I've started to really like the changes I see in the mirror, and those changes I can't deny.

Plus, I think my legs are sexy.

I hear you.  For long time after losing the weight I felt fat. Size 4 was getting big, my friends were telling me to stop loosing, and I felt huge.  My skin was hanging all over, even in places that we are not suppose to have any extra skin.  And I felt huge.  My face was all sunken, I was tired beyond beliefs all the time... and yet I felt huge.
Then one day I look in a full length mirror are realized that my knees are larger than my thighs. That my skin has no fat under... and the veins are showing, my body fat % was too low for a woman my age.  And I saw pictures of me at a party... I looked old... and gray...
That day I changed ... I started eating more, decided to gain some weight, and bought 5 full length mirrors and put them all over the house and one in my office. In places that I had to see myself when I walked by.
with a help from my friend, I went shopping for clothes.  Some that would fit me, and be sexy.   Money? you know how much clothes you can buy when you are skinny in thrift stores and salvation army stores? they have half off sales, and a lot of them have $1.00 days .  For $5 you get get 5 nice dresses, or outfits.  Yes - it takes time and patience to look through the racks, and even takes time to see a potential in a little wrinkled dress.   Then they came the shoes, and the belts, and scarves. 
A good hair cut and some make-up, and darn... suddenly I look at myself and see a really cute person.  
I gained back 15-20 lbs, now a size 8, with round butt (no longer hurts when sitting) shapely legs and good boobs.

I am "fatter" but I feel good and I know I look good.   
The full length mirrors reminds me every day that I have one body that I need to take care off. Dress nicely, and remember the makeup: "whatever works".

My body image, even though I am not not perfect - is great ... Confidence is more than any size or weight.