# Are you comfortable in your own body? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278 "2009-03-04T15:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/1 "2009-03-04T15:51:22Z")
When you look in the mirror, do you wince at what you see? Are you okay with what you look like? Or acually think you’re gorgeous? With me, it varies. Right now, I’m going through a bad time. My medication is causing me to rapidly gain weight. I have ugly skin graft scars from where I was bitten by a lion. The graft donor site is even uglier, and frickin’ huge. Not to mention the stress-zits camping out on my forehead. All in all, I feel disgusting. Normally, though, I’m okay with myself. Sometimes I even think I look beautiful. This too will pass, and hopefully, I’ll be better by summer. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/2 "2009-03-04T16:23:54Z")
Oh good god no. OTOH, it keeps me going to the gym the way it is, trying to get it the way I would like it. Not working, but still trying. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/3 "2009-03-04T16:48:32Z")
I fucking love my body. I get blemishes and messy hair, put on unflattering outfits, but I appreciate my potential and know this is likely the best I’ll ever look (even if I am constantly surrounded by effortlessly stunning women of every shape and ethnicity). Then again, I have no lion bites:eek: I cannot imagine what a nightmare it must be to truly hate the way you look. Not just ‘I should go to the gym more’ or ‘I wish my nose was smaller,’ but to cry when you look in the mirror, to starve yourself down, to make regular appointments for cosmetic surgery. What a nightmare. Thank goodness for my parents (not just for their genes, but for rarely giving a damn about physical appearances). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/4 "2009-03-04T16:49:55Z")
I like mine, but I’m a guy so we tend to have less self-image problems. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/5 "2009-03-04T16:56:03Z")
Usually I like the way I look. Most of my coworkers are older and overweight, which kind of creates a positive contrast for me 🆒 but there can be times that I don’t feel so great. The best way I can describe it negatively is that sometimes I feel like a picture that is a little crooked. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/6 "2009-03-04T17:20:49Z")
At least the scar (probably) has a terrific story behind it. I mean, who gets bitten by a lion?! To answer the OP: sometimes. I’m heavier than I’d like to be right now, and it pisses me off because I know I can get to where I want to be with some effort. But it’s getting better, because I’m getting back to working out\*, which makes me feel better mentally as well as physically, even if the results aren’t visible yet. I also hate my skin. I’m 28 and still break out, and it’s a constant struggle to figure out what will work to help it. Generally, I’m OK with how I look, and usually think I’m pretty cute. When I get down on myself about my looks, I get REALLY down, though. \*due to a knee injury I can’t run right now, but couldn’t afford to join a gym again until recently, so getting in cardio has been an issue Generally, I think I’m pretty cute, though. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Beginning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@New\_Beginning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Beginning)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/7 "2009-03-04T17:23:39Z")
My self-image greatly depends on my mood. It’s quite remarkable to me, even in real-time. When I’m on top of the world, I love the way I look; I think I’m hot shit. When I’m down, I can hardly bear looking at myself in the mirror. Even if I’m aware that it’s because of my mood, I can’t escape having these judgments. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/8 "2009-03-04T17:24:12Z")
It depends - sometimes I’m very comfortable in my body, especially when I’m working out regularly and eating well. Right now, we’ve been having sleep issues with our son which have required us to spend the only free time we have at night trying to keep him in bed (and, yes, we’ve tried crying it out, we’ve tried comfort objects, etc. - now I think we need to try a pediatric sleep specialist; all of us are absolutely miserable). Anyway, as a result, I haven’t been able to work out for over a week. (The issues have been going on for about three weeks.) That’s definitely taking a toll on my self image and energy levels. Intellectually, I know I’m losing weight and don’t look awful, but I feel terrible. ---
**Author:** ![dactylic\_hexameter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/9 "2009-03-04T17:33:59Z")
I’m probably _too_ comfortable. I’m ~40 lbs overweight right now. Maybe if I felt worse about it, I would eat less, or go running more. Then again, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Teaira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9d8465/32.png) [@Teaira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teaira)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/10 "2009-03-04T17:36:16Z")
Another person who says it depends on my mood. When I’m down I notice little flaws and get overly upset about them. When I feel better I can ignore them. ---
**Author:** ![Alastair\_Moonsong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@Alastair\_Moonsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alastair_Moonsong)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/11 "2009-03-04T17:43:40Z")
Meh, sort of. I’m tall and lean and generally have very smooth skin, which is nice, and I have nice eyes and thick, soft hair that I am quite proud of. On the other hand, I have a bit of a belly bulge from not working out (even at 6’ and 150 lbs), and stretch marks from rapid weight gain caused by a relapse of nephrotic syndrome. I have issues with my face, too, because I never EVER seem to be able to get my skin clear of both acne/irritation/razor burn/nicks, and facial hair, at the same time. If I could just get my face to look decent, I’d be happy. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/12 "2009-03-04T17:45:19Z")
My body’s pretty horrible. Not only do I have huge feet & hands for a woman, bad skin and fairly stupid hair (none of that I can really fix), I’m also overweight (my fault) and my hormones are pretty shitty. So it’s not even worth being upset over anymore. I don’t worry how I LOOK but I do worry about my health so I focus on that. If my blood pressure and cholesterol are good and I still have bad skin and am overweight it’s no big deal. Plus, keeping those things in check keeps my weight in check so it all balances out. I’ve also been really fat my entire life, so I don’t have the problem of wistfully looking at old photos and remembering how skinny or pretty I used to be. I think that really trips up a lot of people who go through weight swings. Doesn’t apply here. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/13 "2009-03-04T18:01:05Z")
Generally. I don’t think I’m gorgeous or anything, but I don’t have problems with my body. There are things I wish I could change, of course. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/14 "2009-03-04T18:13:54Z")
The older I get, the better looking I get. I have gone from a scrawny teen to a lean and fit man in my 40’s. I have all of my hair and very little gray. Compared to others in my age group, I hold my own very well. I didn’t dwell on it much but I didn’t like being so skinny when I was a kid. I’m really happy to have my metabolism now though. Most of those buff kids in high school have become pot bellied slobs now. I’ve been doing strenuous yoga (Bikram) for the last few years which has given me a nice tone as well as helping to drop my cholesterol by almost 50 points. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/15 "2009-03-04T18:17:21Z")
Right now I am. I love my body. It’s in no way perfect- my hair is frizzy, my boobs less than awesome and my skin could be clearer and more luminous- but I’ve worked very hard to be 75 pound lighter so I don’t really care about a few flaws. I look good, I feel great, and I’m a well maintained machine, purring like a kitten. Except sometimes my back hurts. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/16 "2009-03-04T18:23:46Z")
I’m more comfortable when I’m in my wife’s body. But I digress. As for me, I’m perfectly happy with the way I look. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/17 "2009-03-04T18:26:39Z")
I wouldn’t say I’m “comfortable” with it. I’m (depending on what source I’m using) 50-100 pounds overweight, and the excess bulk I’m carting around gives me some problems; my knees bitch at me when I stand, particularly if I’ve been sitting for a while, I wear slip-on shoes because it’s difficult for me to bend down and tie them, and I run short of breath if I have to walk up stairs. But my blood pressure and cholesterol are good, to the amazement of my doctor. I am working on the weight; after I get offline I’m going to spend ten minutes on my exercycle and have a salad for lunch. As for the rest of my appearance, I tend to be extremely casual in my dress because I don’t need to impress anyone at the moment. The gray in my beard doesn’t bother me, and people don’t run away screaming when they see me, so I figure my face can’t be too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/18 "2009-03-04T18:30:01Z")
No. That’s all I’m going to say about that. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/19 "2009-03-04T18:45:39Z")
Not really. I’m plumper than I should be --though I’m working on that, a bit. I like the way my hair looks better when I spend more time fussing with it, but hate fussing with my hair. And then there’s the self-disgust that I’m this old, this lonely, this unemployed . . . ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278/20 "2009-03-04T19:07:15Z")
I’m pretty comfortable. I’m over 40 and my pantsize (31/30) is almost what it was in my 20’s (30/30); I exercise regularly; I have my hair. I’d happily walk aroud naked if it was more socially acceptable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-comfortable-in-your-own-body/488278.md?page=2)