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Body Image (Archive)
Monday, June 23, 2003
posted by TheBroadroom.Net at
4:56 PM (Pacific)
When I was around 13 years old, a ballet teacher told me I had a beer belly. I was already very self-conscious about my stomach fat. I grew to loathe it. My self-esteem was shot.
Nowadays, even though I workout a lot and eat well, the stomach fat clings on. It just happens to be where my body likes to store fat. I'm trying to accept it. After all, the rest of me looks just fine. At the same time, I've noticed that the clothes I buy do a darn good job of hiding the dreaded stomach fat. That's good, right? I mean, everyone should wear flattering clothes, right? Right. But what about bathing suits? And workout clothes? You can use colour to make you look slimmer from the front but not much will change that little bulge you can see from the side. Bikinis rather scare me... When I wear a bathing suit or workout clothes, I walk around with my arms over my stomach to hide the fat. I'll do that sitting down too. I'm just so uncomfortable with that stomach of mine.
Yesterday, I went shopping with my boyfrfiend. While he was trying on some clothes, I looked at the other customers. A lady walked in with her husband. She was what I would call very curvy. She had way more stomach fat than I did. Not to mention in the butt, hips, thighs, arms, bust... I saw her try on a dress. It was a spaghetti strapped, clingy but not tight long dress. It clung to all her curves. And she looked great. She looked like she liked her body just the way it was. That inspired me. She didn't let magazines, ads, movies, and stupid ballet teachers get her down. She was gorgeous as she was and she knew it.
I went on to buy a clingy dress myself. And a bathing suit that I actually thought I looked great in (which is a miracle in itself given the lighting in those stores). In fact, I got myself a bikini and when I go to the water park tomorrow, I promise not to hide my tummy with my arms...
Raphaelle
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