I have a very low self-esteem about my body. What could I do to make myself feel better?

[Anonymous]

I've been on a regular healthy diet and exercise for more than a year now to make myself more of an hourglass shape figure (inluding making yourself look thin by wearing clothes to give that illusion), but that hasn't worked at all! I dont want to resort to tablets and such as itll make my parents suspicious or something.

I've losing my self-esteem when I look at my classmates and my friends or when I look at other girls around my campus; tall, thin, sleek girls whether Im just a short stubby person...

I dont really want to talk to my parents or friends about it because they'll say that Im perfect just the way I am (I have asked about it before) and personality matters most, but I dont feel good about myself..

What could I do?

[Kiwedin]

I think everyone goes through confidence issues as they grow up. It's totally normal to feel this way, but there really isn't any way to just magically give yourself confidence. You just have to continually do things that make you feel good, and get comfortable with yourself.
1) Continue eating healthy and don't eat things that make you feel gross.
2) Continue working out.
3) Wear clothes that flatter your body and make you feel more confident.
4) Make it a rule not to judge yourself. If you catch yourself staring in the mirror and thinking negatively, stop right away, and focus on the things that you do like and think positively about them. Eventually, you'll get used to of thinking positively about yourself and it'll become a habit.
5) Spend as much time as you can without any makeup on and learning to feel and embrace your natural beauty. If you're comfortable without makeup, you'll feel even better with makeup on.
6) Take a day out of the week, maybe a Sunday, and have a beauty day. Take a nice long bath, exfoliate, do a face mask, do a hair mask, moisturize, paint your nails, shave, and whatever else you like to do. Use this day to focus on feeling good.
7) Spend as much time as you can naked. Sleep naked every night. I've been doing this for years and it gotten me so comfortable with my body. There's really no point in being shy, because everyone has a body and they're all different. Our differences should be celebrated, they aren't anything to be insecure about.
8) Find a hobby or sport that you're really good at. When you feel like you can do something really well, it makes you feel better about yourself.
9) Never compare yourself to others.

[Asker]

Thank you for your reply, I will consider it :D

[AmberSco]

I myself, use to be very insecure to the point where I wouldn't want to be seen in public and when ever I where to look in the mirror I would burst out into tears. What I did was get so sick of hating myself, to the point I couldn't take it anymore. I started working out a little to make my butt "bigger". I had the worst worst worst habit of comparing myself to others, I would look at other girls, and compliment them several times and tell them how perfect they where and how I'd die to be them. Eventually me, being so sick of hating myself, I learned to change myself to where I could happily accept myself. I had my hair dyed black, and it shoulder length and I would wear all black clothing everyday... As much as I enjoyed dressing that way, I hated myself. So I changed the way I dressed, I started wearing Victoria's Secret, Hollister, American eagle... Bright bright clothes... I got hair extensions, threw on some make up, dyed my hair back blonde. I actually started doing my hair, and I tried so hard to change myself so I could be happy with the way I look, and hey... Lucky me I liked the way I looked afterwards. I'm just giving you an idea... I mean I'm not saying to change who you are so you like yourself I'm saying be who you want to be and love yourself. I'm are you're beautiful already. If this doesn't help, I'm sorry! And if you get anymore upset, talk to your parents or someone you trust who can try to help

[Anonymous]

First off, I think "short stubby" people are great haha. Absolutely my kind of type. Especially with the hourglass shape you mentioned. The girl I'm interested in at the minute is exactly like that and she too feels self-conscious but says I've really helped her start change how she feels about herself. Maybe part of it is that you haven't found anyone yet that really likes you for exactly what you are right now - that'll come, trust me. :) when it does, you can improve each other together and it'll be so many times easier.

Just think about what you did yesterday, and how you can do it better today. If you're really self-conscious about your body type, research more into what exercises and foods could help to start changing that - maybe the exercise you do isn't quite what your body needs. I've gotten quite into fitness recently; what kind of exercise do you do if you don't mind me asking? Diet is easier to handle - just eat better, natural foods and cease with the excessively sugary stuff. It's difficult but you feel so much better day to day when you do it haha. Guessing you may already have that tackled if you've been doing it for a year, but just keep reading up on what seems to work for others and try it for yourself. Every body is different for what it precisely needs so it's a bit of trial and error until you find what works for you.

Never mind what your classmates look like. Realise what you have yourself, try and let some confidence shine through and you'll be surprised at what might come of it. Sounds like a bit of a textbook answer, but it's worked for me recently so I have a little bit of credibility I suppose haha. Don't give up. :)

[Asker]

I do a variation of sorts. Like cardio, circuit training, spinning (like cycling and rowing) yoga, lunges (side, front, and twists), submission wrestling/brazilian jujitsu and things like that.

[Opinion Owner]

Can't say a huge amount as I don't know exactly what you do, but try varying it up within those exercise areas. If you regularly do long-distance, slow/moderate cardio; vary it up and do high-intensity for short times, things like that. A little pitfall to it is repeating the same exercises each time you do them.

Also one huge thing missing is weights. Could be intimidating but a huge booster for all things weight-loss is weight training, could even just look into getting a little set of weights at home or something if you didn't want to use them at a gym or wherever you exercise.

There'll be something that works for you if it's something you really, really want to sort out. In all honesty though, I'd put more effort into becoming comfortable with yourself and then everything else will fall in line. :)

[Asker]

I think my dad has some.. I haven't seen them in years but Ill try looking for them.
Thank you for your reply, I will consider it :D

[Opinion Owner]

You're welcome. Hope you have a fantastic life. :)

[Asker]

Thank you, Ill try my best :)

[Dandeus]

1) Adjust your diet and exercise until you find the right solution, See a trainer if need be. You CAN lose weight, and do it the right way, it's just a matter of finding the right way to do it.

2) Adjust your goals about your appearance. Don't focus on the final result, that can take time. Give yourself intermittent goals (lose X amount of pounds, clothing sizes, whatever). When you start hitting those smaller goals you'll have accomplishments under your belt to help motivate you and feel proud about.

3) Don't compare yourself to other girls anymore. Work on yourself until you look like who you want to look like, don't try to copy other people. Find your own look and style instead of being cookie cutter and generic.

4) Continue to develop your personality, because that DOES matter a lot.

Developing self esteem and body image takes time, you don't just flip a switch and suddenly change your thinking. Don't overlook small results. Those small results are what add up to final result.

[Dandeus]

Also, make sure you're doing it for your own satisfaction, not to please or impress others.

[Asker]

Thank you for your reply, I will consider it :D

[Smilewide]

Well, let me tell you what I thought of this one short, stubby friend of mine. I thought she was beautiful and I actually realized that I didn't care how she looked like, because her character and personality made up for it. Just remember that even though you aren't skinny and you aren't a model (by the way, celebrities with such skinny bodies don't have the best lives),

So just remain eating healthy and exercise as a habit, and just remember that what you don't have in looks you have in personality. it's usually people that aren't exactly so good looking that often have the nicest personalities and often the best people out there. And every morning I recommend to look at yourself in the mirror and see one beautiful thin about yourself (I bet your eyes are gorgeous). Also, think about the things that make you unique and just see things in a more positive light. The more you accept yourself the happier and prettier you'll be (make up cannot make you as beautiful as a smile can)

[Asker]

Thank you for your reply, I will consider it :D
Also your reply made me tear up a bit, thank you for saying that, it means a lot to me :)

[Smilewide]

Welcome ;)

[SYCONSULTING]

stop watching the kardashians and beauty magazines, cut the cable, dont hang with bimbos who are obsessed with the kardashians and desperate housewives...

go read and bring your hearts matters back into your stomach.

[G_Stranger]

You've gotta love your body. It's the only one you get.

Just realize that everyone is different and someone is going to dig what you've got going on, even if they never tell you.

[HenryRutherfordHill]

Kill some faggots, I suppose.