How can I learn to accept my body and be comfortable?

[Anonymous]

So I actually exercise a lot try and eat healthy and not because of trying to lose weight but trying to gain weight through muscle. I've always been skinny even when I never exercised and sat around eating cheetoes and ice cream as a teenager. But in the last few years I've started exercising more and eating healthier for my own benefit. I think I do have a good figure and am toned but one thing that always freaks me out is my forearms. They are pathetically small like smaller than average boned girl (not just large women). When I say small I don't mean I can wrap my thumb and index finger around them I mean I can wrap my pinky and thumb around and still have some leftover room... I know everyone has imperfections but my small boned-ness (?) makes me feel so damn fragile and weak and insecure because of it. Hell this time last year I could maybe do like 4 chin ups and now I can do like 17(I know to you body builders that's nothing but I'm a little proud of that) but I still feel super weak and fragile and whenever I'm in public it feels like this even when I'm around unfit guys. I'm not trying to be macho to impress women I'm just trying to feel like I'm strong for my own comfort but even though I've improved my strenght a lot I still feel like I'd snap like a twig. I don't have the short chubby guy issues that you usually hear I have the tall and lanky issues.

[detlef]

Man, over time, with weight training, you will develop some mass in those forearms. Concentrate on that area. Work with a trainer if you need to. Forearms are hard to build--it's impossible to look like Popeye :) --but it's totally possible for you to get nice sized forearms, especially in the upper forearm, where the mass can complement your biceps nicely.

I think the secret here is just to recognize that everyone has aspects of their physical appearance they don't particularly like. EVERYONE. So you're one in six billion. Just don't be concerned about it. You're getting fit and at least moderately buff; that's the important thing. Good luck.