Are you happy with your body?

[Sokuto]

And if so, what kind of body do you have?

I've spent my life trying to be skinny. I wasn't bothered about being healthy, I just wanted to be as thin as possible. So fad diet after fad diet, low carb, Atkins, 5:2, slimming world, caveman ... constantly feeling shit and unhappy even though I've always been within a healthy BMI - I just wasn't skinny enough.

Recently, within the past year I have grown an interest in fitness and have started taking part in fun runs (colour run, inflatable 5k, Halloween run etc). I've also gone back to martial arts and was shocked at how weak I was. I joined the gym and started building up my cardio abilities and muscle mass. At this point I realised i needed to eat properly in order to do these things. Ironically, I have now lost weight and am finally happy with my weight.

Now I strive for lean and healthy rather than thin.

AIBU to think there is far too much emphasis on "losing weight" and not enough on actually exercising? If everyone exercised appropriately, the food wouldn't be such an issue?

Slimming world is the absolute pits but they, along with NHS etc all lay emphasis on simply "losing weight". Shouldn't the emphasis be on "improving health"?

And my initial question, are you happy with your body?

Not really. My BMI is around 28. I would really like to have a smaller waist and not have a belly flap (though it has got a lot smaller.)
Having said that, I don't look in the mirror and feel gross or anything. I exercise quite a lot, am quite fit, and actually like parts of my body, like my arms and shoulders. Very happy with them.

I am mostly happy with a few bugbears that I’m not going to be able to change....

I’m 5’4’’, 50ish kg, size 6-8 (shop-dependent, but they’re the two sizes I’d start trying on clothes at), 30DD-24-34. I’ve run two marathons this year and weightlift/play a team sport.

I feel like I look good with clothes on. I’m not willowy/skinny; I’m firm and toned with rockhard thighs and a tight arse.

Naked, less so. My boobs look terrible without a bra and I’m 41 so my skin is getting papery/wrinkly. My underarms are particularly fascinating to me.

My tummy is flat and my lower half well defined though, so once I cut my fat for the summer (I’m ‘bulking’ muscle at the moment), I’ll look OK from my waist down I’m giving up the triangle bikinis though - I need underwiring these days.

Back again
More stars to all the others who are happy with how they look despite perceived 'imperfections'.
Sorry if you think I discounted you all. Not my intention atorl.

Yes, I am. Size 14 and overweight. I do a lot of running though, I'm currently marathon training, and I do strength training. It seems like a common theme on this thread that the people who do more exercise are happier - maybe because their thoughts about their body are more based on what it can do rather than what it looks like? Or maybe because their body goals are "do x better" rather than just "weigh less"? In a perfect world I would way less but it's not something I think about a lot and I feel very comfortable in my skin.

Nope.

Hahaha no. I hate it.

Doesn't help I battle with gender dysphoria a lot so that's likely a major factor, but even without that I'd probably hate myself.

I'm happy with my body. I'm 5ft 3, 8 stone, size 6-8, and lean as I run a lot. I am by no means a perfect model, have several scars and other imperfections but overall happy, content and confident with myself. I love my running and the strength and tone it gives to my body. I am not sure if the confidence comes from hitting my 40s, I'm 42 now, but honestly, I think life is too short to be unhappy with yourself. I'd wholeheartedly recommend exercise for both its mind and body benefits if you're feeling unhappy with yourself.

Yes I am. It does everything that I need it to do, and I think it looks pretty damn good too.

Im reasonably happy, although I wish I had more upper body strength, and wasnt quite so hypermobile. I also wish I didnt have such a wide pelvis as i think that along with the hypermobility is why i struggled with running long distances and with swimming.

As far as the way my body looks, I think it looks good for my age. Could be better, could be worse. My partner seems to be very attracted to me, and makes me feel good about my body, and noone seems to physically recoil from me. If I could change anything about it id probably choose to have slimmer thighs, and more tattoos.
There is physical damage from 3 children that id rather not have and that bothers me sometimes

Yay! Thank you berwickswan !

I'm not unhappy with it.

Ideally I'd be scrawny with no tits & run 4 minute miles. Oh, and I could sing on key. And tell music notes apart. And not have any aches or injuries. Or problem teeth. I could use a bit less hair b/c 90% of haircuts don't work for me. My nose is, well, meh. I wouldn't find toothpaste too spicy. So My body ain't so happy making in those ways.

There's a longer list of things I like about my body, though. Great waist, norks not large, I can run & hear & swim at all. Childhood friend can't do any those things, any more (genetic disorder). My ankles are simply glorious, the amount of abuse they take is amazing & still perform well.

I know OP wants to talk about "looking good" but screw that shit. I only care about functionality should have been a man.

Yes, basically. I'm 52. It all works. I've never been ill. I'm a size 8, never dieted, had three children, no stretchmarks. But I''m not very toned. I do very little exercise and I must be out of condition - that bothers me more and it's something I should do something about. I don't know what I weigh as we don't have any scales.

Quite happy.

Im nice looking. Good skin and nice face. I’m tall. Relatively fit. BMI 20. Relatively toned. Things I don’t like are little bit of a tummy and my arms are weak because I mainly do stuff that exercises the legs but I’m working on that at the moment.

&daisypond wow no stretch marks?

I have stretch marks from growing(!) and so does my brother so if I ever have a child I expect I will get super bad ones.

Ups and downs with my body.
Sometimes I’m really happy and other times not so much!
Normally keep quite fit and healthy, running, yoga, eat a varied and balanced diet.
When I was a teenager I was ill a lot and lost an unhealthy amount of weight, and as a result was very self conscious about my body. Later got diagnosed with ceoliac disease and since that has been under control I’m generally happy (other than my ever changing boobs with BF haha)

Nope.
About 2 stone overweight that no one seems to notice but me, have lost most of my core strength and ache at the end of each and every day; despite not really doing anything more than commute/work/commute. Skin is awful and I have more body hair than the entire english rugby union squad put together. However... it grew and nourished four fantastic children and it still gives me an awful lot of pleasure. I should be kinder about myself but if I was, nothing would change. I am making changes

Like PP have come to like and accept my body . I agree with OP exercising and eating healthily is more helpful than just trying to lose weight. My turning point was finally getting a positive body image or perception by following fantastic role models of all ages: Judy Dench, Dawn French, Stacey Solomon especially . Finding what works for you I have discovered ice skating disco nights change fat into lean muscle plus a skipping rope does wonders!

No, and I fear I'll never be completely happy. I'm petite with big boobs and get lots of compliments on my body but I do watch what I eat and worry if I put on a few pounds. For health reasons I've been unable to do as much exercise as usual in recent months and it upsets me that I'm not as trim as I could be.

Yes. 2 years ago I could barely move from inflammatory arthritis and now it's controlled I've been going to the gym and building up muscle mass I lost. I'm genuinely really happy with my body for the first time ever. I've always been slim but now more toned than I ever was

Yes, but I'd like straighter/whiter teeth.

I know teeth aren't really body parts but still

No, but that's because it's broken beyond repair, not because of the way it looks.

Not really. I’ve gone from a 14 to 18 over the past 4 years. Long story. Trying to tackle it now through sensible eating and a bit of walking. If I can get back to a 14/16 I’d be cock a hoop.

I am slim but a bit squishy. Am happy with my figure. I am naturally on the thin side though so don't think I do enough exercise and don't feel terribly healthy. Also, just being slim doesn't necessarily make you feel attractive. I have crap hair, a big nose and wonky teeth so although I'm happy with my body it doesn't mean I'm happy with my appearance.

Not unhappy but could easily write of wish list of things to change if I could.
At the moment my mind is healthy which is more important to me than having the right body.

I should probably treat it better but it does me well considering. I’m in good health.

I have a list of things that I’d change given a magic wand but I also know that I am a much harsher critic than anyone else - no one else cares enough about how broad my shoulders are or my verruca