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Original poster

To wish I’d spent more time running around in my bikini

62 replies

Whathappenedhuh · 18/04/2023 20:50

My parents have come to stay and brought a huge box of old photos, many I’d not seen. Pics of me in my early-mid twenties…I never considered myself a looker, I was ok and had boys after me, but wasn’t one of the *Pretty ones. I was looking at these photos and couldn’t believe what I looked like, the fresh skin and eyes, the hair and mainly the boobs and figure…why didn’t I realise I looked like that? Why didn’t I make the most of it, why did I lack confidence and think I needed to lose weight/look better.
I’m 45 now, puffy under eyes, v different figure, a few greys creeping in.
It really shocked me…just all of us, all young people just generally look amazing don’t they?
I wish I’d been prouder of who I was

OP posts:
tobee · 18/04/2023 20:56

Same here. But I'm 10 years older.

Youth is wasted on the young. Or some such.

Starhead69 · 18/04/2023 21:00

Yes, I feel like this. I was stunning and was always comparing myself to my sister.

Babycakes6 · 18/04/2023 21:04

I wish I has my current brain but young body!

CluelessHamster · 18/04/2023 21:09

Yup!

I thought I was fat.

I was not fat!

JMSA · 18/04/2023 21:10

Same!

AnneShirleysNewDress · 18/04/2023 21:12

God, yes. As they say, youth is wasted on the young.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 18/04/2023 21:17

Yep. I had a very very thin friend, who looking back I think was probably bulemic. As a result I thought I was huge in comparison, and was constantly trying to lose weight.

I'm now nearly 40, and a size 16. Still trying to lose weight Sad

If it's any consolation I expect I'll look back when I'm nearly 60, and think nearly 40 Yr old me looked 100x better than I think I do...

KilljoysMakeSomeNoise · 18/04/2023 21:43

Same. I hated my big breasts so kept them covered with baggy t-shirts and jumpers at all times. Thought I was so fat - at 8.5stone. God, I'd love to be that "fat" now! I'm actually obese now. I would never have worn a bikini, but I wish I'd worn more fitting clothes and proper bras etc.

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 21:45

Get your bikini (when the weather turns). In 20 years time you'll be thinking why didn't I realise how good I looked when I was only 45?

HomeEdperfectionist · 18/04/2023 21:47

I’m still bitter about my mother stealing away the years I looked my best. She must have been jealous because she destroyed my confidence and I needed therapy for body dysmorphic disorder and an eating disorder .
Even when I tried to recover she would not allow me to wear make up at age 17/18. She mocked me and tried to make me look worse wherever possible.
Looking back I see she stole those years where i looked pretty and I hate her for it

WellPlaced · 18/04/2023 21:47

Hold that thought and learn from it

In 20 years you will look back at photos now and think the same. Live your life!

SashaPearce · 18/04/2023 21:50

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 21:45

Get your bikini (when the weather turns). In 20 years time you'll be thinking why didn't I realise how good I looked when I was only 45?

This.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 18/04/2023 21:53

Same. I look at pics from a holiday when I was 21 and I was convinced I was fat. I definitely wasn't. I never used to wear short skirts or little tops.

TorchwoodWho · 18/04/2023 21:56

Same, I think it's quite often the way. I'm in my early 30s now and wonder why I spent my youth worrying about how I looked, especially before I had my kids, when my metabolism countered pretty much anything I ate!

Beenhereforever1978 · 18/04/2023 22:01

My mum did a photo collage for my Nan's 90th birthday recently. Loads of old photos of us all going waaaaayyyy back.

I looked at myself and thought 'cripes, I looked incredible in that picture' and then looked at the rest and I look pretty nice in them all, and so does Nan!

Get your bikini out and go yomping. I bet you look absolutely smashing. Different now yes, but smashing nonetheless.

FrumptyMumpty · 18/04/2023 22:03

And you’ll say the same about the now you when you’re in your 80s…

topcat2014 · 18/04/2023 22:05

I'm male and 50. I don't believe there are any photos of me without a shirt on at a younger age. I think I thought I was fat. But, in reality I was 11 stone so couldn't have been..

BitOutOfPractice · 18/04/2023 22:06

oh I hear ya op, I hear ya!

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 22:08

Beenhereforever1978 · 18/04/2023 22:01

My mum did a photo collage for my Nan's 90th birthday recently. Loads of old photos of us all going waaaaayyyy back.

I looked at myself and thought 'cripes, I looked incredible in that picture' and then looked at the rest and I look pretty nice in them all, and so does Nan!

Get your bikini out and go yomping. I bet you look absolutely smashing. Different now yes, but smashing nonetheless.

Agree.

People look nicer on film too. Digital photography is hideous and unflattering. Penelope Cruz insists on being filmed with old fashioned celluloid because it makes everyone look more beautiful.

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 22:10

Not that I'm saying your family isn't beautiful but everyone should remember to take a few proper prints of themselves. Don't trust digital to capture your special essence!

Beenhereforever1978 · 18/04/2023 22:18

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 22:08

Agree.

People look nicer on film too. Digital photography is hideous and unflattering. Penelope Cruz insists on being filmed with old fashioned celluloid because it makes everyone look more beautiful.

Show quote history

Oh agreed. Catch me on a super 8 please!

AngelinaFibres · 18/04/2023 22:22

HomeEdperfectionist · 18/04/2023 21:47

I’m still bitter about my mother stealing away the years I looked my best. She must have been jealous because she destroyed my confidence and I needed therapy for body dysmorphic disorder and an eating disorder .
Even when I tried to recover she would not allow me to wear make up at age 17/18. She mocked me and tried to make me look worse wherever possible.
Looking back I see she stole those years where i looked pretty and I hate her for it

Mine too. No make up allowed , no age appropriate clothes. At 16 I was going to local discos in brown trousers, a brushed cotton 'lumber Jack ' shirt and my brown lace up school shoes. I felt awkward and ridiculous. I have fabulous legs. I didn't realise for years. I was convinced that I was plain . Actually I was the child of a psychopath who wanted to be the one and only pretty one. There was no room for me.

MsCactus · 18/04/2023 22:23

My mum always said this to me - basically every young women is beautiful is their late teens and 20s, you're meant to be at that age, but just none of us realise it!

KetoViking · 18/04/2023 22:29

FKATondelayo · 18/04/2023 21:45

Get your bikini (when the weather turns). In 20 years time you'll be thinking why didn't I realise how good I looked when I was only 45?

Definitely this.
I'm rediscovering my "mojo" at 39 after nearly dying last year.

I was the same, thought I was uglier than the other girls, I was stunning!

I've thought fuck it, started yoga and working out at home and now wear whatever the hell I want.

Last year I learnt that life is not guaranteed, short and you only get one!

Don't let the next 20 years go by.

MultipleVeganPies · 18/04/2023 22:36

Run around in your bikini now

When you are 80, and look back at pics of you at 45, you'll marvel at how young and beautiful you looked then Grin

Always look at yourself as if you are looking back through time

It works great

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