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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Body shaming

163 replies

littlebirdieblue · 16/02/2020 06:19

I'd been seeing a really lovely man, I'm mid 40's, he's early 50's for 7 weeks, we were exclusive and he asked me to be his girlfriend quite early on, we've slept together, it took me a while as I have body issues, in that I have a mummy tummy from having twins that I feel very embarrassed about. After the first time he told me my tummy wasn't an issue and that he loved everything about my body, so I've started to relax about the way I look and I thought things were going really well. We have lots of common interests and enjoy being together.

Yesterday he was meant to come to mine for the weekend, as my children were at their dads, and we'd also arranged to go to my sisters so he could meet her. And then go out for dinner just the two of us. So he arrives we have sex, this time I relaxed and totally let myself go. I thought the sex was good and he seemed to enjoy it too. I then made us lunch and then we went to my sisters, everything seemed fine and he seemed relaxed and happy. We get back to
mine, we watched a bit of telly, he intimated cuddling in the sofa, so I was relaxed and feeling really happy. Then I say we'd better start getting ready soon, he responded with 'I need to tell you something' then proceeds to tell me how great I am but he can't get past my mummy tummy.

Omg I felt like he'd punched me in the gut. I asked him when he felt like this and he said when we had sex earlier, I couldn't stop myself from crying, not sobbing or anything, but the tears just came, I feel so humiliated that he was thinking how bad I looked while I was so unaware as he'd made me feel like my tummy didn't matter previously.
He wanted to sit down and talk about it, but I just needed him to go, I kept saying I don't know how you expect me to respond, this is me, this is how my body is and it's not going to change, and he was saying we should just talk about it. But what is there to say, how can I ever be intimate with him knowing he can't get past how my tummy looks. So again I said it was best for him to go as the relationship is done. There were no shouting or sobbing it was just tense and awkward.
I did say to him I wish he'd told me before meeting my sister as now I feel so embarrassed I'm going to have to tell her I'm not seeing him anymore after her only just meeting him. I also said I don't understand why he was initiating cuddles if he felt like he does, as it made me feel fool, cuddling thinking how well everything was going, so pathetic. He said he just thought it was best to be honest, and while I agree honesty is the best policy, in this case I think he could have been kinder and said he just wasn't feeling it anymore, not make me feel so bad about myself. Was he right though? Maybe I have overreacted but it's left me feeling like I can't show anyone ever my awful tummy and I don't know how I can pick myself up 😢

OP posts:
Bubblemonkey · 16/02/2020 07:43

Ya know what’s worse than having a belly from carrying small humans? Having a shite personality. Get him in the bin 🗑

flowerylamp · 16/02/2020 07:43

He's an absolute twit. Man comes round has sex man leaves.
You deserve better OP lots of men won't be so shallow and if it wasn't your tummy eventually it would have been something else, he just wanted to put you down. He didn't have to say it he could have said something else if he wasn't happy about the way things were going.

.Lucky escape even if it doesn't feel like it now Thanks

Harakeke · 16/02/2020 07:44

UGH he’s horrible! I winced when you related what he said - I can well imagine it being like a punch in the gut.

I can’t believe he wanted to talk about it - what did he expect you to say?

🌹 onwards and upwards OP. Don’t let this incident inform your self image.

littlebirdieblue · 16/02/2020 07:47

Haha no he really isn't! He has a bit of a tummy himself, he also recently had jaw surgery and he wears braces at the moment, but none of those things bothered me at all! For me, it's not just about looks, and he is a really good looking guy, but it was his personality that I found most attractive, he's funny and we like a lot of the same things, but both have separate interests too. I really thought he was ok with my body, and I had started to get the feels for him. But it looks like He showed his real
Self to me last night, and now he's not so attractive to me

OP posts:
PerfectPretender · 16/02/2020 07:49

Abusive men are a dime a dozen I've noticed. It's not you, it's just there are so very many of them. I'm sorry you're hurting but you binned him off as soon as he exposed his true colours, which is a very strong thing to do. Well done.

Bluntness100 · 16/02/2020 07:49

I also think uou dodged a bullet here. This is nothing to do with your stomach, this is he wanted to have a go at you and pull you down. He wanted to use your insecurity to wound you.

As pp on here say, when someone tells you who there are, listen. You did good to end it, now block. This would only have got worse.

nocluewhattodoo · 16/02/2020 07:51

I'm sure you can do better than this dickhead who doesn't sound very attractive physically or otherwise himself. I'm angry on your behalf, what a fucking bastard to make you feel like that, well done for dumping him. I hope that any men you engage with in future (if that's what you want) are not total arse holes.

Menora · 16/02/2020 07:52

OP honestly have a hug what a horrible shock that must have been, no one deserves that, ever.
You have dodged a bullet, what a thoughtless and horrible way to go about this. Like you I have no idea what he was going to try to talk to you about, I suspect he might have been going to try to give you some helpful advice about diet and exercise HmmAngry
He probably wasn’t expecting you to throw him out immediately, I’m so glad you did! He very much deserved it

NotStayingIn · 16/02/2020 07:52

I’m so so sorry OP, that’s hideous. I think KatnissK and others have hit the nail on the head.

If he didn’t want to break up with you, the purpose of telling you was to make you feel like shit, and him to look like this great guy who would be willing to remain seeing you. So you would know your place and better be flipping grateful. Wow. He is an utter utter dick and I’m glad you saw through it. But of course I understand you are hurt, I would feel exactly the same. Everyone would. Flowers

CodenameVillanelle · 16/02/2020 07:54

What a horrible cruel man.

The thing is - this was deliberately cruel, so you know for sure that it wasn't about your tummy. Any man who was genuinely put off by a soft tummy a) wouldn't have dated you in the first place, b) wouldn't have stuck around after the first time he saw you naked and c) would have made up some excuse to break it off and not mentioned the tummy.

Now you know he was being cruel for some other reason you need to examine his behaviour to make sense of it. He asked you to be his girlfriend super fast? Red flag. What else did he do? Did he say you're not like other women he's met? Did he say how much he liked/loved you before he actually got to know you? Did he say things or behave as if he knew what you were thinking and feeling without asking you?

There are some men who want their women insecure and wrong footed as a control tactic. There are others who are narcissists - they 'fall' hard at the start but as soon as they discover you're a real person and not their idealised version of you they get angry and will day and do things to hurt you just because you've let them down by being a real person with your own views.

I would be money that your man is a bit of both. So you can discard his stupid comments about your tummy because they are nothing but the cruel hives of a man who wanted to deliberately hurt your feelings. Unfortunately you handed him ammunition on a plate by telling him that you were insecure about your tummy - so that's exactly what he went for.

Lllot5 · 16/02/2020 07:56

As previous posters have said it’s not about your tummy, it’s about him being a prick. He zeroed in on the thing you told him you were self conscious about ( don’t do this again btw) and tried to make you feel small.

YeOldeTrout · 16/02/2020 07:57

It sounds like the tummy hugely bothered OP long before this guy was on the scene. He's saying what OP already feels about herself. I am not a fan of plastic surgery (tummy tuck), but I wonder if OP could look into that because the tummy is bothering her so much. Might be hugely expensive inconvenient etc., yet still worth it to OP.

littlebirdieblue · 16/02/2020 07:58

How do I not mention it though, it's awful like an apron. I feel
Like I should warn men about it as when I'm dressed you would never know it's so ugly, and I feel like I'd be tricking them by not saying something about it

OP posts:
Rosetta19 · 16/02/2020 08:00

@YeOldeTrout

Pathetic. Bloody pathetic.

The OP is PERFECT as she is.

littlebirdieblue · 16/02/2020 08:01

@YeOldeTrout I could never afford it 😔

OP posts:
Rosetta19 · 16/02/2020 08:02

You are NOT ugly OP. You are beautiful, kind and intelligent.

TreatMyself · 16/02/2020 08:04

Does this man have children and an ex-wife himself? How can he get to his 50s and not know how women’s bodies change?

Menora · 16/02/2020 08:04

@littlebirdieblue

My boobs are so far apart they are under my armpits if I have no bra on!

I’m crazy dark haired and always have a dodgy moustache/ingrown bikini hairs

I’ve got a massive bum and not in a JLo way

Your tummy is special though because of your twins - it’s not your fault that I happened to your skin and it doesn’t change any of your personality, which is so much more important. Please don’t beat yourself up about it x

Queenoftheashes · 16/02/2020 08:09

What a piece of shit. Yes classic negging - he was out to ruin your confidence so he could make you his downtrodden victim. Luckily it backfired and you aren’t putting up with it. You definitely did dodge a bullet.

copperoliver · 16/02/2020 08:13

He's a bullying, narcissist, with personality disorders. Lots of the posters are right about the fact he was trying to bully you into thinking no one wants you only him. You would have ended up with a lifetime of bullying
Well done you for throwing him out.
Sending hugs 🤗

Okbutno · 16/02/2020 08:13

Aww love this is awful! What an utter twat. You did the right thing asking him to leave. Just don't let him back in because you feel shit. Obviously your body is what it is so he either needs to love you for what you are or fuck off. I know it's easily said but please don't get hung up on your tummy. I don't want to say oh I'm sure it isn't 'bad' because even if it does what he did was horrific and he's a cunt.

YeOldeTrout · 16/02/2020 08:14

Can a tummy tuck really cost as little as £2k? Says the google ads.
Plus travel & accommodation, but wow. I thought it would be more like £20k.

I hope you can make peace with your body, OP. Perceived body defects seems to be an enormously sensitive issue for many.

MyuMe · 16/02/2020 08:15

Well done for kicking his sorry butt to the kerb.

He deserves to be alone. Flowers

SaskiaRembrandt · 16/02/2020 08:18

Agree with PP, he was setting you up for some negging, but you called his bluff and ended the relationship. Good for you Flowers

I would imagine he's had some variation of this conversation with every woman he's ever been involved with.

Menora · 16/02/2020 08:19

@YeOldeTrout

Stop it

Tummy tucks are actually the most dangerous cosmetic surgery op you could have done. They are extremely painful, invasive and have a long hard recovery time. Also you would want to know you were in the best hands so paying bargain basement prices for something so risky when you have children is insane. Also obviously the adverts for a £2k tummy tuck are going to be misleading - a full tummy tuck with good post op care will be a lot more than that

How is this helpful to OP? Get into debt and have a risky op to attract a man? No!

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