For a while now, I've been really struggling with self-confidence because of some health issues that have affected my looks. I see old pictures of myself and get upset. Still, I try to look as good as I can, especially if I go out somewhere, and am doing a little better. That said, I'd give anything to look like I did back in high school.
What are your feelings on how you look? Do you long to have previous looks back, or are you happy with where you're at now? Are you working toward something different for the future?

I have never been happy with my body. First off, I hate being looked at as female for several reasons. I have very feminine features and it bothers me. Second off, I hate the fact that I am underweight and can not for the life of me, get myself up to a normal weight and not look half starved. Third, have boobs and female organs. It honestly makes me feel really uncomfortable with my own body. Ideally, I would like to be able to make myself as genderless as possible.

That's about all the issues I have with my looks. I am working on my issues but it's going to take a lot to get me to the point where I will be comfortable with my body.

Eh *shrugs* There are some things I'd change, sure, but who wouldn't? That being said, I have a number of things that I quite like about myself so I try to focus on those more.

Mystic: I definitely feel for you. I have gotten into the habit of not telling anyone my sex, but I can't do much about people noticing in person, and it makes me kind of uncomfortable to be generalized when they do. As for weight, I've had the opposite problem lately--I gained a lot and can't seem to lose. I've been talking to my doctor, though, and I hope you find solutions for the things that have been bothering you.

Vix Viral: It's always good to have things you like about yourself. :3 As of right now, I have very few, but I'm working on it. Focusing on the things you do like can help the picture as a whole, definitely.

Not many people really get what I mean or they think I'm transgendered when I do try to explain. I really try not to let things get to me but it's just frustrating. I lost a lot of weight because of an eating disorder then medications I was on. I was dangerously underweight a few years ago. I'm just kind of stuck at the weight I ma not even though I would like to gain at least 15 more lbs. Thanks for the kind words too.

I used to hate how I looked when I was younger due to some health problems of my own. I was quite a small child and underweight. I hated my skin and my hair. I was teased a lot as a child for my Auburn coloured hair, which I am now complimented on. When I was a teenager I finally began to realize that looks didn't matter. I know that sounds kind of weird, most teenagers only care about their looks, but I'd found a new group of friends who shared my craze for manga and anime; they taught me to be comfortable in my own skin.
Now I look back at pictures when I was younger and realize I wasn't bad looking as a child at all, but I still don't want to go back. I'm happy with myself now. I know it's hard, it's not something that happens overnight. I used to look in a mirror and pick out my flaws, now I can look in a mirror and be happy.
I think you must be an amazingly strong person and I hope you keep getting better! I know how it feels to completely loath yourself, I wish you all the best. c:

I never want to look at old photos. I'm the most confident I've ever been. I used to not be able to leave the house without makeup or if I did I felt I looked bad. I was overweight in high school, chubby, not really fat, but I always hated my body, with my chest being so large that it was hard to disguise the fact. I almost wanted to be a boy, tried to hide myself even more. My little sister was taller and thinner, and perhaps I thought a bit prettier, though now I see we're just different.

I went to college and lost some weight, and I started getting hit-on by guys left, right and center. While it was an initial ego-boost, it made me put on lots of makeup before leaving for classes, wearing clothes to attract attention of guys, including stilletos. In February. In Vermont. Being so beautiful and so wanted and yet so alone nearly made me suicidal before 20. Then I met my guy. I think perception of yourself changes if you're surrounded by people who make you feel special, unique and beautiful in yourself, not by what you wear, what's on your face or how you style your hair. Suddenly looks mattered less. I started to smile more, even though I usually tried not to around guys because of my crooked teeth. And when I smiled I felt I looked more beautiful. I think a smile is everything, no matter what you have in your mouth (maybe excluding pure gums or tar). If you're happy and you show it, it's beautiful.

There are still things I don't particularly like. My teeth are still crooked, and that's going to be a long project to correct. I am growing my hair out despite the fact I hate my hair long and think it looks terrible on me (but it's for a good cause--Locks of Love). I am always too busy with work and homework to work out as much as my fiance, even though he finds time, so I can never complain around him that my body is still a work in progress, but it is. It's nice though to know that someone likes me for who I am. It gives me the confidence to go and make these changes not because I want to please someone else, but to please myself.

At least I'm confident enough to model stuff for my shop, and not farm it out to someone "prettier" or more attractive. That's me in the siggy.

I haven't been happy with the way I look since I was 4. So....>.> I do think I look better now than 4 years ago, though. So that's a plus. I just have some things that I'll probably never be happy with. But oh well.

Well, for now I'm happy with how I am, at least, I look beautiful whether I'm overweight or not. However, I've never felt much comparing my past photos for I look almost the same 'cept for a larger version of before xD Because I've never been thin always fat, so I'm now a little conscious since everyone is telling me that I'll grow like my aunt who weighs a lot, and sure enough, I DO look like her >.> Though I do feel sorry that I'm a bit darker than before >_<

I think the older I get, the more comfortable I'm getting with my looks. When I was younger, I always wore baggier clothes to try to hide my figure, but now, I wear slightly more form-fitting clothes. I'm not embarrassed of my boobs anymore, so that helps. Getting a job is probably what kick started my confidence. You meet so many people and get compliments, and it just boosts your ego.

Like the other day, I felt I didn't look very well. I was just in some baggy pants and a baggy shirt, lounge-around-the-house-type clothes. And yet, the satellite installation guy was hitting on me. So, maybe not looking my best doesn't look so bad.

Of course, I would change some things about myself if I could. I think most people would. But for now, I'm happy with me.

I have PCOS and a set of really crappy genes, so I'll always be very overweight. I've tried diets since I was six, but each time I gain all the weight back and then some. Plus, going on a starvation diet when you're really young can make you... uh... stop growing upwards. I found that out the hard way. orz

That being said, I don't mind the way I look. I have pretty grey eyes, decent hair (That's now prone to falling out) and a nice facial porportions.

Haven't found a boyfriend/girlfriend yet, but I'm hoping that will change when I go off to college!

The older I am the more okay I am with how I look. :)
Part of it's accepting that I will never be skinny again unless I want an eating disorder, and part of it's just getting comfortable in my skin.
That said once I start getting all wrinkly I'll probably be freaking out all over just like in high school about how fat I was. LOL.

Originally Posted by Kaizy-Kat

I have PCOS and a set of really crappy genes, so I'll always be very overweight. I've tried diets since I was six, but each time I gain all the weight back and then some. Plus, going on a starvation diet when you're really young can make you... uh... stop growing upwards. I found that out the hard way. orz

That being said, I don't mind the way I look. I have pretty grey eyes, decent hair (That's now prone to falling out) and a nice facial porportions.

Haven't found a boyfriend/girlfriend yet, but I'm hoping that will change when I go off to college!

ugh I hate PCOS. I get cramps the size of Russia. :gonk:

I think you're going to need to find a solution other than "diets" if you're concerned about your weight. There's probably something that could easily be cut out of your diet. ...That said, I'll never actually be skinny, either. My whole family runs large, and we all have PCOS as well. That and I managed to get some wide hips that make even thinking about smaller pant sizes impossible. xD

For most of my life I looked around 6 years younger than I was.. which sucked royally after I turned 20...
But recently, I decided to kick it up a few notches.
I think I look my age now. (I hope)

I'm quite fine with myself actually, I have a little too much fat and not enough muscle, but I don't figure myself ugly and I work on my body from time to time. Stress never helps your health or appearance so I try not to worry too much.

Well for me its just, i think the only reason i don't like my looks is because of what people say it's a habit, I care about what people say about me so much I mean if someone says one thing about my looks I fell like dying basically.I don't even know were to start on my bad looks. -_-

for me its my hair color and my eyebrows.im satisfyed with my figure since im skinny but i am not super skinny.my figure is reasonable.but putting my hair in different styles and fixing my eyebrows often helps my low esteem.