Body image struggle after seeing a group photo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what you need right now is a lot of grace and gentleness with yourself. Judging yourself so harshly on the basis of one photo isn't helpful in any way. You're healthy, right? That's it. No need to change your body at all, even while it doesn't look like other women's bodies.

Yes, I've had similar body crises. I'm also tall-ish and have broad shoulders and more muscle than most women. What's helped me most are three things: first, being proud of what my body can do physically. I'm really strong and doing workouts that play to that strength makes me feel so good. Second, really asking myself if a different (i.e., thinner) body would change my life for the better. No, it would not. I have a DH and kids who love me the way I am. Ditto for close friends. Maybe I could run a little faster, but that's not worth the struggle to lose 10 pounds, mostly of muscle.

Last and probably most important, I've worked hard to change my relationship with my body. One of my favorite Peloton instructors said in a class once that she sees her body as her teammate and that really, really resonated with me as a woman and an athlete. So that's how I think of my body now - and I treat my teammates damn well.

Hang in there. This crisis will pass and I hope some of the support on this thread helps, too.

Love the teammate framing!

[Anonymous]

Photos are weird. Sometimes the perspective can make you look bigger than you are, especially if you are slightly closer to the camera.

[Anonymous]

I encourage you to Google the actress Miranda Hart. She by no means has a typical, "ideal" celebrity body. But I can almost feel her confidence. Look how she dresses for her body, for herself, looking and feeling good, without trying to change her body. She knows how to pose, she knows how to act, she knows how to dress, she has a unique hairstyle that suits her. Self-care, exuding confidence, and knowing how to pose, to me are the answers here!