I'm a bit curious about "Body Image" and Age

Hello ladies and Gents. I have been thinking about this for awhile .... "A sense of body image is stronger in the under 21 age group".

I am very curious about how many of us believe that? I am 59 now and I had to stop and think, is my body image as important to me now as when I was under 21? I may be amongst a small percentage of women, but my body image is very, very important to me. So, the answer is definitely Yes! In fact, in some ways more so. Yes, I have scars from the heart surgeries and yes, I try hard to care for them so they are not as visible as they could be.

Thanks for listening...

13 Comments

I'm right there with you

by Matabar - 2013-02-10 10:02:45

Pacergirl! Especially as women, I think the body image thing stays with you for your lifetime. My theory: as long as you're concerned with your body image, you are working to make it better. It's when you give up that you start to go south fast!
Carol

Men too to an extent

by dad4dds - 2013-02-10 11:02:31

I worry about it a little. But I try not to think about the scar. I am 52. I am in better shape now then I have been in a long time. Hope to keep it that way.

Image

by Zia - 2013-02-11 01:02:33

I think the key word here is "image" which is not the same as substance. Image is how you look which is constantly changing and is probably all a kid is conscious of. Substance is what you are and that, too, is changeable but more truly valuable in the end.

Interesting

by ElectricFrank - 2013-02-11 01:02:51

I have a different image of my body when I am just aware of myself, when I look at myself in a mirror, and when I see myself on a video screen. The difference in the last two is the strangest. I wonder how my image will feel in an urn of ashes. LOL

frank

Bravo

by magenniskeith - 2013-02-11 03:02:12

Makes me feel not so guilty. Heck, no way my body image is what I would like. Mastectomy scar, open heart surgery scar, pacemaker bulge, hysterectomy scar, all make for kind of a mess. But put on my clothes from my resale online store, keep my skin bathed in all the five star products that aren't ridiculously expensive. have my white hair cut every two months, and this 83 year old can somedays go out to a reading club or theater and feel ok. In intimate moments I would try to cover the most disfiguring scars but that not a problem since husband died. Just eat well so you don't gain too much weight, try to find things of interest to do (the pot and kettle syndrome), and to me most important believe that our Maker knows what got us to this point and if He cares about us, so should we.

Zia

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-11 03:02:14

Somewhat... but I think how you feel about your substance projects to your image. To make a clothing analogy, wearing a pretty dress with your shoulders back and your head tall vs slouched. Confidence shows through.

:)

by pacergirl - 2013-02-11 03:02:46

Here is what I have discovered about me, my body image and my pacemaker scars.

1. My body image is just as important to me today at 59 as it was when I was 16. Also, I see nothing wrong with that and apparently many other people don't either.

2. I am much more aware of my body image now than I have ever been. When I was 16 I took it for granted that I was healthy, strong and had that youthful glow. I don't take anything for granted now, not anything! :)

3. The pacemaker scars blend well with all the other scars on my body that seem to somehow blend to tell the story of my life. hahaha and I'm not mentioning anything more about that.

Reading your comments and thoughts on the subject just confirms to me that Body image can be just as strong today in midlife as it was when I was less than 21. That I am as "normal" as they come when considering my body image and heart related scars. I do realize that there are going to be more scars to come over the years and I am ok with that. My own body image will continue to evolve and my story will continue to be told perhaps with more scarring, more surgeries or my adventures! I hope that I always take pride in how I look if not for my hubby, then for myself.

Thak you al for your comments! Each one is so special to me. ;)

p.s. I want to get on my treadmill now, see you later!

body image

by jessie - 2013-02-11 05:02:27

i think eating well is the answer. i seldom put junk in to my body and always have a salad a day. i look at my soon to be
17 year old grandaughter and she is lovely and doesn't even know it.she was waiting in line for some take out and a young man was gving her the once over and when she got back in the car i asked her if she noticed him . she said i noticed he had good pecs. i asked if she knew he was glancing at her every few minutes while she was unaware. she said no grandma was he? he was old grandma. i said how old jess? she replied at least 21. lol she so reminded me of me at that age. i am too vain not to care. jessie

perspective

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-11 09:02:33

I was SHOCKED the first time I found out you are older than me by more than ten years. You don't look or act your age, you are young and beautiful inside and out.

I have always been aware and tried hard to take care of myself, to look my best, but I think I see things differently now, priorities have changed. Things that worried me at 21 sort of make me laugh now at 46. At 21 I wanted perfection, now I don't care about the scars and the wrinkles and the padding around my waist that won't go away. I know I take care of myself the very best I can, therefore I'm not going to pick apart the image in the mirror. I like the person I am.

Funny you should ask this now. I had been struggling to lose 15 pounds for several years, nothing worked. I'm in the best shape of my life but just over the high end of weight for my height. I eat well and work out like a fiend, have tried various diets and the weight just will not budge. A year ago my dr told me to accept where I am, that maybe this is just where my body wants to be. And so I did, I've kept up the exercise and focused on eating to maintain... Then my last blood work came back with some high numbers so she got on my case to lose 15 pounds. I reminded her of our last conversation and asked just what, exactly, she'd like me to try. She sent me to a nutritionist, who told me I eat very well, that it looks like it's genetics and this is just where my body wants to be *eye roll*

Body image

by IAN MC - 2013-02-11 09:02:54

My wife says she has an hourglass figure, but there's too much sand in the hourglass!

Ian

image

by Hope - 2013-02-11 11:02:16

There are two ways to view ourselves......inside out and ouside in. When we are young, we tend to rely on the latter, as we do not know the inner self well yet. When we look in the mirror, we are more visual and tend to stand there for a bit. When we are older, we glance and keep moving. With that said, our body is the wrapping of the gift inside. Just like any gift, the wrapping is the first thing we see, but it is what is inside that counts. I have been told that when we are dying, hearing is the last to go. So, if our words are the last 'image' someone has of us, it puts a mirror image in perspective. Hopeful Heart

Never thought about it

by jeanlancour - 2013-02-11 12:02:42

When I was growing up it was drilled into my head that what I put into my brain was what was important, Eat right and keep busy you'll be fine. So that was what I did, then about 10 years ago I stsrted taking meds and put on extra lbs. Then the thyroid acted up and more went on, 2 years ago I became very tired..I blamed age, last year it got really bad...last fall I got the PM. your little question stopped me..Hey I have energy now I better get off my butt and do something about my body image. Jean

i could do more for sure

by jessie - 2013-02-11 12:02:46

i try to look good but could do with a bit more weight loss for florida and summer here. we were hit by the storm but not nearly as bad as the east coast and n.y. so to-morrow i get back to walking for an hour and in florida i swim which i love. i do hate my scar and especially when i feel it sticking out it annoys me but i have to remember it is my lifeline and why i feel good

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

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