[Gallowsraven]

This sort of thing is common and as said before, not exactly helped by our beloved media, or by jealous kids. I was boardering anorexia when i was little, but luckily my family managed to stop me before i did too much damage. It was an aunt's comments that sparked it off, fuelled by a group of boys making weight-comments. I later found out that they actually had a crush on me. But boys will be boys, i guess.

The problem is, it takes so little effort but the damage lasts a lifetime. Like many of the others here, and you, i look in the mirror and think "this isn't right" or "my tummy's too poochy" and it's only very rare that i'll ever admit to being more than just slightly average in looks. These issues are normal; it's an unfortunate side-effect of living in our world.

So can i ask you, what do you like about yourself? My first answer in regards to me is always my eyes, but then i'll admit to liking my build and weight; even though i'm not thin, i'm cuddly! I have curves and i love them! Any less weight and i wouldn't be me, i'd be a stick-insect or something because i have one of those builds. Admitting that there's at least one thing you like about yourself is the first step. It gets easier from there and helps your motivation and moral.

Excersise, watching what foods you eat rather than the quantities (summer's coming up and i love salads personally) and feeling good about yourself all help. Maybe also give yourself a goal; like maybe a pretty dress or something you really want, within reason of course.

Nobody's ever completely satisfied with how they look, but the trick is recognising where to stop either way, i suppose.