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In last week's HNT, Another Suburban Mom encouraged other HNT participants to post a picture this week of a "perceived" flaw. I've not participated in HNT for the past couple of weeks, but thought this was as good a time as any to jump back in. Flaws are my specialty!
Yes ... I know ... I should not be so critical, but the truth is that I *am* flawed, as is everyone. Some of us wear our flaws on the outside, some of us are able to hide them on the inside, and in some of us (like me) our outside flaws are nothing more than a visual reminder of our inside flaws. I am not, nor will I ever be, a "classic" beauty.
My skin is loose and flabby due to decades (literally) of losing and gaining weight. I've lost - and gained - 100+ pounds three times. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've lost (and gained) 50 pounds or less. At my thinnest I was a size 8. At my heaviest, a size 24. Right now I'm somewhere in the size 14/16 range. I've abused my body with food, and it shows.
My stomach will never see anything even resembling flat and tight. If the stretched skin from the repetitive weight loss - and gain - wasn't enough, the surgery during my pregnancy requiring an incision from pubic bone to belly button, followed by a subsequent c-section (5 months later) using the same incision site, sealed the deal.
I have become the master of hiding my belly. You've seen pictures of me laying on my back, or with my arms stretched over my head - both ideal ways of hiding the extra skin - and fat - that plague me. I hate my belly and every time I look at it (far too many times each and every day), I remind myself of how disgusting I look.
If you really want to see one of the many flaws ... *CLICK*
Yes ... I know ... I should not be so critical, but the truth is that I *am* flawed, as is everyone. Some of us wear our flaws on the outside, some of us are able to hide them on the inside, and in some of us (like me) our outside flaws are nothing more than a visual reminder of our inside flaws. I am not, nor will I ever be, a "classic" beauty.
My skin is loose and flabby due to decades (literally) of losing and gaining weight. I've lost - and gained - 100+ pounds three times. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've lost (and gained) 50 pounds or less. At my thinnest I was a size 8. At my heaviest, a size 24. Right now I'm somewhere in the size 14/16 range. I've abused my body with food, and it shows.
My stomach will never see anything even resembling flat and tight. If the stretched skin from the repetitive weight loss - and gain - wasn't enough, the surgery during my pregnancy requiring an incision from pubic bone to belly button, followed by a subsequent c-section (5 months later) using the same incision site, sealed the deal.
I have become the master of hiding my belly. You've seen pictures of me laying on my back, or with my arms stretched over my head - both ideal ways of hiding the extra skin - and fat - that plague me. I hate my belly and every time I look at it (far too many times each and every day), I remind myself of how disgusting I look.
I am ...
If you really want to see one of the many flaws ... *CLICK*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
39 comments:
Seems to be the common "flaw" out here this week. Good for you for being able to show it off!
And I see beauty and courage......
I really like that picture. I think you're lovely. And I won't preach about not needing to be so hard on yourself, that would make me a hypocrite.
Happy HNT.
I don't find that image flawed. I find it womanly and maternal. You are a brave woman.
I love the pic. Very beautiful.
Seriously, you make "flawed" look very seductive and sexy.
Wow I see someone that was brave enough to bare all to us. Be proud and embrace your natural beauty! :)
Here I was expecting something out of a horror flick. Big Scars, some type of horrific amputation.
What do I get? A woman who is all woman. Beautiful. courageous and creative.....
Looks like my expectations are just not going to be set correctly today.
Happy HNT
Thank you so much for participating this week. I am glad to see you back in the land of HNT!
And to your weight loss, AMAZING.
HHNT to a lovely woman.
Even when you "expose" yourself in a new and potentially unflattering way, you still manage to show a gorgeous picture.
Happy HNT!
Even your precieved 'flawed' picture is wonderful!!
And who convinced us we all have awful tummies?!
HHNT!! :)
Yano I much ly appreciate suppossedly flawed people cause they are real and have awesome hearts thank you for sharing, I don't see flaws I see a beautiful woman xxx
Eh, perfection is boring. Cheers!!
I think imperfection is a better word than flawed. To me, flaw implies that it is something you can fix but choose not to.
If every girl had a body like the girls in Playboy and if every boy had a body like a Chippendale dancer, the world would be a bland place. Celebrate the difference our imperfections are what make us interesting. Everyone's imperfections make us appreciate the beauty of the fantasies that artists (and magazines) show. Sometimes people forget that they are fantasies designed to sell magazines and product.
Great Picture. HNT for me was about positive feedback. I am proud of you for doing it. I am not sure I could have (or maybe I'm perfect and don't have any flaws).
HHNT
Thak you for sharing...I see a real woman...no flaws there!
You look terrific to me :-) Happy HNT
Dana, you look beautiful! No body is perfect, but through the imperfections there are stories.
Happy HNT!
I think you have a lovely body.
HHNT
Hey, where did you find that picture of me? Actually, my body is a bit bigger than yours :( I think your body is sexy... "REAL" sexy! Thank God for you and all of my new HNT friends for helping me feel comfortable in my body. You look wonderful.
Jimmy Buffet had a song- "Fruitcakes".. "Human beings are flawed individuals!The Cosmic baker took us out of the oven too early!" You look just fine, look around- nobody is perfect- last guy that was, they hung on a cross for it..
There's a whole lot of us that are VERY skilled at hiding our "flaws," and tummies seem to be a common source of worry amongst us girls. I hate mine, as well. Very few people are allowed to see the way it REALLY looks when I'm sitting. I have stretch marks, the scar that gives me what I call a "front butt," and lots of extra skin myself. There are very few freaks of nature who manage to escape that after having children.
I think you're beautiful, and I don't think I would have the courage to do this.
I find you very natural and very sexy! Thanks for posting!
dana, you really are such a beautiful woman inside and out. i think that picture is so soft and lovely. :)
i'm a little sad to have missed out on the theme. i gotta start paying more attention to things.
Wow. You look sensual. Still. HHNT!
I'll take a REAL woman anyday! ;)
You are beautiful.
You're amazing - and beautiful.
very hot HNT. I love real women like you. Birth scars should be displayed. To me they're sexy on their own.
So many commentors have it exactly right...
You are truly beautiful!
Ditto what they said. You are beautiful. And kudos to you for being able to show it off. :)
peace...
Gorgeous,
Inside and Out....
don't see any, and i'm not just saying that
Don't you think the word "disgusting" is a bit harsh? I know many women that would like to be a size 14/16 and look like you. And personally, I like the way you look.
What strikes me about this is not your supposedly flawed belly but the harsh way in which you speak about yourself. If I've learned anything this week it's that everyone has the same insecurities...and yet we're all actually great just the way we are!
Lovely photo, BTW.
All I see is a gorgeous, sexy woman. I love the photo hun.
Reminds me of an article I read recently regarding a picture in... I think Glamour? They had a model, sitting sorta like you, and she had a pudge and a belly role. She WANTED people to see the real her. They got more positive comments on that picture than they ever got on anything, ever.
Sorry to say Dana, you are normal. I'm a size 6 and my belly is the same.
Well Dana let me post exactly what my first thought was upon seeing your picture. Fuckin Ae Dana that is a cool picture. Nice job woman :)
You are beautiful
This photo was stunning and down to earth.
sexy...
No flaws, just a a nicely done photo of a woman's beautiful form.
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