How has your mother influenced your body image?

Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:30 PM EDT

In her book, "You'd Be So Pretty If..." Dara Chadwick explains that the way girls formulate their body images growing up is due, in large part, to how their mothers felt about their own bodies. Did your mother's body image impact you? Were there comments your mother made that stuck with you? Share your story!

Results

Absolutely. My mom told me my guy friends would want to be rid of me if I didn't pretty up. She would either brag or complain about my look

- ileanasparrow

- 4:38 pm EDT on Tue Apr 28, 2009

My mom didn't, but my sister sure did. I can still remember her calling me fat when I was 5'6 and weighed 104 lbs. Bitch.

- No diot

- 5:40 pm EDT on Tue Apr 28, 2009

About a girl I didn't like my mother said "you don't like her because she is prettier than you." Never realized I wasn't pretty until then.

- arthistorybabe

- 11:49 pm EDT on Tue Apr 28, 2009

I inherited my mother's bulemia.

- SAHP

- 7:18 am EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

YES! My mom was always commenting on her own image and always dieting. In return I was always critical of my image.

- igyarto81

- 9:13 am EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

My mom told me I had "child bearing" hips. To this day, I think my hips are really big - even though I'm only a size 6!

- ledishva

- 11:38 am EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

My mom told me I had "child bearing" hips. To this day, I think my hips are huge even though I'm a size 6.

- ledishva

- 11:39 am EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

Yup ...Mom's a big yo-yo dieter and so am I. I was put on my first diet (weight watchers) in 2nd grade. Been dieting on and off ever since

- cvl

- 12:58 pm EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

Don't forget about Dads...one time my dad said "Be careful or you are going to get your mother's butt", and i never forgot it.

- Rach-1067801

- 2:59 pm EDT on Wed Apr 29, 2009

I'm body dysmorphic thanks to her nitpicking and negative projections. Thanks a million!

#10

- salvice

- 12:46 pm EDT on Thu Apr 30, 2009

My mom always called herself a 'fat witch' and other weight-related terms. I am built like her and have just as many weight and body issues

#11

- Meghan Herr

- 3:35 pm EDT on Thu Apr 30, 2009

My mom actually did a lot to teach me confidence in my body just the way it is. She had a variety of style, which allowed me to self-expres

1 vote

#12

- missdianarockstar

- 6:27 pm EDT on Thu Apr 30, 2009

I inherited my moms overeating habits and yoyo dieting. Resulting in a screwed up matabolism and grossly obese.

#13

- thanxmom

- 6:40 pm EDT on Thu Apr 30, 2009

Yes! Although she passed away in 2006, I look at her every morning in the bathroom mirror. Presently, I am even wearing her clothing!

#14

- Shelley Avery

- 6:59 pm EDT on Thu May 14, 2009

Yes. Though, my mother always said she loved her body just the way it was. And it made me love mine,too. Even though I'm far from a size 0.

#15

- Kyorine

- 1:36 am EDT on Fri Sep 4, 2009

— Filed under: weight, girls, parenting, mothers, body-image