Question for overweight women.

I feel much better about myself if I've made a little effort.

Currently I'm making an effort not to wear trousers with elasticated waistbands - so I went and got some jeans last week. First time in ages, and they are helping make me feel a bit better cos they do hold some if my big belly in.

I also got a cardi that hangs down to my thighs just at the front - it's black and from M&S and I'd seen other women wearing it before - it's very forgiving and gives a bit better silhouette, so makes me feel better.

I wear make up because my skin is spooty, even though I'm nearly 40.:rolleyes: Just a little foundation and some lipstick, which again makes me feel a bit better about how I look. I don't often take the time to do my hair, but because it's cut every few months when I can be bothered making an effort it looks nice.

I think it does help to make a bit of effort, and I agree some overweight women really do make the best of themselves. I'm somewhere in the middle of that, I guess.

i find the weight has nothing to do with it, its all down to self-confidence and emotions

on the days i dont make the effort to do my hair, make-up or get dressed-up, i tend to find that i have a whole downer attitude of a day. Whereas, when ive gone into full titivation mode, i just tend to feel better, walk talker, and give off that 'looking good' vibe

I hate having my hair cut, as no matter what the hairdresser does, ive still got the same fat face and body. Lopping of a few inches and adding a fringe isnt going to change that, but sometimes just the fact ive taken time out for me, and have made the effort, is enough to make me feel that, yes it was worth it, and put a spring in my step

I do find that if i play into the 'being fat' lifestyle i feel worse. as said above, avoiding elasticated trousers is a start, because to be elasticated they have to add extra inches of fabric around the bum/hips, which only adds to the balloon effect, making you look and feel bigger than you really are, so you dont like what you see even more. id rather wear a well fitting pair of trousers that make my bum look good, in a dress size two-up from my own, rather than a pair of baggy joggers in my usual dress size, that do nothing for my shape or mood

I think that if you put some effort in, your mood automatically lifts, and you just give off that looking good vibe

If you want a radical change, where you hair style is concerned, i would always suggest going to one of the more well-known salons. Ive yet to meet someone who has been to Toni & Guy and not had a good haircut, and doesnt come out feeling lifted. Their prices arent horrific, but they just seem to know their stuff better. Dont know if its due to the continual training at T&G, but i find back-street salons can be a bit set in their styles. You dont have to have your hair cut there everytime, as most cheaper salons can maintain the style afterwards

Flea

I put on a lot of weight (it doubled) with ill health and honestly, it depresses me more than my illness. It goes up and down a lot, my weight, though I'm determined not to get back up to that highest weight, I do know I feel better when I make an effort regardless of weight. Yesterday I was in the supermarket and I asked DH if I had somthing on me, or ooked weird, and he said no and asked why, and I said people kept looking t me, and he said ''they're all men, right?'' and winked, and much to my surprise he was right. Its confidence and its making the most of what you have got, and its true that while I don't look as good as I used to I get the odd smile and chat up. There was a point, in the middle of being thin and fat, where I got chatted up far more than when I was very slim, which was a revelation to me. I'm determined to continue making an effort to ''feel good'' but taking care of myself, because not only does it make being overweight less unbearable, but it helps in the strive to continue losing weight and looking even better with time: which is a luxury really, most people look worse over time, where as if we slim down we'll just get better, eh?

Like most of the others - the days I make an effort I feel tons better about myself. Most days I don't make too much effort, I work from home, I'm single, I'm not looking for a partner just now, and I tend to slob around. But some days I do my make up and pick my nicest clothes to wear (I tend to 'save things for best' which is a mistake, I think). When I go out like that I feel more confident and happier.
I always make an effort when I go out at night, even if its' just to my book club meeting.

Having said all that I still do what I call the basic maintenance. My hair gets cut and coloured every 6 weeks. I make sure my legs and underarms are shaved. And I try to take care of my skin too.

Pamper yourself and treat yourself...as the dreadful clich! from the ad says, 'you ARE worth it'. You'll feel tons better. Oh and on the clothes thing, while I dont think it's a good idea to wear really tight clothes, it's not always the best thing to hide under huge baggy ones either. You can look as big in badly fitting baggy clothes as you can in skin tight ones.