The perfect body image nightmare for comp.

S

SPratt74

New Member
Ok, so I have started to doubt myself here after trying on my Latin dress. I totally felt sexy in it at the time, so it wasn't that, and I just love the dress! It was just that I started to feel as though I really needed to work on my body such as my arms etc. I never really noticed anything before, but maybe that was because I didn't have a reason to do so.

But does anyone else go through this? What I mean is, does anyone question themselves about what they look like before a comp.? Maybe I'm getting nervous. But I started to pick at myself more than I did in the past. And I'm trying not to do this as I have confidence right now to perform my routines. It's just my body image I don't have confidence in right now. So, I don't want to start coming down on myself for not being the perfect body or whatever.

And the outfit actually covers me, so I don't know why I am worrying so much. And I still have time to improve some things regarding my image. I guess when I see pictures of the women with the perfect bodies in their Latin dance outfits, I know that I don't look like that. I should just be happy to have come this far in my dancing, and I am!!!!

Although, I haven't really worn anything like this before either, so this could be part of my low confidence right now as well. Grrr. Does anyone else go through this? What did you do to overcome your fear if you did? Thanks!
 
I had an incredibly difficult time with this for a while, to the point where I became overwhelmed with stage fright and stopped competing.

Now I just don't really care any more. If my imperfect body offends anyone, that's just too freakin' bad. One only goes around once in this life, and I'm going to spend it dancing, flabby arms and round tummy or no.
 
Lately I've been sorta trying to lose weight--watching what I eat, working out a few times a week (about 3 or 4 times on average). I haven't lost much, maybe 5 lbs or so. But the odd thing is that as soon as I start doing something about it, my self confidence skyrockets. (Could be good, could be bad, lol.) I've noticed this in the past, as well. Even before any sort of working out yields results, I feel much better about myself. I start seeing the things about my body that I like. Bizarre.

At least in clothes...walking around nekkid still doesn't make me happy.
 
I am not a small woman and up to this point I have danced with someone smaller which has only made it more obvious...I do as much as I can about my body without surgery or the sort of diet that would leave me no area in my life that wasn't completely regimented...I just try to pick outfits that don't highlight the bad stuff and work hard in hopes that it will offset my aesthetic deficiencies...I do think it's a waste and a bit vain to ruminate on it for too long
 
fascination said:
I just try to pick outfits that don't highlight the bad stuff and work hard in hopes that it will offset my aesthetic deficiencies...I do think it's a waste and a bit vain to ruminate on it for too long
Click to expand...
Yep, that's kind of where I'm at...I mean yes, those of you who read every thread know that I've lost like 30 pounds since February, but that still doesn't fix the variety of figure flaws that someone with a picky critical eye will notice. And I too can and will only go so far because I refuse to regiment all the pleasure out of my life, and surgery terrifies me. So I just do the best I can with who I am and where I am, and am focusing on living rather than picking on myself.

Picking good flattering outfits is vitally important (and fun), but to make oneself crazy over the whole thing is soul-destroying in the end.
 
yep...and there are still "leftovers" when you lose weight...frankly I am respectful of health and fitness but have had quite enough of the overly cosmetic rat-race...that's good lesson money right there...and on that jolly note, I am crashing early as I have a long drive to a long lesson tomorrow...and I am still on eastern time
 
There's a reason my dresses have long sleeves. HATE my upper arms. Actually, I'm not fond of my butt or thighs, either (thighs are where I spot excess weight first) but those are more or less concealed. But I did freak out a bit when I saw the first pictures of my new dress and how much of my leg was showing (there's a reason I always wear fishnets or tights, too.) I work out and obsess over it. I really don't recommend the obsessing. It gives you ulcers. Or at least it's giving me one.
 
I don't know if this will help anyone, but there is a difference between knowing what your “flaws” are and being unhappy about it. Whenever I start thinking about the things I like less about my body – or anything else for that matter –, I think about what it would take to make it better. Sometimes the effort is just not worth it. I am rather happy with the way I look even though I know some things could be improved, because I know I look the best I could with the amount of effort that I am willing to put into it.
 
fascination said:
on the other hand, there are a myriad of things that can un-hinge you at a comp if you let them...
Click to expand...

Yes I agree. That's why I can't wait for comp! I think that the experience will do me a world of good in more ways than one! ;)

The dress actually covers me. (Eventually I want to start wearing the not so conservative dresses. I just need to get more confident in the way that I look.) So, it's a very good dress for that. So, it's not the dress that I'm uncomfortable with, because I bought it for very good reasons. It's the other things. Like my arms and my legs that you can't really hide in Latin. So, I think at this point, I'm going to ask my sister to become my personal trainer again. She was my personal trainer at one point, and what's great is that I don't have explain anything to her. She already knows my health concerns and what I want to focus on etc. And I still have a couple of months before comp., so I can get somewhat there by then.
 
spratt, go inside yourself and focus on how you *feel*, especially when you are dancing and when you are wearing the dress (wear it to get comfortable in it, perhaps...). get grounded in your inner feelings and less on how you think you are being perceived. it will go a long way to sell anything you are self-conscious about (whether it's real or imagined). :)
 
danceronice said:
There's a reason my dresses have long sleeves. HATE my upper arms. Actually, I'm not fond of my butt or thighs, either (thighs are where I spot excess weight first) but those are more or less concealed. But I did freak out a bit when I saw the first pictures of my new dress and how much of my leg was showing (there's a reason I always wear fishnets or tights, too.) I work out and obsess over it. I really don't recommend the obsessing. It gives you ulcers. Or at least it's giving me one.
Click to expand...

That's a good point! My instructor said the same thing as you. This is why he has to approve of every dress before you buy it. He doesn't want you to go out in a dress that does not suit you. He totally approved of my dress knowing that I have concerns. So, I know the dress is good for me. He turned down others that weren't. And maybe I am tooo hard on myself. But it's like what I told my instructor. I just have to get over everything somehow, and I'll be fine.
 
samina said:
spratt, go inside yourself and focus on how you *feel*, especially when you are dancing and when you are wearing the dress (wear it to get comfortable in it, perhaps...). get grounded in your inner feelings and less on how you think you are being perceived. it will go a long way to sell anything you are self-conscious about (whether it's real or imagined). :)
Click to expand...

Yep, you are right. My SO said the same thing. He said that he knows that dancing makes me happy. He's totally supportive of everything, and knows I have concerns about my body. He says he doesn't get why, and is trying to get me to come out of my shell. And I did like how I felt with the dress on. And I'm one of those people that know and won't wear the item if it doesn't feel right. In fact, no one likes shopping with me, because I have to try everything on!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top