Self image help me please??

Question

im really concerned about the way i look, im a young man, but i look horrible im not fat im actually really skinny, with shlumped shoulders, and i look like i came from the holocaust, it looks really bad, my head/face is sunken in and needs some life , what kind of regimen/routine/gym or whatg should i do to gain muscle and life?

Answer 1

Lift weights on a daily basis, and keep it up for at least a year. Also eat enough meat so your muslces grow (and fish to repair tissue.) Besides that, you should start thinking positively, as you yourself are a unique human being, that alone making you priceless and a much needed part of humanity as a whole. With that said, spend some minutes every day in front of the mirror saying good things about yourself, giving yourself compliments. Also please try to stay away from people that would in any way hinder your self esteem, and try to spend time wisely with the ones that would either support your self esteem, or not do anything to hinder it.

Answer 2

First, keep in mind the key words: self image. This is how YOU see yourself, not how others see you. Your friends may envy your thin frame. Some girls may think you're hot. Often our self image is vastly different from how others see us. More important, people who care for you don't care about your looks.

However, that doesn't mean one can work on losing weight, gaining weight, or getting stronger and healthier. And this is the attitude you should take. Your goal is to get stronger and healthier. You want a healthier heart and lungs. The fact that your body will look better as well is a fantastic side effect. :-) I would give the same advice for someone trying to lose weight. Make the goal to be healthier - a better body is the advantage of this.

Before you start on some program, I want you to take a good look in the mirror. Are you really slumped or is it the clothes you are wearing. If you are in all black, with long hair hiding your face, it's little wonder your self image is down. So you have to work on showing off you with more colorful and proper fitting clothes and a hair style that works for your face.

Now, onto the body. First, see a doctor for a physical exam. You want to ensure that there aren't any illnesses or reasons you can't begin a weight regiment program. Even though you are young, if you have a heart problem, for example, you could still have serious problems (even death!) if you start a robust exercise program. So get the medical clearing first.

Then, start with a change in diet. Include more calcium and protein. Try to limit your fats, but you can increase them too. I would recommend leaner meats (including red meat) and milk. Be sure to include fruits and vegetables as well. Limit junk food and sugar (including soda). Red meat is high in protein and will help you build muscle faster.

Weights: where do you plan to work out? At school? If so, have a work-out partner. Often guys who play sports or just want a good body will already be there - and, this may surprise you, they will actually be glad to help you get started. Guys like sharing knowledge (because it makes us look good!) and they'll be happy to tell you how to do the right exercises to build up your chest, arms, abs and legs. But don't forget the shoulders (key for you) and back. If fellow students aren't there, ask a gym instructor. Basically, you want to do shoulder presses, bench presses, ab crunches, bicep curls, and leg presses. Those 5 basic exercises will get you started. Do NOT overlift. This will take time. Your goal is to do 8-12 reps of each exercise. So if you put on so much weight that you can only lift it 5 times, reduce the weight. In contrast, if it's too easy to do 12 reps, increase the weight. In other words, you want to be struggling on that last rep or two.

I don't recommend free weights at first - especially if you work out alone. Use machines. If you have access to a BowFlex, use that. A BowFlex uses resistance rods. These actually work very well (I own a BowFlex) and elimates the problem of using heavy weights.

As you work out, the protein you are eating will help build muscle. So this is why I recommend keeping the diet and exercise routine together. I'm not a fan of those protein or weight gain shakes. But that's just me - if you find they work well for you, great! Just be sure to follow all instructions carefully.

Avoid anything illegal or overdoing any one item. Try working out every other day at first. Let your muscles recover a day, then work out again.

Then, as you build muscle, work on your clothes and hair and you might find that in a few months, your self-image issues are gone. But as I wrote, chances are people like you as you are right now.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I've been there...it sux...I was called "Stickman" and "muscles" all through high school. No matter what I did I couldn't gain weight. You should really try and get into lifting weights. This is tough I know because you are embarrassed you can't lift weights as well or as much as the muscle heads that typically hang out in weight rooms and they laugh at you....been there too.....but if I had kept on lifting and ignored them they probably would have realized I was serious about bulking up and actually helped me with it but I never stayed with it. You have to stick it out and stay with it. Sounds like you just need to get out and exercise, you'll feel better and look better. If it helps any, I was skinny (really skinny) until I got to be about 28, then something happened...I gained literally 10 pounds a year, now I'm flabby and need to lose weight and tone up. The only thing worse than a really skinny guy is a really skinny guy with a pot belly and love handles.....so change now while you are young. I regret everyday that I didn't stay with weight lifting and working out.

Answer 4

You want to eat a lot of healtheir foods, specifically higher protein foods like lean beef and chicken and "good" carbs, from stuff like whole wheat or whole grain (not twinkies). You want to pack on weight so try to keep your calories up. I would NOT lift daily, I would do it every other day, your muscles need 48 hours to heal and grow, so give them that time. Also when you lift, try to do heavier weights with lower reps because it promotes growth, instead of tone (so lets say 6 reps of 20 lbs, rather than 12 reps of 10 lbs). The one thing you can do daily is push-ups, do those every night before you goto bed until you cannot do them anymore, just one long set. These will help with the slumped over look, the other thing that will help a lot is maintaining correct posture when you work out. Be careful not to overdo it though, if you get hurt you get set back weeks. You might also want to take a picture of yourself today, not look at it for one month, and see if there are any results, because you cannot see them yourself daily. You should also check with your doctor.

Answer 5

Well, the easy answer is to talk to your doctor. S/he can give you general advice, get you in touch with a nutritionist, and verify that you're healthy.

The less exciting answer, though, is that, as long as you're healthy, you shouldn't actually worry about it too much. Hopefully your self image is linked to more than just how you look. Everyone looks different, and physical attractiveness is subjective, anyway. Focus on WHO you are, not what you look like. Do great things that'll make you feel good about yourself - go back to school, do charity work, be kind to people. THAT'S what often improves people's self images.

Good luck!!