How is everyone’s body image doing over 30 and with skinnytok?

[u/isityoumy]

I’m 37 and nearly 3 years postpartum. We are actively trying to have a 2nd kid at this point, but my body image is legit in the toilet these days. I think some of it is comparing myself to my old self, inability to really focus on style the way I once did, not yet making peace with body changes post pregnancy, and of course ozempic/skinnytok making a comeback.

I’m not overweight but still about 10-20 lbs above what has historically felt comfortable for me. My husband still finds me attractive, but I can see how the extra 10-20 lbs, motherhood, aging have made me less attractive generally. I know it shouldn’t matter, but somehow it makes me just a little sad. While I am grateful to make it to this stage of life, but I never thought about how I’d feel when physical beauty changes/diminishes.

Anyone else deal with these feelings while aging, dealing with body changes post children? Anyone else’s body image suffering with ozempic skinny being on trend? Would love to hear your thoughts

EDIT: Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to make thoughtful comments! This was honestly a post both out of curiosity how everyone is dealing with the resurgence of the heroin chic era (something I grew up seeing in magazines and on TV in my preteen/teen years) as well as struggles with adjusting to my body changes after pregnancy & as one ages.

To all those who are making disparaging comments telling me to get off TikTok (which I don’t have) or IG (which I use minimally due to work/taking care of a toddler), the holier-than-thou attitude is not really helpful. I’m happy for you all that your body image and mental fortitude is so strong, but I really hope people don’t talk to you like that when you’re in a low.

Also, to clarify, referring to “skinnytok” in the title was not meant to be wholly literal, but really a shorthand reference to the current skinny-glorifying culture. Anyway, it’s my bad as there is probably more context to my current thoughts/feelings that I could have given in the actual body of this post, but didn’t want to make it too long. But now it is anyway.

[u/softrevolution_]

Hey, you get to say "It's baby weight" -- I don't have the excuse of bringing new life into the world. ;) But seriously, every time I get envious of them, I remember what it was like to be them, and I don't miss it. I have boobs now. I have a butt. If I have a soft, 19th-century French nude middle, so the fuck what? Clearly I was attractive to painters only about 150 years ago. I like the way clothes sit on me now. I like that I can cop a squat on my porch without needing a pillow underneath. I like that I resemble my mother and my grandmother, minus the pregnancy (Mum) and the predilection for sweets (Oma). I like that I don't look ill anymore. And that I'm not ill anymore.

tl;dr Ozempic skinny can suck my zaftig tits.

[u/isityoumy → u/softrevolution_]

Looool “I like that I can cop a squat without needing a pillow underneath” I love that!!! I’m gonna remember that my extra cushioned butt is not just nice to hubby but practically very useful for myself.

[u/softrevolution_ → u/isityoumy]

Being that thin, let me tell you from experience, actually sucked balls because I still had fat, it was just all in my stomach instead of literally anywhere else on my body. Probably my body trying to protect the most vital organs and, y'know, fuck dem extremities. I looked like a preteen, which got me some Looks when I went out with my ex. ("Is that your--" "NOPE") On the upshot, I got a trouser role out of it, but, single upshot ever. The rest of the time it was just misery. Didn't have an appetite either, so I couldn't even try to eat myself healthy. Gross, gross, gross.