Aphrodite, honestly u seem all over the place and not able to process feedback other than lingering on any item that's negative. So u could post pics here bit I doubt anything anyone would say would do you any good. Have you sought the help of a therapist? you need to understand whY you can't accept yourself yet simultaneously are unable to accept help or strike a path of your own. You also seem to be looking for silver bullets and they just don't exist.

I know that it's hard for you and others who post similar things but I have seen really stone ugly, ungroomed people who have lots of friends and are happy with themselves and their life. Now I'm here on a ps board so obviously I am not letting myself slide but there are people who do and are fine with their social relationships... The difference is what goes on in their heads.

Miss j I saw you in person you are beautiful. Maybe you still see yourself the way you did before surgery. I can't find flaw with you. What if we all just stopped looking in the mirror and could let those horrible insults go in one ear and out the other. For me it's the comments people made that stick with me. The nose comments are the worst for me. I see people who I not find attractive have good social lives but maybe I m seeing them different, maybe they are good looking. Woman even now never wanna get with me. I try I'm not bitchy or mean I try to make conversation. I'm positive in conversation, don't put any one down in fact I give a positive compliment as an opener. I'll find some thing I like for instance I'll day I love those shoes where did you get them, I'm being genuine Im into shoes lol. I'll make plans and they never follow through. I just want this nose done for peace of mind, I feel if I'm too thin it's gonna stick out more. When I'm thin the nose comments really keep comming. I feel the weight softens the sharpness.

Saveface,
I was just over 40 when the jowls became apparent ... and (crazy!) I recall the exact day! I had put on one of those mineral masks, and as the mask dried, jowls appeared on my jawline out of nowhere! I think the drying out of the mask just yanked on my loose face skin. My hubs teased me about it! I was miffed. But when I washed the mask off, the jowls weren't visible any more. So that was the beginning. By my late forties, the jowls were there like tiny pouches, on either side of my face. If I take my index finger and just pull back 1/2" on those pouches, they are GONE. That simple!

I was bummed that the neck lift and MFL I got in 2004 did NOTHING to address the jowls. I didn't know enough about plastic surgery back then. Perhaps I should've had a lower face lift, too.

I'm not saying there is any specific age at which jowls should be surgically addressed, but for me it was clearly by late forties. At your age, I'd try incorporating neck exercises regularly.

Here's what I do to keep the jaw area tight: tilt your head back so you're looking at the ceiling. Now open and close your mouth 20 times sloooowly - really jut that lower jaw out! Now in the same position, jut your jaw to the right side 20 times, and then to the left side for 20 times. If you do this right (and feel that pulling sensation on the jawline area), your neck will be aching by tomorrow. This exercise may not prevent a neck lift some day ... but it should keep the area toned at least.
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I Bug U

I lost 50 pounds but the wrong way by dieting and cardio only. I am now fixing it. I lost muscle not fat. I will give you some advice. Jenny Craig and Weight watchers are crap. Only Running alone isn't going to make u lose fat . Don't worry about the weight. Gain muscle.


you need to go on a diet mainly of meat and veggies know as palaeo diet and join a training program like crossfit. I am doing crossfit now and I eat healthy. It will take me time but yesterday I squatted 85 pounds. It is nothing great but better than the previous week. It's been 2 weeks and I get better everyday.

Cross fit is awesome. On lots of levels. Flexibility, mobility. Strength, endurance. But it's hard core so take care of your self! Lots of stretching, massage, rolling out fascia. All important.

Aphrodite........I have a friend, Lisa, that had moderate acne and tried all kinds of topicals to no avail. Lisa had a friend whose derm prescribed Nicotinamide tablets for her and her acne cleared up. Lisa went to her derm and asked why she can't try the Nicotinamide pills, and the derm says, Okay, I'll write you a script for it.

So, she starts taking 2 pills a day of the Nicotinamide and her acne clears up within 2 weeks! She was also drinking a de-tox tea on occasion and lots of water. However, the tea and water alone did not do what the Nicotinamide was able to do! She is no longer breaking out, and her scars are fading. She is thrilled and just wonders why she had to tell the doc about it!

And with me.......If I want to lose weight....well, two words....Don't Eat! Seriously,.....I have to always feel slightly hungry to lose anything. That means I will eat a small breakfast.....bowl of cereal, coffee, oj........less for lunch, and a decent dinner.....but, no dessert .....an orange or two before bed if I am hungry. If I always feel like I could sit down and have a meal, I know my fat reserves are being used!

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Skygirl5 from MMH