Building confidence?

[bellywish]

Hey guys. I envey you, everyone here seems to have a lot of confidence and very comfortable with themselves and size. A lack of confience is my downfall. Any suggestions on how to gain forward while ignoring negative comments about my growing fat belly?

[Guts]

You've used a key word there, ignoring and while not politically correct, it's something I do quite a lot. In fact, I've become quite good at it much to the dismay of my supervisor :D

Once you get some practice in on ignoring the negatives, you can develop some witty retorts.

[BigBaldie]

Almost a year ago, I got really tired of not giving myself permission to have the belly I wanted. (Even though I live in a part of the US that is known for
its beer bellied "good ole boys".) My former supervisor is young enough to be my child, and has one of the most amazingly HUGE ball bellies I've seen outside of the gaining community. I was always envious of his lack of concern. One day I overheard a coworker tell him that he really needed to lose that gut. The supervisor responded by slapping his belly, and rubbing it. He simply said, "I've earned it, and I LIKE it. That's the only thing that matters." There was no reply from the worker. I think it's simply a matter of letting go of "what is everyone gonna think". Ultimately you are the one responsible for your happiness. You are never going to please everyone. Do what makes YOU happy. Everyone else will get used to it eventually. ;)

Big Baldie

[bellywish]

Thanks Big Baldie. I'm working on a new attitude here. I hope to get to the point that I'm as comfortable as your former supervisor! I see so many guys that are really into their bellies, at the beach, the gym, working in their yards. They don't seem to have a care in the world when it comes to their big belly. I also admire those guys who don't try to hide their bellies under circus tent shirts or by stuffing their guts into their pants. Tuck those shirts in I say. And let a little belly show under that shirt now and then :-) Man, if I had a huge belly, I'd be very proud of it and would always dress sharp. Maybe even a tight shirt when I go out. Anyway, thanks again for the encouragement. Take care, bellywish.