I know you didn’t ask for anyone’s approval, but I like you. I’m validating this experience, and I’ll also offer that it sounds like a late adolescence or mid-life crisis (which I think are pretty parallel to one another). Maybe you’re gonna stay ugly, maybe not. But I’m glad it’s not so distressing to you that you won’t be yourself. I love how outspoken and honest you are about this stuff. And we can all relate, because we all judge ourselves and place ourselves someplace on the ugly spectrum. It IS a spectrum, by the way…

I personally hope that I’ll be able to lose the 10–15 extra baby weight I gained, and it is pure vanity. I’ve got an awesome body, especially in clothes. I’ve got big hips, decent ass, and shapely legs. But my body siphoned all the volume from my boobs and displaced it in my ass and hips. So now I don’t move like I used to. I feel heavy and weak. Plus my boobs are like a tube sock with a golf ball down at the bottom, which is disgusting, but you wouldn’t know unless you see me naked, which you won’t. Even though I can hide the tube-sock-boobs, the knowledge of it kills my sex drive and I haven’t felt sexy in about two years. I started exercising (like, making a point to do specific exercise, not just the usual running around) a while back, and I feel much better. No real change in my appearance, but I feel a little stronger and my posture has already improved. Being aware of my body helps me to sit a little straighter, engage my core muscles a little better, and with that, I really don’t care about the weight anymore. So, I guess that acceptance is a good thing, and I’ll work more on that in 2016.

Thanks so much for your perspective. You’re funny, and probably a mad decent friend.