Sue, contrary to what the press says most men like it when there is something to get hold of and cuddle up to! I've also always had a round belly even when I only only weighed 7 stone and was a size 8/10!

The whole press thing is quite interesting because of the difference between what the sexes are told they need to look like.

Women are told that they need to be skinny and obviously this can be unhealthy and damaging.

However now it seems there's a pressure on blokes to sort their image out only what we do have to look up to? Maybe a buff filmstar or a sports star.

So if we aspire to that what happens? We work out more, start doing weight training, eating healthily - in fact it's almost entirely positive because a ripped male bod is a healthy one.

The media are trying to make women ill and men more healthy!

Imran, it's great that you admire bellies. I, however, have been going to Egyptian and Turkish belly dancing classes in order to shift mine.

I'm sure it will be shifting about vigourously! They need to make Strictly Come Belly Dancing - I'd be glued to that.

That is not such a bad idea! I could even possibly enter though if I swing it too quickly I might be in danger of knocking somebody out with it.

My problem is that I am very short - 5 foot - and my tummy always seems accentuated because of my lack of height.

Well Sue, I'm only 5.2 and you're right - height does make a difference. Belly Dancing is really good fun and there are lots of videos on Youtube where you can see various dancers - Nathalie is really good. Have a look. It beats going to the gym

Belly dancing sounds like a great idea, I was thinking of looking for a class to go to and feel more motiviated to do it now.

Great Naomi, I've tried the gym, aerobics, jogging, and flamenco, but belly dancing is fun and although there are sites that sell belly scarves, you can get one for around £15 in some high street shops.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I'm with Imran on this - the media has so much to answer for.

Also saw the mention of "does my bum look big in this" and couldn't resist offering one of my poems for a bit of a laugh:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Her Bottom

"Does this make my bum look fat?"
is the dare that's laid down.
Which way do I go, a smile or a frown?
You see I'm the rabbit stuck in headlights, not sure what to do
I could end up squashed flat
or in a culinary stew.

So with honour and valour I try for a deal
and send back the question "Well how do you feel?"
But no, she sees through this
and goes for the head.
Now my face aches so much
that I wish I were dead.

You know I've often wondered
why she would seek my opinion
on matters quite clearly not in my dominion.
For each time it seems there's a lesson within,
she just likes a fight she knows I can't win

The truth is of course,
that it's beautifully round
and as bottoms go
it's the best that I've found

So next time I'll smile, and tell her "all's fine"
and thank the sweet Lord
every ounce of it's mine!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Keep smiling

Andrew.

Imran I forgive you for eating chips!

Andrew thanks for the poem it made me smile.

So not my experience the bum debate. I remember watching Oprah one day (yes someone had to bring her in) saying that black women never say does my bum look big. Their problem area is their hair!

I watched MTV one day and they did a show with songs about bums! I was amazed there were so many guys singing and rapping in praise of big round firm bootie.

In Brazil girls get implants in their derriere and bum lifts, so they can have them high and round and a so much bigger than we have in in Europe and the US. Look at Beyonce and J-lo or whatever she calls herself being case points.

In Tonga and Samoa a sign of beauty was fat. (Im checking out flights as we speak).

Our problem is that we compare ourselves all the time; unfortunatelty we compare ourselves to magazine images and come off the worse for wear.

Magazine and film images are manipulated to stand out and be different. You cant make a supermodel different by giving her blue hair we can all do that. But make her taller than most of us - well thats the lucky few nature gave the extra tall gene; make her shinier than most of us - you have professionals for that; make her skinner than us - you have extreme diets and airbrushing for that; then they have a product they can hold up for us to aspire to while making us feel inadequate so we buy buy buy other products that are guaranteed to make us look just like them! I mean if models and supermodels looked just like us, they would be 'super' they would be normal, just like us. Wish I'd thought of that little scheme cos there must be money in it somewhere!

I guess the androgenous look suits fashion mags but most real guys like real women. Thanks for reminding us Imran.

My tuppence worth.

I whole heartedly agree with all that Imran says; and applaud him for saying it.

I can't see anything attractive about Kate Moss, Lily Cole and their ilk.
If I wanted to cuddle a plank, I would take one of the 4X2's in my van to bed.

Super skinny models may (and i only say 'may') make the clothes look good (in the opinion of the designers), but coat hangers belong in the wardrobe!

Lose the pounds if you will ladies and by all means get fit and healthy, but for the love of God; keep the curves!

Good luck to all in their quest for a healthier lifestyle.

Cheers,

Simon

I have the same issue as Sue, I think; I'm short (and also have a small, hem, chest) and this makes my stomach seem more prominant -- to me, at least!

It's really encouraging to hear that a flat stomach isn't necessary -- indeed, I don't really aspire to flatness, would settle for a bit less saggy.

And however much I try to ignore them, pictures of skeletal models on glossy magazines always seem to stick in my mind as "the ideal". It's stupid because they don't even look attractive...

Ali

I think they do look attractive but in a more strange alien type of way because you don't really see their kind very often on the average street.

99% of those images are airbrushed and manipulated by computers.
The magazines are targeted to women - the premise is that "the women that buy them must know that these images are false so we're not really deceiving anybody right?".