Body Positivity for Mermaids

[Siren_Amy]

I wanted to know what tips you mermaids have for body positivity! I know a lot of us struggle with body image issues, so I think sharing our experiences would help us all a lot. A thread like this would have really helped me when I first started mermaiding, and I hope by starting one now we can help keep each other healthy and happy!

[Merman Daniel]

I am a starting merman and along with dealing with being one of few straight merman out there, I also struggle with body issues. I always just worry so much about what other people think about me, because all mermen depicted anywhere have fantastic body's , and while I am not fat I have no muscle tone. I like to always remember our dear friend the peacock flounder at times like these. If someone has the audacity to tell you that there is a problem with how you look do what the peacock flounder does, they will show them their true size and color to scare away a predator. Never let someone make you sad. Just follow your current.🐬🐚🐙🐡🐠🐟🐋🦑🦐🦈🐳🦀

[Satine]

I struggle with this very very deeply. In fact I have bought my silicone tail and will not send my measurements for them to make it till I lose waight. It also dose not help that the people closet to me are the ones who say things to me about it. I struggle very very hard.

[Aquos Savar]

along with dealing with being one of few straight merman out there

Nah dude, stop swimming along the surface, you'll never see the truth swimming in the shallows. Yes, 70% of guys here aren't straight, but if you dive deep, you'll find lots of straight dudes here, like me.

And talking about the body image problem in general, it's really not a huge issue. The only reason we talk about that now is because the world wants us to think that. The only reason it exists is to sell more beauty magazines featuring undernourished models or photoshopped people so we look upon them and feel bad with our own bodies, and we set unreachable goals or buy their products that advertise "Be like us" all over the dang container, it's all made to sell products or magazines.

I'm not saying being overly fat should be acceptable either. Being extremely thin or extremely fat is still unhealthy, and could cause trouble in the longrun. As long as you eat healthy, swim often, and don't get sick, you should have a perfectly healthy and good body.

[Winged Mermaid]

I struggle with my weight because of medical issues, but honestly in a tail is one of the times I don't care as much. Once I get out and start having fun I and feel all mermaidy, I feel a lot better about myself. Plus I've learned to pose myself in more flattering positions. It helps that when you're underwater doing video/photos it's like being underwater takes off 10lbs :P

I was going to put of ordering my Merbellas tail until I lost weight, but my trusted friends told me I was just being mean to myself and depriving myself of joy. Plus, if we're to be honest, a lot of people don't keep weight off :( Researchers are still trying to figure that whole thing out. I've seen some mermaids who ordered when they lost weight, and then they gained it back and felt awful because their tail gave them muffin top because it was so tight.

It's really easy to compare yourself to other mers. But it's like comparing yourself to other people in general- it's not healthy, and a lot of it comes down to genetics- something you can't change. Plus a lot of mers have chronic illness and chronic pain too- something that can get in the way of being as thin/muscular/fit as you want. I definitely know a lot about that.

I have spent the vast majority of my life hating my body. Even when I was in elementary school I would cry because I thought I was fat, even though I was a perfectly healthy, even skinny, kid. It's amazing how this world has messed up so many people in the same way. I've decided that while I do work to being more healthy and fit, that does not mean that I need to be "skinny/thin/whatever". If that happens to be a side effect, then awesome! But making that the main goal will only lead to stress, frustration, misery, and self loathing. I've been down that road many many times before. It's taken me a long time to get to this level of acceptance. But I hope others will try to think that way as well. Take care of your body, yes. Don't obsess about looking "ideal".

In the end, even though we dress up like mythical creatures, we're only human. And that means we naturally come in all shapes and sizes, and there's nothing wrong with that!

[SingingSelkie]

I have been putting off buying my mertail as one, I love them all and can't decide haha and two, I wanted to feel healthy enough to use it to it's full potential. But I like WingedMermaid's quote below.




I was going to put of ordering my Merbellas tail until I lost weight, but my trusted friends told me I was just being mean to myself and depriving myself of joy.

I had looked at it as a reward for my hard work as I have been training in the pool with breathing techniques and dolphin kicks for stamina and strength etc. I'm also terrified of how I'll feel when wearing the tail in the public pool as our pool is in a local highschool and well, teenagers can be mean.

Did anyone else struggle wearing their tail in public for the first time?

[mermaid anastasia]

I actually get the opposite problem when looking in the mirror we are our biggest critic i look at myself and see no curves and no shape (and trust me iv been thru the itty bitty titty comity jokes all my life) but you know what after a while listening to it and letting it get to you i think its you (or me) as a person to look in the mirror and stop saying the negative stop looking for it because you can be the most beautiful person in the world and not see it because your so busy looking for whats wrong the only time i would say for someone to lose weight is if its a health problem because some of the most beautiful girls iv met have some curves and there is nothing wrong with that

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[mermaid anastasia]

* up to you

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[Mermaid Rosaline]

I grew up not being the skinny pretty girl, so starting my mermaid dreams was a struggle. I saw all of these beautiful mermaids and thought i could never do that because i'm not thin. The first time I swam in my tail was such a great experience. I did get some looks from people, but I also had men and women coming up to me saying that they loved my tail. I realized that it didnt matter what I looked like because I felt beautiful. Anyone can be a mermaid no matter what they look like

[Keiris]

Is there really any one of us, male or female, that doesn't have an issue with at least one body part or another? I finally had to let all that go and just decide to be as healthy as I can for the age that I am and still enjoy my life without putting too many restrictions on what I like to eat or how much I work out. So much more at peace because of it.

[DancingJohari]

Okay, gonna dive in here, lol. I am a professional belly dancer and I have struggled with my weight since I was in my 20's. I am now 40, a mother of 3...and I am not a twig. My belly isn't perfect, neither is my body.

But when I put on monofin (still working on my first fabric tail), or my belky dance costume, I forget about how my body looks. I exercise regularly, and will soon be swimming more regularly as we now have an above ground pool, I eat healthy and I don't listen to the people who think I am being silly. I know that I am doing something positive for my body. so i just dont worry about it. Belly dance, and mermaidi g, are both excelkent sources of exercise that are fun and filled with joy:)

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[lamb]

FAT MERS UNITE. dont listen to anything anyone says, being fat is gr8 and awesome. if anyone tells u "but mermaids cant be fat waah waaaahh" just let them know that all that fat keeps us warm in our deep sea castles. just like seals and whales, we got blubber and we dont care!!!!!

[lotusauriel]

FAT MERS UNITE. dont listen to anything anyone says, being fat is gr8 and awesome. if anyone tells u "but mermaids cant be fat waah waaaahh" just let them know that all that fat keeps us warm in our deep sea castles. just like seals and whales, we got blubber and we dont care!!!!!LOLOL

But seriously. Being over weight makes me a little bit nervous... but it's my pale freckliness and way too huge bustline that gives me the most trouble. I don't tan, and there is no top in the world that doesn't look totally obscene on me.

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[Corliss Gallows]

I'm somewhere in the middle. Not horribly over weight, but not skinny. I'm rather top heavy with HUGE shoulders and bust, with curves and a tummy. The first time I had my tail on I used a rasher shirt to hide most of me because I was not confident in myself and how I would look in it. People hiking along the ocean side saw me and were so excited to just happen upon a mermaid, that I didn't feel worried about how I looked.
That being said, My 'Dry' land costume (I am an affiliate for a comic convention here in my state ) is going to be modest and cover quite a bit. While my 'wet' attire is still in the works . . I'm not super confident in how I look so I know the struggle all too much.
It's hard in a world where perfect people are thrown at us in every corner, to feel like the stunning creatures we all are!

[lotusauriel]

I have been putting off buying my mertail as one, I love them all and can't decide haha and two, I wanted to feel healthy enough to use it to it's full potential. But I like WingedMermaid's quote below.



I had looked at it as a reward for my hard work as I have been training in the pool with breathing techniques and dolphin kicks for stamina and strength etc. I'm also terrified of how I'll feel when wearing the tail in the public pool as our pool is in a local highschool and well, teenagers can be mean.

Did anyone else struggle wearing their tail in public for the first time?I am still in the process of making my first tail. In doing my research, and taking so long doing so, I have learned so much, and just keep coming up with new ideas and designs and methods. Two things do hold me back. My weight gain and fluctuation, and my monofin actually hurts me, a lot. I have materials, probably for 3 or 4 different tails stocked up, but am still hesitating. But I have been swimming in that mahina, even though it hurts. Honestly, I think I'm going to have to find something else or make some. Anyway... swimming, in the community pool. Full of kids and all kinds of people. Usually there are 4 or 5 other mers, most of which are kids. I personally don't like my pale, fat legs and gut, and my ginormous bust... but nobody else cares. Really. And last week, a lady told the three of us adults, in our mini-pod, about her idea to start a mermaid party business that she is working on starting up, and gave us all cards. I am 40 years old, pale and freckled, and I weigh about 230. I never, ever expected any kind of offer or opportunity to come from this, (,except for maybe making tails and accessories), but this is real. ANYBODY can do this. And ANYBODY can and SHOULD feel beautiful doing this.

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[Mermaid.Mikayla]

I struggle with my weight because of medical issues, but honestly in a tail is one of the times I don't care as much. Once I get out and start having fun I and feel all mermaidy, I feel a lot better about myself. Plus I've learned to pose myself in more flattering positions. It helps that when you're underwater doing video/photos it's like being underwater takes off 10lbs [emoji14]

I was going to put of ordering my Merbellas tail until I lost weight, but my trusted friends told me I was just being mean to myself and depriving myself of joy. Plus, if we're to be honest, a lot of people don't keep weight off :( Researchers are still trying to figure that whole thing out. I've seen some mermaids who ordered when they lost weight, and then they gained it back and felt awful because their tail gave them muffin top because it was so tight.

It's really easy to compare yourself to other mers. But it's like comparing yourself to other people in general- it's not healthy, and a lot of it comes down to genetics- something you can't change. Plus a lot of mers have chronic illness and chronic pain too- something that can get in the way of being as thin/muscular/fit as you want. I definitely know a lot about that.

I have spent the vast majority of my life hating my body. Even when I was in elementary school I would cry because I thought I was fat, even though I was a perfectly healthy, even skinny, kid. It's amazing how this world has messed up so many people in the same way. I've decided that while I do work to being more healthy and fit, that does not mean that I need to be "skinny/thin/whatever". If that happens to be a side effect, then awesome! But making that the main goal will only lead to stress, frustration, misery, and self loathing. I've been down that road many many times before. It's taken me a long time to get to this level of acceptance. But I hope others will try to think that way as well. Take care of your body, yes. Don't obsess about looking "ideal".

In the end, even though we dress up like mythical creatures, we're only human. And that means we naturally come in all shapes and sizes, and there's nothing wrong with that!
Exactly! Well said!