I have low body self esteem! I've been told countless times how pretty I am and how lucky I am to have such a "tall, slim, model like body", but I just find my body too skinny! I'm naturally very skinny because no matter how much I eat I never seem to put on weight. This gives me a figure with very few curves and I just feel like if it wasn't for my face and height people would still think I'm 12 when I'm in fact 17. Lt makes me feel like I'm trapped in the body of a young girl when my friends around me are all becoming real women.

I'm usually a very outgoing, fun and hyper person but as soon as guys start to get serious with me I shy away because I don't feel like I'm good enough for them. Its killing me, I want to be able to feel pretty and believe that guys can actually like me the way I am.. but as soon as I manage to get myself esteem up for a second it comes plummeting back down again as soon as
I walk out the door. When I receive complements about it I often think they're sarcastic or mocking me, when I know they're not and I just don't understand why I cannot believe it, it seems like I see something different to them. This might also have been affected by people treating me of being anorexic when I was younger which has always made me feel ugly as being anorexic isn't the prettiest and healthiest sight.

I've tried everything to put on weight, and despite my skinniness I've always eaten a lot more than average girls my age, but nothing has changed my skinny appearance. I thought puberty might change that too but its not doing much! So I guess I've got to let go of trying to change myself and accept it, but how? And how can I feel good about my body? It's affecting my whole life =C

You are so smart to realize that this is the way your body is and that the best thing you can do is learn to accept it. First, check with your doctor just to be sure you are healthy. Next, look at those things that you can change about yourself to make you feel better. Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you fit? Make sure you are eating nutritiously and exercising.

When you hear negative comments coming inside your own head, stop and tell yourself something positive. Have you ever tried affirmations? Stand in front of the mirror each morning and say three positive statements about yourself. Each evening, think of three things that brought you happiness or satisfaction that day. The whole point with both of these actions is to start thinking positively and to start appreciating yourself and your life.

I think the most important thing here is to accept yourself and feel better internally, but there are things you can do to change your outer appearance. You are concerned that people think you are 12 because of your shape. The clothes you wear can change that appearance. Good fit in clothes is most important. Don’t buy over-sized clothes as they will make you look skinnier. Choose fabrics that have weight and styles with structure. Color will add dimension. Prints will also be good. Accessories can make you look stylish and take the focus of the eye to the accessory, but avoid big, clunky things. A thin belt on a thin body looks really nice. If you have a nice hairstyle, that will draw focus to your face.

Aside from how you feel inside and dressing in the best way possible, you could also think about other ways to feel better about yourself. Do your best in school. Join clubs. You write very well and come across as very bright. Focus on that, and what you want to do with your life. If you feel confident about that, you will feel more confident in general. You might also do some reading on building self-confidence, and maybe read about others who grew up skinny and had to learn to accept that they are meant to be thin.

Thank you so much for your advice! It means so much to have someone take some of their time just to help me out. I am already doing a lot of your advice but you have given me some other very good ideas and things to improve on. Thank you again!!

I think you may have something called an overactive thyroid, it just means you burn fat twice as fast as anyone else,in order to try putting on weight you could eat 5 healthy meals a day (I know that sounds a lot but its really not) for example:
breakfast: 2 slices of toast (buttered) and some fruit
snack: something fruity
lunch: a sandwick with ham & cheese with a packet of crisps and a piece of fruit
snack: a cereal bar
dinner: steamed rice with sweet and sour chicked and have something nice for dessert.

This is only a suggestion, but in my opinion I think you should be happy with who you are, so many people would love to be skinny or not have curves and believe it or not most people probably envy you. People telling you your pretty will help in the short run but to be honest you have to believe it too. You have to wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and think, yeah I am pretty just the way I am. Take yourself to a spa or a salon and get the works done, hair, make-up, pedicure, manicure everything this works as a confidence booster and should help you feel more cormfortable within yourself.
Don't envy other girls for being something you are not, people like you for who you are, not for being a mirror image for someone else.

Be positive and I'm sure you'll find big improvements with yourself, though nothing might have changed you'll just feel better about yourself.. goodluch - not that you'll need it lol x hope I helped (: