Hi, been reading the forum for a while, bit of an introduction but just looking for some thoughts and discussion 
Im 21 and around 169cm barefooted. I always wear footwear with a small insole and preferably a decent heel, which brings me to anywhere between 173-174cm and actually looks far more natural than without. I've learned to dress really proportionally, and this and my admittedly very confident personality seem to make the vast majority, certainly not see me as tall, but not consider me as anything other than 'normal', or of average height.
But of course, what's most important is how I consider myself. I absolutely don't mean to patronise, as I understand that there are people far further away from average on this forum. But I know I'm athletic, outgoing, doing reportedly well on looks, and my stature has never affected my social or love life, but just can't get over the dissapointment of not being able to have control over this one aspect at all without making a true change to my body. At around 5"10 or 11 I'd just have the relief of not having to constantly strive towards this normality which i want everyone else to keep seeing, and I feel like I'd just be so happy and satisfied in myself.
Having said this, I know LL is extreme and not something I think I'd truly consider, certainly unless I'd explored every other reasonable way of bettering myself and was still unhappy. For example, I'm athletic but still slim built, so I'd like to have a broader and more tapered upper body, for proportions, so over the next year and a half I'll focus on this and see if it will make any difference to how I feel.
So, I just wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this or is in a similar situation? Has anyone changed their body in the gym and felt less of a need to be taller? Does everyone else feel they've exhausted all other possible avenues of improving how they appear/feel before truly wanting LL? Or is LL still the main factor regardless of your looks, attitude, physique etc.?
Thanks!
At what point did you consider LL, and what did you try before this?
I don't think there is a single guy in the 5'7ish range on this forum that says they have struggled socially or romantically.
It's an ego problem.
What have you done to train your mind?
To answer your other questions, I'm pretty ripped and successful and still have issues with my height insecurity because I haven't trained my mind.
Read through comments by Alu and Peaceout...they have their feet firmly planted in reality I think.
Keep in mind this forum will likely make any insecurities related to height worse.
Welcome.
Read all comments by "deads" as well...he was 169. Left the forum deciding against LL
Hi CCMidwest, thanks for your reply
I think you raise a good point on this being of the mind. I have read posts discussing doctors' being given reasons of 'girls, career, respect' etc. for patients undergoing LL and though these seem silly they are at least easier to pin down than just 'to feel happier in myself' when all else is in life is fine.
I think maybe a better summary of what I wanted to get across is that I feel disappointed because I am achingly CLOSE to being completely happy in myself.
I do think the forum is a positive place which, for good or ill, shows people willing to actually make a change to be happy. But a mental change certainly sounds less painful and expensive than one involving metal rods in me Midwest! I think that's a pretty positive thought in itself.
I will have a read on this
Quote from: PullmanP on April 02, 2016, 06:27:06 PMHi CCMidwest, thanks for your reply
I think you raise a good point on this being of the mind. I have read posts discussing doctors' being given reasons of 'girls, career, respect' etc. for patients undergoing LL and though these seem silly they are at least easier to pin down than just 'to feel happier in myself' when all else is in life is fine.
I think maybe a better summary of what I wanted to get across is that I feel disappointed because I am achingly CLOSE to being completely happy in myself.
I do think the forum is a positive place which, for good or ill, shows people willing to actually make a change to be happy. But a mental change certainly sounds less painful and expensive than one involving metal rods in me Midwest! I think that's a pretty positive thought in itself.
I will have a read on this
This forum (and especially the other one) are toxic about eberything that's related to height insecurities.
Hi TBIKE
I think my statement was a bit generalised, I meant in terms of my experience here which I've found quite positive. It'g given a bit more perspective to me, where as I have read more about LL I've become more unprepared to consider this a realistic way to help me.
May I ask why you say this? I see you are planning LL yourself
Quote from: PullmanP on April 02, 2016, 06:37:45 PMHi TBIKE
I think my statement was a bit generalised, I meant in terms of my experience here which I've found quite positive. It'g given a bit more perspective to me, where as I have read more about LL I've become more unprepared to consider this a realistic way to help me.
May I ask why you say this? I see you are planning LL yourself
Because it's a forum where most people have height insecurities. So everyone are blaming their height on everything which gives oxigen to your own height insecurity. The old forum is much much much worse though
Quote from: TIBIKE200 on April 02, 2016, 06:43:49 PMBecause it's a forum where most people have height insecurities. So everyone are blaming their height on everything which gives oxigen to your own height insecurity. The old forum is much much much worse though
I think some of that sort of goes without saying. But I'm trying to come at this from an open minded stance; I'd love to say a year or two down the line that with underlying desire for a better overall physique, and after making progress in other areas that I genuinely wasn't bothered by height to a degree that LL was any more than laughable. I could just get over it, and I don't know if that would happen, but I don't think that would be a particularly toxic thing to post. But i respect that negativity can't help with the huge decision to do LL and I wish you all the best with it.
Quote from: PullmanP on April 02, 2016, 06:56:34 PMI think some of that sort of goes without saying. But I'm trying to come at this from an open minded stance; I'd love to say a year or two down the line that with underlying desire for a better overall physique, and after making progress in other areas that I genuinely wasn't bothered by height to a degree that LL was any more than laughable. I could just get over it, and I don't know if that would happen, but I don't think that would be a particularly toxic thing to post. But i respect that negativity can't help with the huge decision to do LL and I wish you all the best with it.
I wasnt saying that deciding not to do it is bad or toxic... On the contrary... It took me two years since my height problem started (and with that the discovery of the forums) to book a date for surgery. I tried to lower the flames but last november after two years of keeping it silent (or atleast coping with it) it exploded with full force and now here I am 2 months before surgery.
My experience with failing to cope with my height problem is my own personal one. I do not think nor believe it is an unwritten law that everyone who have height problems cant get over them or atleast live with them. I, after two years have decided that it's too much for me
My success with women, university, social life all did not help to make me forget it.
That's cool, thanks for that honesty, I do agree that it's of course an entirely personal thing. It's interesting to have contrasting perspectives of the potential for LL being a fabricated need for some and an actual need for others, and i respect that you've given time, and consideration to other avenues, before deciding it's what you need to cope with it.
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