You didn't mention this, so I'll ask. Have you told your boyfriend how you feel? As important, have you asked him what he thinks of your body? Perhaps he likes your curves more than her skin over bones. You won't know unless you've talked about it. Can you tell him your insecurities? Can you ask him to tell you what he likes about your body? Can you name things you like about your body? If you can name 3, wonderful! Tomorrow, name 4. The next day, name 5. Everyday, love your body even more than the day before. Love your body just as it is. "My strong feet get me where I need to go." "Those muscular calves look great in tights." "I have cute junk in my trunk."

Start young ... trust me, like losing weight, this gets harder as you get older.

Cathy

Thanks for the advice Cathy. The funny thing is that my boyfriend told me when we first got together about his ex being anorexic and how it drove him crazy and it was disgusting because she was so bony. He' also told me that he loves my body and doesn't understand what I'm so uncomfortable. He obviously doesn't like it that I'm not comfortable being naked around him. He also compliments me, like he loves my legs, so sometimes when I walk by he'll say "Ohhh, look at those legs", it's actually kind of an ongoing "joke" with us that he always says that. I know my insecurities are all within myself and not caused by him. He doesn't know the extent of my insecurities, however. I'm not one to talk about the things I don't like about myself for fear of bringing attention to them. Like if I'm constantly saying "Oh, I hate my thighs", then every time someone looks at me, they're going to be looking at my thighs to see exactly why I hate them. Does that make sense? So even though my insecurities are obviously present, I prefer not to discuss them and to keep them to myself. 
You are right though, that I need to appreciate my body while I'm still young. Who knows what it will look like in 10-20 years. I'll probably be thinking that I wish I would have been more comfortable now when it isn't so bad. HAHA. 

I'd put money on the fact that you are going to look back and wonder what you were thinking when you were 25. =D  I know that I look at pictures of myself years back and wonder the same.

Good for your fella! He sounds like a keeper for letting you know that he's pleased with your appearance. I do agree with you that there is no need to advertise your insecurities. In addition to what you said about drawing others' attention to what you think are your deficits, I really do believe that what we hear with our ears becomes more of a reality in our brains. Also, the opposite is true. If our brain hears us say something good, it begins to believe that. So, start complimenting yourself and keep complimenting YOU until YOU believe it.

Remember, it is a journey, not a destination. As you feel more comfortable with your body, I wonder if you might begin to play peek-a-boo with that towel of yours?

All these words of advice from a woman who wishes she'd worked on her issues when she was your age!  =D

Cathy

I know exactly how you feel! I'm 23 and I've been with my boyfriend for 6 years (since high school). I was a two sport athlete in high school when I met him and I was never hung up on how much I weighed. I was active and thin... I got to college and stopped all the sports and that's when the body image issues started. I know I've gained weight in these 5 years. My boyfriend and others tell me I look fine, even great, but I don't feel it. I get almost nervous to be naked with my boyfriend or get into a bathing suit on the beach. I think that I confess more of my body issues to my boyfriend than what you said you do.... It's almost like he catches me thinking about it and notices that I'm upset. When he asks what's wrong, I'm bad at lying so I just say it.... 
He has been nothing but supportive, telling me I'm gorgeous just the way I am and that I have nothing to worry about, that people would love to have my body. Then I go and tell myself that he's just saying that because he "has to." For some reason, I can always find SOMETHING wrong with the way that I look. Lately, it's been all about how much I weigh, since I'm at my heaviest that I've ever been. I'm always insecure and comparing myself to other people.... It's not healthy and I know it, but I just can't stop feeling this way... 
Instead of having a New Year's resolution to lose weight, I think that I've decided to try to be happy with the way that I look and who I am... I want to learn to be more positive and I hope I find support here. Maybe others feel the same way and we can help each other!

jmarch07 you sound like a wise 23 year old!  I think that you are on the right track with learning to be happy with the way you look and who you are now.  More of us need to do that.  I didn't get to that conclusion until I was 40.  Not that I don't still struggle with it, especially since I have gained weight in the last 2 years after losing my mom.  Part of the problem is that we are constantly bombarded with images from the media of  "perfect" women.  (Airbrushed!)  Men really don't think like that.  Never once has my husband said, if only I had Brad Pitt's abs.  Concentrate on the wonderful person that you are.  Your positive self-image will affect those around you.