I am proud of what I’ve done. My son Marcus is six months old and like all of you I went through some shit bringing him into this world. I was a fitness lunatic before I got pregnant so I was a little down on myself for a while. It’s easy to feel that way when you are used to being very fit and toned and when you look in the mirror now your body is much softer and there are stretch marks on your bum. The added postpartum hormones don’t help. I was shocked when I found out how painful the postpartum period was. I tore badly and couldn’t sit down for weeks, it’s still not right down there. Our sex life tanked and that was rough, we are just getting it back slowly now. I started running again and it’s helped all aspects of my life and I can honestly say I love my body and respect as a sacred vessel. All of your stories helped. My greatest wish is that you all can feel the way I do now. You all deserve it. Don’t even look at the celebrity moms. What they have is completely unrealistic. I don’t even have the money right now for a gym membership let alone a personal trainer and a nutrionist. If we all had that we’d all be the same way. What is real? No sleep, hormones, tanked sex life, stretch marks, financial problems, painful postpartum period, and all the problems you have with your husband if you’re lucky enough to have one as a result of all these things. So a poor self image is like the cherry on the sundae. Don’t feel bad about yourself, don’t hold yourself to ridiculous standards, but be proud of yourself your stretchmarks and your baby.
hee-hee! i like your attitude!!! reality can be a bitch but kissing those soft cheeks on your beautiful baby make it all worth while!! i am not sure celebrity moms in general count as “real” moms anyway – granted they gave birth , but i doubt they spend all that much time with their little ones. everything you hear pretty much says the nannies raise their kids. being a mom is more than just making the baby!
Amen to all of the above! I love how you are keeping it real! I wish someone would have said these exact things to me right after my baby. None of my friends were/are having babies so I felt so alone in my thoughts, post-partum body experience, and new mommy experience. All I had to go off of at first (before this site) WERE celebrity bodies and far removed stories about all of the joys of mommyhood! And there is joy, but there is guilt, pain, body image struggles, a toll on the marriage, etc.
By the way, your belly looks great! And, running does amazing things for the body, but the mind too (more importantly)! Thanks for sharing!!!
I love your attitude! You look fantastic!!! :) :) :)
hah honestly if my post-preg body looked like yours i wouldn’t hate it either…im so jealous hhaha
I don’t think I could have said it better! You are so true about EVERYTHING…having a baby is absolutely the biggest blessing, but hardwork! You are looking fantastic by the way!
I really needed to hear this. I am also 6 months postpartum, a gym rat, and still 7lb from my pre baby weight. I have been having some body issues because I am just not the same. I guess it’s an everyday challenge to maintain a good body image. I love my little girl, don’t get me wrong. I know I am the one who is the hardest on myself. I hate the media for creating this self loathing within real women.
i love my children i just hate that you get thrown out and cheated on because he says “i missed your 16 year old body” (i’m 28)
but i would rather have my children than any boy (i say boy not man) :-)
if someone loves you they will love you and a few marks will not make a difference – you carrierd a precious life inside of you.
nice to know that i and not the only one with strechmarks ect
i am sorry if this is way of the point of your post i just remember so clearly the pain i had after i had a bad tear and then it took them ages to sew it up and i don’t think they did it right as its not the same (just another thing he didn’t like) :-(
If I had a body like yours, I wouldn’t hate mine either!! :D
ummmm what is there to hate?