I am a 37 year old mother of 3 (ages 15, 9 & 7 yrs old). Lets just say I was done family planning by the time I was 30 yrs old.
I was always a fit person before having children, working out 3x a week and was a former gymnast and track star. But that all changed once I started to have children. My son was born when I was just 22 years old. I gained 55lbs with him, considering I used to be a size 4…that was devastating. But I loved being pregnant, however I retained a lot of water. After he was born it took me over a year to get back down to a size 6. Which I was more than happy about.
Then came my daughter 6 years later, followed by my youngest in which they were only 18 months apart. And again it was hard work to lose the weight and to get to where I am now.
I have over 10lbs to lose but I don’t want to be a size 0…I’m voluptuous …and I don’t mind. I have a personal trainer in which he tells me I have more muscle than fat and not to beat myself up too much. So in the meantime, I am working very hard to get rid of my saggy belly and to firm up, I will not consider surgery, besides I’m not a celebrity no one will really care after all…but I’m doing this for me!
My husband has been very supportive and showers me with compliments all the time, we are very much still in love and have been married for 12 years now. The reason why I am posting this is because my husband thinks I’m beautiful and loves my body despite my stretch marks (which have faded) but he doesn’t mind my saggy belly either, I told him he must be crazy because I hate my body.
When going on vacations I was very self conscience and would only wear a tankini’s or a one piece suit (which I hate!) But our next trip coming up is to Cancun and I got the courage to buy a bikini and show off my marks! I decided that as long as my husband didn’t care, why should I right? After all I’m happily married with wonderful children right? So I went shopping with the hubby and he bought me a Marc Jacobs bikini! I still can’t believe I bought it considering the price…I wanted my body to look decent before I spent that kind of $ on a bikini but my hubby was encouraging and voila…I’m showing you my pic!
I even asked my youngest girls how I looked in it (and since children are very honest) they said “you look good mommy!” and that put a smile on my face! So for those who are depressed about the saggy skin or the stretch marks after having children, I say go for it and buy that bikini! After all, I think to myself every line … every bulge was so worth it!
Thanks for reading my story!
I think you look awesome in your bikini! I went to Cancun recently and scoured the beaches in search of stretch marks.
It sounds weird but I wanted to find others like me. Others who had reminece and reminders of pregnacy or weight gain/losses. Every time I found a women (and it was easy. Many different shapes and sizes) I felt great about myself because I finally felt ‘normal’.
With so many images of ‘bikini bod’s’ on tv, I rarely saw a real bikini bod. Mexico was great for helping me learn to love my road map. Hope it will be for you too!
You look fantastic!! I love this post. You are a beautiful woman/mommy, and a great example to your children! Your son will know what beautiful is, and your daughters will have confidence :)
You look amazing!!! Your body is beautiful, your confidence is shining through, and you are working that bikini!!! :)
You ROCK!!!! I have been wanting to get a new bathing suit and have been thinking a bikini or at least a tankini since I always do a major cover up one piece. You have given me the courage to shop for a new suit. My husband is so encouraging as well and I think he’d love to help me pick one out for our upcoming vacation. THANKS!!!
Um, you’re smokin’ hot, lady.
Wow, looking good and three to boot!
Last summer I was pregnant with my second and had a head full of body image issues. I was on the beach at the lake with my toddler and husband and I notice a woman. She was 40+, lean, and wearing a bikini. She had a tummy just like yours. I couldn’t help but stare at her thinking “wow, she is so beautiful in her bikini!” Scars and all, she looked great to me, even compaired to all the teenagers running around. I thought, “I want to be like her”. This summer I’ll be approaching 12 months PP and I am building up the courage to wear a bikini. My body looks a lot like yours, but I’m a little heavier.
You look awesome, and you are inspiring me to love my body this summer!
You look great!! I love the bikini! It’s been 13 years living with my saggy belly. I like how you mention the honesty of children. My oldest daughter is at the age where she is more self aware of her body and how it compares to others. She has watched and been apart of my last two pregnancies. I had a real big boy and then got a preemie. She has told me with her big brown eyes open and honest ” if I get marks from my babies like you it would be ok cause I would more like you”It made me see myself in a new light. How can I be sad about my body when my daughter wants to be like me flaws and all. Then maybe there not flaws but imprints of my legacy that she admires. I love my kids and this is one time of many that makes me wonder if their the ones teaching me about life.
You look awesome- you have completely given me the courage I needed to go swimsuit shopping!
May I call you “Hot Bikini Mom”?
Thank you for the wonderful post. I totally agree with your hubby, you are HOT! What makes you even sizzling hot is that YOUR post has INSPIRED other moms to go swim suit shopping!! YES, a single person can make a difference (giving hubby credit again here) by loving a woman for who she is AND finding HER BODY attractive. You have passed making difference on with your post. Other moms are sharing their experiences and looking forward to “wearing the suit” this and future summers knowing that they are not alone.
To you and ALL women, moms or not, “CARPE DIEM!!”
Seize the DAY! Take Summer back and make it YOURS!!
Time for cool drink now… It is going to be HOT this Summer!!
you have a great body that a lot of women wished they had! Having said that, I think that most women (including myself) benefit from a sexy one-piece suit, especially as we age. Bikinis were great when I was a teenager, but I’ve become more modest as I age, after baby, after all the sagging and wrinkling of my 40s and early 50s.
But if wearing a bikini makes you feel good, I say go for it! I just hope you’re not doing it to try and conform to some youth agenda. I wish we didn’t feel so much pressure to ‘be young.’ Embrace our aging bodies, I say.
You look great – no bulges, I’m envious!
I read your particular post because you refer to yourself as having ‘battle scars’ and I say this about my tummy too. When I told my husband he said: “No – they’re your medals”.
Anyway, you do look fantastic.
You look fit and great. I can’t believe how fantastic your breast look after 3 kids!!! Rock that bikini.
You look fantastic! And bravo for showing your girls that a beautiful post-pregnancy body is something to be proud of, too!