Anonymous

This site has done wonders for my body image. When I got pregnant with my now 24 month old daughter, I weighed 125lbs. During that pregnancy I was basically a couch potatoe and constantly snacked, resulting in an astonishing 75lb weight gain. I hated my body, I got stretch marks on my belly, legs, and arms. After my daughter’s birth I had to work extremely hard to lose the weight. I went on Weight Watchers and got down to 145lbs, then went back up to 150/155lbs when I got pregnant again. This pregnancy I have been much smarter, eating healthier, excercising, etc. So far I have gained 40lbs less that what I gained in my first pregnancy. I feel good, I don’t hate my body, and I feel a LOT healthier than I did during my first pregnancy. My body image is also a lot different. I only have new stretch marks on my tummy, and I am proud of them, I think of them as badges of honor. My breasts are saggy from nursing my first daughter, but I couldn’t be more proud of them either, I think of them as working breasts. My husband, daughter, and I went to the beach a few weeks ago and after about ten minutes of awkwardness I had no problems wearing my bathing suit. I read your site all the time, and it has definately helped change my perspective on my body….now I don’t see myself as having a “fat” body, but instead view myself as a vessel of life. Thank you for this site.

This picture of me was taken this morning, I am 35 weeks pregnant.

Side view

In this picture you can see my new “badges of honor” on my tummy. The ones from my first pregnancy have faded to a silvery white and are not really visible.