I am 27 years old and the proud mother of two sons, ages 1 and 3. They are 19 months apart so my body didn’t have much time to recover before getting pregnant the second time. I have always been into fitness but my weight did fluctuat during my pregnancy. My last pregnancy really stretched the skin on my lower abdomen and I hate my stomach. I obsess over it but I came to the conclusion that my skin is stretched out and no amount of exercise will fix it- I would need a tummy tuck. But then I look at my progress and I am pleased with everything except for the extra skin. I don’t know if it is worth getting a tummy tuck but I am tired of hiding my stomach that I work so hard for under clothes. I can’t wear a bikini because my stomach looks like an old women’s stomach. Am I being too vain? I just want to feel sexy and be sexy for my husband. He adores me and is not concerned with it but I am. I would love to hear some responses from other mothers regarding my situation. Thank you so much in advance.
Sincerely,
Janessa (Fit Mommy of 2)
Good on you for working out and looking after yourself. I think you could totally rock a bikini. Keep up the good work! I have a patch of stretch marks on my tummy, right by my belly button that I didn’t even discover until after my daughter’s birth. At first, I was really disappointed, but now, I admire those little marks and lovingly remember that that’s where my child used to live and grow. Maybe you can look at the extra skin in a similar way…?
All the best to you.
I wish I hadyour six-pack! You betta work it girl! You look amazing!
Wow your story sounds just like mine!! I have two kids 19 months apart (they are 3 and 5) and I am left with a nasty patch of extra skin and stretch marks that I swear a later of fat hides behind too. My husband say’s I’m crazy and its not that bad. But my “extra skin” pooches out over every pair of pants like I have fat tummy even though I weigh less and am in better shape then I was even before I had my kids. I don’t think I could ever put my self under the knife because of it though. I have learned to dress to flatter my new figure and I rock a very sexy Betsy Johnson one piece bathing suit. You look fabulous and I’m glad to know there is someone else out there that feels the same as I did.
You look absolutely amazing! I hope to look that good (pregnant with baby #3 now) 1 year pp. No need for a tummy tuck. Just keep doing weight training and exfoliate. You look great :)
I work out a lot too and have three kids, my stomach is very toned as well as all over, but I have a few stretch marks on my sides that I absolutely hate and there are only a few, so I feel your pain and will not be one to say don’t worry about it, because it’s a self image problem for you and something that you aren’t pleased with. If I were you, I would wear a high waisted bikini bottom and then just rock it and this way, you are comfortable, but you are able to show off as well. You really do look great. We are not going to ever be 100% pleased with our bodies….
Hi! I think you look great!
I have twins girls and a son. I was always really fit and into dance and yoga right up to when my boy was born. Even though I was really healthy and active I had deep stretch marks over my hips especially and had gained lots of weight. I didn’t feel sexy at all and stopped feeling good and moving my body. After I had my twins my belly was really changed and I was struggling with it. My skin was stretched similarly to yours and I had diastasis 5 fingers wide. I thought women whose bodies looked like mine could’t be sexy and that really stopped me still from moving my body and enjoying and expressing my sensuality. Eventually when I separated from my husband I had to face how bad I felt about myself and I started moving again. It has taken time but now I’m very fit and I love my body. I discovered that when I dance it doesn’t matter what I look like on the outside – I feel all the juicy, sexy energy inside and I’m so grateful that my body gives me so much pleasure. As women I believe we all have different flavours of this delicious energy inside us and THAT is what men love and want to be close to. I’ve noticed that good men just don’t see the details – they see and feel the whole woman.
I’m wondering if you would be interested in finding some kind of movement or dance that not only helps with fitness but encourages you to feel and express the sexiness inside?
Having said that – what is on the outside is all beautiful. And it not the belly of an old woman (which is also a beautiful thing but not you!) – it the belly of a mother and it is gorgeous. I personally do wear a skimpy bikini because they feel so liberating. The more we all hide or have surgery the more normal and expected that becomes and the more women struggle with their normal healthy feminine bodies. But I do also have 50’s style high waisted bikini for days when I’m a bit vulnerable.
Good luck with your journey :)
There are some amazingly sexy swimsuits out these days that are semi-one piece which would cover that small area beneath the belly button while showing off some sexy side muscles and back. Victoria’s Secret has some great ones during the spring. Try looking at the “Wireless Push Up Monokini” at VS.
It covers that small area while still showing off a lot of that hard earned bod!!
If you want to wear a bikini, then my God…wear a freaking bikini. You have such an amazing figure, flaunt it :)
Going to the beach has become a completely different experience for me since I discovered SOAM. I now spent most of the trip looking at other people, wondering how they feel about their bodies and why they’re wearing what they’re wearing. Last summer I saw a lady with your exact belly in a cute little purple bikini and I seriously almost gave her a high five (my crippling shyness kept me from doing so, but I did point her out to my husband and say “good for her!”). Mothers everywhere would be jealous that you have the confidence to rock your mommy skin on top of those awesome abs.
Im not nearly as toned as you are, my stomach is loose and stretched and covered in stretch marks, and guess what?….. I rock a bikini every year at the beach!
I wish I had your toned six pack, too. I have a little loose skin, too, but it doesn’t look so great on me. I’m pale and I don’t have the six pack, although I’m thin. You look amazing. :) I’d personally not have the surgery, but I don’t care for elective surgery (owwwww!). However, I don’t think any woman would or should look down upon you for making that choice. Either way, you look ridiculously good and you should be proud of your fitness level. Any woman would want to be in your shoes, me included.
You look phenomenal! But I know exactly where you are coming from, I am in great shape but still have the tummy skin that will never go away.. and while I think I look good half the time, I’m still very self conscious. If I saw you in a bikini I would think, “holy heck, she looks amazing! hot mama!” Do it up :)
Thank you SOOOO much ladies, thank you for understanding that “us” women can be our own worst critics. We are all in this together and I am very appreciative of this board. Who run the world? GIRLS :)