Hi! I am a 27 year old mother to a beautiful 2.5 year old boy! I’ve been with my husband since I was 19
and we only found out we were pregnant 2 months short of me turning 25. I never had to exercise and always wore ‘sexy’ but classy outfits. I was about 144 lbs and 5’4″wearing a size 5-6. I was very active and loved my midsection, always showing my midriff!! lol Then when I got pregnant I was very happy and had a fairly smooth pregnancy. I didn’t start having stretch marks till about my 8th month along and reached 198 lbs at the day of my inducement, giving birth to a 8lb 11oz 21inches baby boy :)
I dropped to about 160 not long after delivery and was still able to fit into all my pre-preg clothes with exception to the baby pooch. The combination of the labor (24 hours and 30 min push!!) and having such a big pregnancy belly, I still up to this day am suffering from back pain (I’m unable to bathe my son so daddy has to do it) and pains on the left side of my body. I would wear out pretty quickly and with on demand breastfeeding I was way too exhausted to even bother with working out. Not too long after I put on excess weight which just exacerbated my body pains. I pretty much just gave up on myself.
I still don’t know how much I weight because I can’t bear to…I don’t even go shopping like I used to…I’ve resorted to sweat pants and hoodies to cover the bulges and my bigger thighs. Then one night I just was sick of feeling stuck in this body so I then found this site after trying to search for other women who were in my situation. I’ve read almost all the stories on this site and have found such renewed respect for my body. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that my body made my beautiful son but I think I needed more motivation to RESTORE my body to its best:) I am so inspired by everyone on this site and have soo much respect for each one of your bravery and confidence. I truly believe you all are beautiful!!! I have started just recently exercising and am feeling great about myself!! I’m not where I want to be yet but I’m
confident I will be! Because of all the photos on this site, I have showed my husband finally in 2.5 years my body!! Just today!!!
That’s such a big step for me because I don’t even like to look at it myself..I just feel that with this site I have that support even with just you all sharing your stories. So thank you!!! I haven’t the courage YET to weigh myself but I will update my photos again as I progress further towards my goal:)
First photo is before pregnancy w/ the flat tummy
Second photo is a month pp still small legs but w baby pooch
Third photo is my weight gain..(keep in mind I was wearing a ‘slimming’ suit lol my weight continued to climb so I stopped taking photos after this)
Fourth photo Sept 09 2 yrs 4 months pp
Fifth photo December 2 yrs 6 month pp
sixth and seventh Feb 19 2010
eigth photo as of today March 2010
I’m excited for the changes to be seen with my new motivation to be fit but either way I have started to really love my body now mentally and emotionally so that’s helping a lot to keep me going :)
Age: 27
1 pregnancy 1 birth
2 and 1/2 years postpartum
Hi! I just found this site and found your story is similar to mine. I used to weigh 143 lbs before I became pregnant with my first child. I gained 32 lbs (went all the way up to 175 lbs. I was huge!) So far I was able to lose 15 lbs but no matter what I do I can’t seem to lose the other 17 lbs. :( Anyway thank you so much for posting your pics of your belly. Mine looks almost exactly like yours. I’m still very proud of what I accomplished (and you should be too). I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy and he’s the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Stretch marks, saggy bellys and boobs are a small price to pay. Hang in there.
I am so glad you found the inspiration to get fit! And you’re right, it’s so much easier to do it when you can actually just accept yourself as you are. Weird right? I mean, it seems like if you really hated your body you’d be way motivated to change it. But for you, me and most people, it just doesn’t seem to work like it. For some reason you hate it and then just….give up. So anyway, as you know, you have no reason to hate your body. You created a wonderful life and still have a cute figure (plus cute bum)! I wish you luck with your new goals! Keep us posted!
thank you so much ladies!!! It is such a wonderful feeling to have other women feel what I have went through and am still going through. I am really touched. And I definitely agree!! It really took just accepting myself to finally say alright I could do this!! I am happy I am out of my rut and even the 30 mins. I have a day helps me get closer to where I’ll feel my best. I’m loving myself more and more for the motivation I have and the appreciation of my body. I have that goal of before my son turns three to be at the best shape but I’m not strictly adhering to it where I would be down on myself if I don’t get physically where I want to be because with this new attitude I know I’m doing my best.
I loved reading your story! Good for you! I’m so glad this site could help another woman. :) And you should be confident! What a sexy figure you have! :D
Belly twin… it can be hard to get comfortable in “new skin”, but for it really helped to remember that it is the same skin I had before, just delivered in a different manner. I mean, no different than graying hair or wrinkles. It comes with age. And all we can do is stay healthy, happy and true to ourselves through it.
Namaste,
Stacy
hello,i loved your story.I could relate soooo mutch to you,i am 23 years old with a 5 year old and a soon to be 2 year old.I was also very small before i got pregnant with a flat belly and now i have a pooch that wont go away,my stomach looks EXACTLY look your in pic #5.i learned to deal with it and love it