I’m Maggie, and I have an amazing daughter who turns 2 in a few days.
Before I was a mom, I was a model.
Then I got pregnant and gained 100 pounds. This is me at about 8? months (about a month later, I gave birth to a 10lb 2oz girl).
This is me more than two years later than that pregnant picture, still hanging on to a good bit of the baby weight plus some more from a recent pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. My first impulse was to say that I’m sorry if these are too revealing, but I’m not. I have felt very ashamed and self-concious of this new body, and it feels really liberating to share this with others who know how it feels.
I wish I hadn’t been so extremely critical of and unsatisfied with my body back when it was beautiful by conventional standards. I intend to try to stop being so much that way with my current body, because what this body produced has brought me tons more joy than the old body ever did.
Hi Maggie,100 lb gains and fair skin is a rough combination. (Trust me, I know.)I think you bounced back pretty well, and your last comment about the joy your new body has brought to you is beautiful.
Maggie – Your comment is beautiful. I was never a model but I kick myself for having been so critical of myself back then.Thank you for sharing!
I wanted to tell you that you look fantastic! I gained over 85lbs with my pregnancy and I know what the extra weight can do to your body. Your last quote was beautiful and I wanted to say you should never be ashamed of the body that created your child. I am sorry to hear about your recent miscarriage, thank you for sharing with us.
First, sorry about your loss. the pic of you pregnant at the beach is BEAUTIFUL!! It looks like it belongs in a magazine :) Thanks for sharing your story and picsAmanda (mom to 2 girls under 2ys)
Beautiful post.
I’d say that you have a great, positive outlook. You were beautiful in your pregnancy photo, nevermind the weight gain. I think it is enlightening when we can move beyond the exterior because we see the things that matter then. I was a model too and motherhood changed me. For the better! I now know how much more depth I have because of these scars. Congrats on your daughter!
I love your post. Thank you. I’m so relieved to see my pre and post body reflected through your pictures and words.
I love this I feel so much better about myself as a women and mother!! This is awesome!Jessica in Texas
My goodness — that’s me. Thank you for posting. I wish I was so brave.
So sorry to hear about your loss… Your belly is gorgeous… Seriously, that is a great post-partum belly.
Hi Maggie,I think I know you from LLL. I really like your last comment — it’s like the sweetest way of saying, “Looks aren’t everything.” And yet, I have to tell you that you are still beautiful by any standard, model or not.I am truly sorry to hear that you lost your baby. Let me know if you need anything. I hope we’ll see you again soon.~Sara
You are beautiful. I look the same, with the strech marks between the legs.
Maggie – I am so sorry for your loss. I want to thank you so much for your pictures and your words. I cried when I read your post becuase I too was a model and now have an 8 month old son who is a dream come true. I am having a hard time with my “new” body. I want to have another baby soon but have to admit that I’m scared that if I have another one before getting my body back into shape it will never get back into a shape I feel confortable with. I’m frustrated becuase I can’t seem to get myself to do anything about my new body. I hope I get to a point of accepting my body as it is. By the way… you looked beautiful in your pregnancy picture!
Our stories are alot alike. Before picture flawless.After going from having a body most would call “perfect” to gaining 80 pounds, like myself. You expect your body to bounce back, because that YOU. It wasnt that easy for me. surely, wasnt that easy for me to accept THIS NEW BODY! I suffered from depression from this, badly.But, this new body, carried my baby. Every scar was earned! After my child was born I was told the horrible news that she would have to undergo heart surgery or live a short live. the absolute scariest time in my life. and the new body came from HER and I could lose her.With Gods will now, she 4 years old now and fine. I was complaining about stretch marks and sagging breast. I learned to embrace it and cherish each little mark, that tells a story.Your body DOES get better with time ( and i have a 16 mo. old).But, this new body, carried my baby. Every scar was earned! After my child was born I was told the horrible news that she would have to undergo heart surgery or live a short live. Of course, she 4 years old now and fine. I was complaining about stretch marks and sagging breast. I learned to embrace it and cherish each little mark, that tells a story.Your body DOES get better with time ( and i have a 16 mo. old).
I think that tragedy showed me, its what you GAIN, the rest it just details.
Thank you so much for posting these pix! I am not alone!!! I too have stretch marks on my inner thighs and upper thighs and belly just like yours… In fact I have stretch marks over my whole body but I didnt think that was normal but now i’ve seen someone else with similar scars to mine! You’re beautiful inside and out.. the scars are hard to deal with but just remember time heals even the worst of scars.
xoxox
You are gorgeous no matter how many stretch marks you have. Your boobs are huuge woman! LOL
you have my stretch marks! i also gained around 100 lbs and thought i was the only one who gained more than the “recommended” amount of weight during pregnancy. you have a beautiful body
I had a 9 pound baby and I was only 117 pounds and 5.4. I look the same way u do and u know what? We are beautiful women and its natural!
I’m glad you mentioned that your body currently has given you so much more joy than before. :)
I feel that way also!
Even though I sometimes whish for my slender teen body back I would still never trade what my life is today for that!
Elenadahle.com
thank you so much for sharing this. i am so moved because i’ve said the same things to myself. “why was i so critical of myself before! i looked amazing! why didn’t i appreciate my thin body more?” and when i read what you said about your body giving you the very thing that brings you most joy–it brought tears to my eyes. you are exactly right. i’m not kidding you when i say that reading this tonight has changed my life.
thank you so much for sharing this. i am so moved because i’ve said the same things to myself. “why was i so critical of myself before! i looked amazing! why didn’t i appreciate my thin body more?” and when i read what you said about your body giving you the very thing that brings you most joy–it brought tears to my eyes. you are exactly right. i’m not kidding you when i say that reading this tonight has changed my life.