The other day I was in the line at the grocery store and there was a man in front of me – very fit, muscular arms – wearing a tank top. I saw that he had stretch marks on his arms. Now I don’t know, perhaps at one time he had gained a lot of weight quickly – or maybe this is a normal thing when lifting weights – but he certainly wasn’t “lazy” about his physique as commentors in the past have hinted about us mothers. It just struck me as interesting.
I also wanted to say that the number of submissions have dropped in the last week or so, and I suspect that it’s because of the diversity of bodies represented here. I imagine a lot of women look and think their body is nothing new. I just wanted to say, please don’t feel you can’t join in just because you’ve found your belly twin! (Reminds me of Joey and his hand twin!) I think part of the beauty of this site is in the stories told along with the photos, and those are never exactly alike.
In site news, we almost have the new submission form ready to use and you can now access this site from the new domain name www.theshapeofamother.com which will currently redirect you here. Working on getting the site transferred totally. I’ve got a few things up in the Cafe Press store so check that out and let me know what other ideas you have (I’d love to find some ideas for shirts for dad’s). I’ll be adding to it and tewakingthe look of it as the week goes on, but at least it’s there – I’m so excited to be getting some stuff from there, I’ve never been this excited about a t-shirt before. Hee!
Have a lovely week, ladies!
Good for you and your hard work :)Um… I checked out the t-shirts and the “Quite Frankly” one, well wouldn’t it be correct grammar to say, Quite frankly I’m damn proud, instead of damned proud? I’m NOT a english major so could be completely wrong here.
Yeah, bodybuilders aren’t exempt from stretchmarks. It’s a big problem (no pun intended) if they take steroids and/or “bulk up” too quick.
Those shirts are cool. Shirts for dads would be awesome.
I have just found this site and think it’s amazing.Women in the media no longer look like women.It’s nice to know that they are the freaks, not us.
Hi there,I think your site is amazing, and I’ve been checking back daily to see the updates. I’m not a mother…yet, but I’ve absolutely loved reading the entries and seeing the pictures, they’re all beautiful. I was also thinking that you should really being thinking about expanding…maybe a “shape of a woman” site, the diversity that you’ve shown has really been inspiring.
I’m also not a mom, but I really love this site. All because I’ve never seen such cool, interesting body-photos (and body-stories) from real women. Period. It’s like coming home finally.It’s interesting, though, how I feel a bit of sadness as a plus-sized woman who’s just this way naturally — no matter how well I eat, how athletic I am, I’m just a bigger gal. Not because of pregnancy. And I have had stretch-marks, too. It’s like am I still okay? Am I still in the “family” with these women even though I am not a mother, and I cannot say my tummy once grew a life… it just is, well, big? So yes, it would be awesome if there was a “shape of a woman,” too. Thanks again for keeping this site going. I tell all the ladies I know about it.
If it werent for my body, she wouldnt be here!
I think the focus on mothers, purely, is a good one. There ARE other sites, other resources, for women who are naturally plus-sized or happen to be overweight. I consider the “Shape of a Mother” an entirely different ball game. I definitely feel more “connected” to the bodies of women who have birthed babies – especially those who have done so and worked arduously to get back into shape – than women who have never born a child and haven’t faced the onslaught of rapid physical and emotional changes ushered in by pregnancy and motherhood.
it’s not just body builders who get stretch marks, skinny guys get them too. My boyfriend has stretch marks on his hips from a growth spurt when he was a teenager. He’s six feet tall and I think his pants size is about 28 or 29 in the waist.
You need some different statements on those shirts. Those aren’t really conveying the message of this site.
Hey, Anon, you got any ideas for shirts? I’d love to hear your suggestions.
Why not just have one that reads “The Shape of A Mother”? I’d order that!
Will do! :)
contrary to the steroids comment … a lot of lifters do get stretch marks regardless. I started lifting in high school, and ended up with stretch marks on my biceps, and i’m female and definitely not a huge bodybuilder, or on steroids. they’re so common guys dont even notice them, a lot of the people i trained with do have them. i’ve also found most guys dont really notice or care about them, on me.
My husband has them along his chest/upper arms from gaining and dropping weight too quickly while training.My father also has them for no reason. They’re more common than we’re lead to believe :)
I enjoyed reading your blog and I will check back often. I am 41 w/ a 9 month old and I am trying really hard (well reasonably hard) to get my body back. It was lost before I got pregnant! I am biking in a 100 mile bike ride on Oct 7th. I ride 120 miles a week and I still can’t get rid of my jelly belly but my legs look great! Take Care!
My husband is skinny but has stretch marks on his back, horizontal, from growing tall so quick. You never know… :) Love this site!