Haha, if only! Don't worry, I know that it will take quite some time for my body to shrink back down to size, if in fact it ever does. I'm not really stressed about it, honest, but my big thighs, flabby gut hanging over my trackies ('cuz they're about all I fit into) and my incredibly disproportionate boobs (the fake one hasn't kept pace with the milk dispensing one, obviously) do all make me feel less than glamourous. It does make me think a little bit about body image and the like.
Towards the start of my pregnancy, I cried when held up a cute little size 10 skirt and realised that I may never wear it again. I've heard people say all the stuff about how your kids make it worth it, and obviously nobody would trade their kids for a model's body. But I wondered, can you really feel confident and happy with your body if it doesn't ever go back into shape?
I think now, that maybe you are or aren't happy with your body, but it just doesn't really matter, because there is so much less time to think about it. Other more important things consume your energy. I plan Cooper's outfits before I plan my own. I often forget that I haven't looked in the mirror before I go out, as I've been so busy getting my little boy ready and out the door on time.
I also think that we are our own harshest critics. I've only weighed myself once since the birth, and I loved Jason's off-hand response when I told him how much I'd lost but how much I still had to go:
"You don't want to lose too much though... remember how you used to whinge about the cold all the time? A little insulation would be good."
I love that my "whinging" (I still maintain that commenting "gee, it's chilly tonight" or having your teeth chatter is not actually whinging!) obviously bothered him more than my flabby tummy. If it doesn't bother him, why should it bother me?
I've heard people say that you should be proud of your post-baby body... it shows that you've been a part of bringing a miracle into the world. A similar sentiment was expressed on Oprah today with regards to aging... "Ageing is a privilege, not a birthright". I love it... I am privileged to be alive long enough to grow wrinkles. I am privileged enough to be able to have a flabby baby tummy, when some can't.
Having said all that, I still have a little vain part of me that is hoping to fit back into my size 11 jeans one day!
I could care less about my tummy. It was never that great and it's easily covered.
ReplyDeleteI want my feet back. I have to wear clodhoppers of shoes now. Although, I suppose I should be grateful I can wear shoes at all, seeing as I could only wear flip flops when pregnant, and it took about 6 months after he was born to graduate to runners. Now nothing fits right.
Shoes, I want nice shoes.
lol, yeah one mum I was chatting to said she started at size 7 and went up a shoe size with each of her 2 kids!! Freaked me out as I'm starting at a size 9!
ReplyDeleteI'm used to having big feet and not having nice shoes so as not to draw attention to them, so as long as they don't get too big to be able to buy any shoes at all, I'll survive.
I've seen some really pretty flip flops and sandle things... would any of them work on your feet?
Oops, I didn't realise our quick conversation had such an impact on you Heather! I don't expect my belly to ever go back to pre-pregnancy shape (notice I'm not using the word "flat") but I like it better now for all its kookiness. I still wouldn't show it off in a bikini, but I am proud of it now, despite never having been proud of it before, because of what it represents.
ReplyDeleteHold onto those size 11s for a few more months yet!!! Plenty of time for them to come out of the wardrobe - besides which, trackies are much more practical for jumping into bed for a snooze whenever the opportunity presents!
lol, don't worry, Amy, I was thinking about it all before that! And yes, I will hold onto my jeans, but I'm thinking that the bikini might be going out... not worried about that though! I can handle going out to buy one pair of swimmers if I get to keep the rest of my old wardrobe :)
ReplyDeletelol after second kid my tummy looks like there's a pouch there, like the big cats have hehe! but like you said, if Brett doesn't mind it, why should I! that said have never been a bikini wearer so that helps lol. weight comes off slower with second child apparently!
ReplyDeleteMy feet are now size 11 - thank you babies - and no doubt they'll grow with subsequent ones too. I was thinking about this {AGAIN} the other day - with my podgy won't-go-back belly etc and then thinking the same as I don't want to look like a teenager as far as my face etc goes, and I"m glad I have a butt thighs and hips, why would I want my body to look like I'd never have children - as if that weren't a desirable thing? Why would I want to hold onto who I was before children when I am not that person [and thats a great thing] but I still wear my tummy shaper pants - you know the kind we wore for my wedding, and I somehow feel a teensy bit better - though whenever anyone comments on my figure or how I look, first thing I do is hike up my top and proudly display my magic undies :) Perhaps thats oversharing...
ReplyDeleteNot everyone's feet grow. I'd never even heard that they could until I read this post. Mine are the same after 4 and a bit kids.
ReplyDeleteI do miss my tummy and non-saggy butt (I was glad to get slightly bigger boobs though), and I wish I had taken the opportunity to show off my pre-baby body more when I had it, rather than wearing so many baggy clothes then, but I also am proud of my babies and blessed to have been able to have them, so happy/accepting of what I have now.
I think for me, the hardest thing was adapting to the 'new normal' of being a bigger size when I went clothes shopping. I still tended to look for my old size clothes (even after several kids) and then getting a little depressed when they didn't fit me.
I always said it takes 9 months for the stomach to grow and it takes 9 months for it to go back. Give it time and you'll be surprised. I struggled a lot after giving birth to Gavin but it was because I had not budgeted for a new wardrobe and I didn't want to wear maternity clothes forever. But after a few months I was slowly starting to fit in some of my old clothes.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm sure it will happen in its own time. (Would probably happen faster if I wasn't eating so much junk, but oh well!)
ReplyDeleteI had some friends pass on some size 14 pants for 'afterwards' and I managed to zip them up yesterday! Progress! :D