Body Issues

Krystal - posted on 09/18/2010

I had my son on the 21/3 and within the first 2 months I lost 10kgs so I was halfway to what I was before I got pregnant. Now after 6 months I put that 10 back on. My partner says he likes my body but wouldnt mind me going back to the way I was. I really hate the way my body is but finding it hard to get motivated. Ive just started walking and cutting out soda drinks and eating a little healthier. But finding it hard as seeing my family eat what they want. Ive never been a skinny person but I would just like to get rid of the weight I put on through my pregnancy.

Jessica - posted on 09/18/2010

I am actually below my prepregnacy weight (this happened with my oldest as well)... I haven't been this weight since my sophomore year of high school, and I graduated over 10 years ago! I will say, though, that because I herniated my abdominal wall this second time around (I was ALL baby and all out front), I am not completely happy with my stomach, although it is scarring over. For this past summer, whenever we went to a pool or beach, I wore a tankini rather than my usual bikini. However, I know how you feel because when I reached the weight where I had lost just back to my pre-baby weight (and no more), I felt the same way. I recommend working out at a gym (or even at home) or excercising outside. This will tone your body and in essence redistribute your body weight back to where you want it and make yourself happy again. Good luck!

Shauna - posted on 09/09/2010

OMG .... i dont think working out can help me!!! i have stretch marks from head to toe!!!! ... i do not feel good about myself one bit! ... and after breastfeeding ... the boobies are not looking the best either.

Heather - posted on 08/29/2010

awl i totally understand. i had my daughter march 24. and i still feel big. i dont feel like i look good anymore...i dont see how some moms lose thier weight..i have been walking and stuff but i dont know..

Talia - posted on 08/28/2010

I think just losing the baby weight would be great.

Bianca - posted on 08/20/2010

i had my son on March 8th and im 3kg off my prepregnancy weight and i still feel fat.. i think its mainly cuz my stomach isnt the same as it was and is still a lil jelly like...
i found whenever i did dress up to go to dinner or if i put make up on and felt really good about myself on any day id take photos of myself.. sounds abit up myself but wen i have a shit day n i look back at them i realise i dont look as bad as i think.. i think it also helps to get alot of compliments from others.. my partner is always sayin how good i look etc.. i think that helps alot too :)

Helene - posted on 08/18/2010

I agree. I had my little Lily march 6th and lost more than I was originally before getting pregnant, however, I have no muscle tone so I have that belly pooch. Not to mention the stretchmarks. I think it is normal because our bodies have gone through so much in so little time! (Even though it felt like forever). I wear spanx underneath my clothes to smooth out the tummy rolls and am working slowely to get my abdomen muscles back. I think that you have to realize that you just had a baby, you've already achieved in loosing that baby weight, now you just need to tone it. It's going to take time, but try to appreciate your body and everything it's been though.

Lea - posted on 08/18/2010

I know how you feel. I had my baby on St. Patrick's Day. Even though I am my pre-pregnancy weight, it has shifted. The stomach defnitely has to go! I got a trainder because I need accountability but even if you can't do that, get out and exercise a little. Take the baby if you have to. You can't wish it away, it won't happen. Good Luck and know that there are a lot of women in the same boat. Be thankful you have a beautiful baby to show for it, that is what I always tell myself:-)

Melissa - posted on 08/17/2010

I have struggled with body issues for such a long time. But the thing that being a mommy has taught me is that I have the body I have for a reason. I always hated my curves but my hips helped me give birth to my beautiful baby girl.

My husband is so much happier with my body post baby even though I'm only ten pounds heavier. Don't get me wrong though, I still have those moments of absolute horror. But I just have to remember that I earned this body. One look at the little darling that is fully mine reminds me that I'm beautiful because of who I am - a happy and loved wife and mother.

Briana - posted on 08/16/2010

I feel the same way. I started Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred and it started to tone me and I started to feel better about myself. I had to stop halfway through due to a sinus infection and then moving two states away but I am about to start back up again.

Kelli - posted on 08/16/2010

it takes 9 months for your body to get the way it does when your pregnant and it'll take 9+ more months for it to get back to normal. Your uterus needs to shrink back (breast feeding helps with that) and your hips need to get back into place. Give it time! It took a year to get back to my pre preggo body from my first son and then a week later I found out I was pregnant again!!

Taylor - posted on 08/15/2010

I had my daughter on 2/28 and quickly and naturally lost all my baby weight. Now, like Sharon, I am smaller than I was pre-pregnancy. I'm actually 2 pant sizes smaller and smaller than I've ever been and I still don't really feel amazing. I'm not working out or anything, I think I'm just more active in my everyday activities than I was before and I don't have time/money for a lot of fast food. Needless to say, it is both a blessing and a curse.
I feel thin with my clothes on, but when I take them off.. bleh. I feel like I have excess skin on my extremely untoned belly and ESPECIALLY my breasts. I've always had a large chest anyway.. then I was BFing which made them even bigger.. then I stopped BFing AND lost all that weight so now they're like.. a lot smaller and I feel like they are saggy. When I'm laying down I have so much extra skin on my breasts and no elasticity I can pull the skin away from my breast and let go and it just stays there! GROSS.

Sharon - posted on 08/14/2010

I delivered March 21. I have since lost all my pregnancy weight (25 lbs) and then some. I am actually skinnier now that pre-pregnancy. I'm pretty sure it's because of breastfeeding and all the calories it takes to make the milk. It sounds great that I lost all the weight but now I worry a little about losing too much (I know, the kind of statement that will make some women want to slap me, but it's true) Plus no matter how much weight I lose my stomach is still a little poochy and of course the stretch marks yuk.

I definitely need to start exercising, even taking more walks around the block with baby, etc - SOMETHING to get moving again. I've lost so much muscle tone it's not funny. We went to a botanical gardens last weekend and I got tired soooo fast just walking around it depressed me.

I do agree with what previous posters have said about making sure you get a shower and do your hair/makeup and dress in flattering clothes. When LO was a newborn I was lucky to get a shower more than once a week and I looked like hell and felt like hell. Now that I am back at work I *have* to make myself look presentable and it does help with the self-image.

Kimberly - posted on 08/14/2010

I'm 7 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, but find myself frustrated not with my body per se (though the belly pouch needs to go!) but with the way my clothes are fitting.. or rather not. I still have a lot of clothes that I wore in college, but after 2 kids, my hips are wider and my boobs are definitely bigger! I'd like to get new clothes and that should help, but like most other women, no, I'm not happy with my body. I would love to work out some to trim up, but with 2 kids and life, that time is hard to come by! Good luck to everyone though!!

Michelle - posted on 08/12/2010

I hear you! But you do have to remember it took almost 9 mo's to put on the weight and it can take up to that amount of time to get it off. For those of you that have already lost your baby weight that's excellent!! Try not to be too hard on yourselves and give yourselves a break. Also keep in mind that your mind can take a while to accept changes that has happened to your body.
I have 5 kids. My 1st 2 kids I was overweight and never lost the weight that I should have before getting pregnant again. After my 3rd child I lost all the weight and then some. Same thing with my 4th kid. All by eating better and exercising (plus being a daycare provider and I'm constantly busy).
Now after having my son 5th child in March I still haven't lost much. We are going to try having one more and I want to do it as soon as possible so that we are done before I turn 35 yrs old next yr.
One bonus this time around after having a baby I am not dealing with sagging boobs!! I had a double masectomy due to breast cancer in Oct 2008 (cured by the grace of God!!). Did miss nursing this baby but I have the wonderful (somewhat perky) false boobs! No underwire bra's to achieve the lift : ) LOL!!

Cortni - posted on 08/10/2010

i feel the same way...
i need a good workout plan that would maybe make me feel a little better.
even being able to fit in my normal clothes i feel like a cow. my husband tells me that he's happy with the way i look, but i'm deff. not!

Rachel - posted on 08/09/2010

Me & my cousin talk about this constantly. I had my Christopher 3/10, she had her baby 5/21. I lost all my baby weight 2wks after he was born & she has lost all of hers now. We both have never really been small women, but we use to feel good about ourselves. Now I hate to dress up, including wearing make up & fixing my hair. I went & had my hair cut short so I could no longer put it in a bunor ponytail, now I have to fix it everyday or it looks bad lol, that's one problem fixed. I'm still working on the dressing up & makeup ordeal. I don't really go anywhere that I need to dress up, but I should at least put some effort into looking good when I just go to the store. I don't feel pretty though. I tell myself all the time that I am beautiful & if I made myself up I would feel better, it's just easier to not do it lol. Not to mention because of how I feel it has gotten pretty cold in the bedroom with my hubby. He tells me I am sexy & he loves me no matter what, but I just don't feel that way, so I'm not comfotable with being touched, I feel like he might be thinking "grose, a fat roll" or something like that lol. You're not alone.

Erin - posted on 08/07/2010

I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight but wasn't happy with it then. Also, I have stretch marks and my chest is not the same from before pregnancy. I feel like everything is just saggy and it makes me so uncomfortable and unattractive when I'm around my husband. He says I still look good but I don't know how he can think that when I just feel so uncomfortable with my body. I'm trying to walk more with my daughter to lose some weight but it doesn't seem to help. I get upset about it and then want to eat which doesn't solve the issue, lol!

Renee - posted on 08/06/2010

I am not happy with my body after having my daughter. She is my 2nd child. I have lost the baby weight, but my stomach muscles are trashed. I hate the way I look in a swim suit and we live on a lake and go out boating. My husband is always telling me how great I look and wants to see me in "sexy" clothes, but I don't think I look good in them at all and feel uncomfortable in them. I would love to be able to lose 30lbs and get back to my more "ideal" size but I don't see that happening any time soon. Don't get me wrong, I am not "fat" by any means and my mom keeps yelling at me because I am loosing weight each time she sees me. I am going down in clothes sizes, but don't feel any better about myself.

Nicole - posted on 08/06/2010

I have major body issues! It doesnt help either that my husband puts tremendous pressure on me to trim up so i have definitely been doing something about it. After i was cleared by the Dr at 6 weeks to start exercising again, i did. I know a lot of the weight came off naturally, but i knew it wasnt all going to. So i have stepped it up...got active. I used to be lazy but found that getting out and even just walking helps me tone up but also gets me out of the house and into the fresh air which helps makes you feel better about yourself. I have been eating well and am now jogging 1-2 miles every other day. i was 135lbs before getting pregnant and went all the way up to 168lbs at the end of my pregnancy (and my son was still premature!). But now i am down to 141lbs and still going. i want to be 125 for a 5'1'' petite..125 is good enough for me! =P

I hear ya tho! but ya gotta do something about it instead of wishing it away! =)

Also doing what Phillippa said...get dressed up do your hair and make up makes a difference too! Dont try on your pre-preggo clothes cuz you'll get discouraged, but if you have the means go buy new clothes that fit and flatter your new voluptuous body type! Good luck Rachel! =D

Phillippa - posted on 08/05/2010

Do you give yourself any opportunites to get dressed up nicely and put your face on? It's easy to feel bad about yourself if you're just at home in sweats every day. The other thing you could do is aim to tone up a little (without losing any more weight). My sister swears by a little regular pilates practice to help her stay toned and feeling good about herself.