Not About Size

[craftyashley]

I've come to an epiphany lately. It isn't about the size I am anymore. I'm fully aware I will never be a size 6 again. But after working out for a while and genuinely making an effort, I've realized my clothes (while still too many sizes too big for my comfort) look better on my toned size 14 body than they previously did. So maybe it isn't about the number, but about how good you look.

[mammawazz]

I 100% agree with you I was a size 9-10 when I got pregnate with my daughter I gained about 35-40 lbs with her and was so depressed with my body after I gave birth. So I started walkingand doing yoga I havent lost a lot of weight but my body does feel bettter. The only thing is that we got a suprise and found out I am prego again I'll be sure to watch what I eat this time around to avoid any unnessary weight gain but I am okay with being this weight for the rest of my life if thats what happens

[champagnebaby.com]

I agree about the fact that I will never have that "pre-pregnancy" body ever again. What I also realized is that my priorities have changed. Before, I just wanted to look "hot", now, yes I want to look hot, but I meanly want to feel good about myself. I started a new work out program last week, and my goals are not what they are used to be. I am more realistic about them, and they are based on the fact that I just want to healthy...

If you want to see my progress and follow me on my journey, go check out my blog: "Loosing weight after pregnancy" at http://champagnebaby.blogspot.com/.

[BUTNERBARN]

I would have to say that this was the hardest thing for me to accept (even though I still do not want to). I knew while I was pregnant that I might not be able to return to my pre-pregnancy size. But what was more difficult for me was that I had been battling anorexia for 7 years before getting pregnant. I obviously had made some progress because I got pregnant not having had had a period for 6 of those 7 years! I loved being pregnant and was monitored by a nutritionist and only had a few moments of anxiety, but being pregnant justified the weight gain obviously. I exercised vigorously everyday - like at least 10 miles of walk/running split between morning and after work, and at my lowest weight was 97 lbs ( I am 5 7 1/2 tall) and was around 120 when got pregnant. But I was ok with that because I knew I didn't look healthy. So baby arrives and unfortunately my SIL how had her DD 7 months before I had mine was smaller than when she got pregnant (kill her-LOL) so I was kind of hard but I was well aware to give my body time due to the trauma of the last 9 months. My DD has certainly changed my entire outlook for the better. I can't help that my hips did actually spread - I can't loose hips, I can wear some of my pants from pre-baby but only a few and well that's ok with me too. I'm not crazy about the pooch I get when I bend over or the inch I can now pinch. Nor can I imagine working out like I used to - i don't know how I did it looking back. I do walk/run 5 mi every morning, but if for some reason I can't, I know its ok. I try and lift weights every night or every other night but if I don't feel like it or run out of time - I'm ok. And THAT has been my 2nd biggest accomplishment, my child being my first of course. My hubby is very attracted to me, and that makes up for not being exactly the way I was before baby! Life is pretty good right now - so why should I complain? :)

[craftyashley]

Life is pretty good right now - so why should I complain? :)

... because you don't feel like yourself. It's been an astonishing 2 years after my kids were born. I had a hard time melding who I am, and what I now look like. The two didn't fit together for me up until just recently. I seriously thought a few of my jeans were my husband's. I totally didn't recognize the tent of denim that was before me. I think that is just one of my own personal challenges... staying who I am no matter what I look like, even if what I look like now never does change.

[cay8099]

Before I conceived my first son I weighed in at 125. After I dropped down to 140, and couldn't get under that weight no matter what I did. Now after number 2 I am at 143. I know I'll never see 125 again, or be in that great of shape again(literally) but what can you do. We just have to accept that the gift to create life comes with a price.

[cdato20]

Once, in high school, I weighed 119 pounds. The day I gave birth, I weighed 215 pounds. I know nothing will ever be the same again, at least without the help of a good plastic surgeon. Even now, pregnant again, I still have extra skin. The silver lining to this has been that I did grow and keep boobs. When the way I look depresses me, I remind my husband that he is buying me a new stomach for my 30th birthday.

[simzfanatic87]

i hope i never have my pre pregnancy body i want one better than that one. the good news is im seven months and i've gained ten pounds. doc told me to gain more but baby is fine. i cant possibly eat more than i do. bad news is that i weigh way too much. more than 200 :(.

[champagnebaby.com]

Ladies! We need to cheer up!!! It all linked together! More bummed you are about your body, less you want to do anything about it. And less you do, more bummed you get :-(

Well, I say, today is a new day!!! Be positive! We can do it! I'm not saying that we need to go back to our 119, that's too skinny anyway ;-) I'm saying that we need to get a better attitude. We just need to stay active; go take a 20 minutes walk, get on the floor and play with the kids instead of laying on the couch watching TV. I'm telling you, when you start being active, you get more energy, and you get motivated. Your whole perspective changes. It's going to be hard, habits die hard, but it's worth it. Everything is in the attitude, you got to stay positive!

So who's with me???

[ladyc]

After my 1st baby I reached my pre-baby weight of 54 kilograms right before her first b-day and to celebrate I...got pregnant again. Now, approaching my 2nd baby's 1st birthday I am 1 kilogram away from my pre-baby weight but you know what? It looks different than before and I cannot wear the same size. I agree with the person who said it is better to be even bigger but toned up. That's my new goal. Anybody have any good exercises to build up your bum? I've got a deflated bosom and a deflated bum...help!

[APEMBERTON]

I agree..although I am currently TTC & have never been pregnant I have learned to accept my body as is!! I am not the perfect size for my likings , but I honestly could only lose about 10 pounds w/o looking anorexic(sp?)!! I am not a size 2 ...nor will I ever be ..even if I starved myself to death I could not fit into a size 2 ,but a size 2 for me would look HORRIBLE!!! If I could lose 10 pounds I would be completely satisified w/ body(even though losing 10 pounds would put me in a size 4 or 6 it is how YOU look in my opinion , not the size at all!!!

[kare.bear]

This one hits pretty close to home for me but for a different reason... I have been overweight my ENTIRE life and finally, at age 30, I started to actually be able to do something about it (hypothyroidism finally under control with medication, joined WW, etc)... I started age 30 at 269 lbs - size 28. By age 34, I was 160 lbs - size 12... But that's the smallest I was able to get down (for now. Will work more after baby is born). What I learned from this is HUGE. IT NEVER WAS ABOUT SIZE! It always was and always will be about how I VALUE MYSELF! When I did not respect myself or my body, I was unhealthy, unhappy, and miserable. When I learned to stand up for myself, my needs, and my physical self, I was finally happy - no matter the size I was at that moment. And that remains true now... After this baby is born, I will not be a size 12 - but that is ok. I will continue to see the value in myself, work my healthy habits and see where life takes me next. I never expect to be a size 6, but I can most certainly expect to be healthy and happy :) Good luck to you all!

[Willbearsmom]

I find it interesting that we as woman try sooo hard to get back to our preprego bodies when for the most part, with the new hips and boobs our men are much more happy!! I told my husband I wanted to get back to my preprego weight and he almost got mad at me! He said heck no! Apparantly I'm more attractive now, even with the stretch marks, than before!

[brandie1127]

I am still in denial! I want my pre prego bod back so bad! :( I do arobics everyday walk when I can. I pretty much think I have ruined being able to breastfeed anymore because I'm not eating enough! ... bad mommy!

But I too think I am coming to terms with the fact that I will loose the belly but my body may not ever be how it was. I pulled out some of my old bartending clothes and I was like "What! Was I anorexic? Those clothes look so tiny!" ... and I thought I was fat!!!! Should have been more happy with myself. I think even with loosing the belly I won't ever be a size 4 again. I think I have hips now - so I'm going to have to go up a size anyway. As long as I don't jiggle - I don't care what the number is. :)