Wednesday, July 04, 2007 Body Image Part II I'm a little pissed at myself for not enjoying my pregnant body a bit more. When I look back at the pictures I think I look kinda cute, but it didn't feel that way at the time. I put on almost 60lbs with the pregnancy. That's alot, especially when the baby only weighed 6lb110z. I lost about 25lbs in the first two weeks after I had her. Damn, if I had only put on 25lbs I'd be back in my old jeans now. The most frustrating part of the weight gain is that I didn't get fat on pop and chips, I got fat on fruit and whole grain. I ate alot, but I ate healthy. Now that I'm breast feeding, I can't change that. I'm more concerned about eating healthy than losing weight. I rejoined weight watchers but I'm just not into this time. I've got lifetime membership so I don't get penalized for missing a meeting and sometimes I just can't be bothered. The morning meeting is all a bunch of blue hairs trying to get back into clothes that fit them in there 60's. Really, when I'm 70 - fuck it, I'll wear a moomoo and be happy about it. If I want to hear a bunch of women coo over Olivia I go, but really, that's my only motivation. As for exercise, I'm trying. I put her in her carrier and walk 30-60min a day. We bought bikes and I try to go for a 30 min ride every other day. I'd like to get back to working with weights but I just can't let her scream while I work out. She likes to be held, and I like to hold her. The one thing I am not doing is wearing my maternity clothes. There are two reason for this. One, is pride. The second is that they are all winter clothes and it's a little to warm for sweaters and jeans. Instead, I bought fat clothes at Walmart. They seem to have an abundance of pants with elastic waist bands. When somebody tells me that I don't even look like I've had a baby I try to just smile and say thanks. I know it's just a thing you say to postpartum women, like asking the gas station attendant if he ordered this weather when it's raining. As I come up to Olivia's 3month bday (ALREADY?!?!?!?) I realize my goal of being in my old jeans by her 6month bday may have been a little aggressive. As long as I don't have to buy a new wardrobe to go back to work next year, I think that will do. For once in my life I'm trying not to be so hard on myself. Having someone else to put my energy into helps with that. If my body isn't satisfing me, at least it is satisfying her. posted by Just another Jenny @ 11:50 AM   15 Comments: At 1:41 PM,  Jaimie said… I can't believe she is 3 months already! It sounds like you are being healthy and also being realistic. Most of use are not stars and have personal chefs and trainers that can whip our bodies back into shape in 6 weeks. That isn't good for your body and it takes precious time away from the new baby. Just keep working at it.   At 6:09 PM,  Anonymous said… i once read some very wise words from a doctor that went something like this: it takes nine months for the body to adjust and grow with pregnancy, why would it take any less to adjust back? so give yourself a more realistic goal than six months and don't feel badly for having a little fat left over. that fat is there for a purpose - to help you nourish your baby. besides, the headless sling picture has you looking pretty darn svelte!   At 9:52 AM,  Heather said… I sounds like you are eating right and exercising, so you will lose the weight at a healthy pace. Try not to concentrate on fitting into the jeans, but take pride in the things your body can do (taking walks with the baby, dancing with the baby, etc.). I also gained more than I should when pregnant and it was all healthy food too. It took a bit of time for it to come off, but now she's six years old and I think I look better than ever! I actually have muscles on my arms I could never achieve weight lifting. I got it all from lifting baby, then toddler and now I can still pick up my 50-lb ice skating princess when she falls on the ice and hurts her knees! Much better workout than the gym. Keep up the good work.   At 11:09 AM,  Barely Sane said… Having never had to deal with the post-pg body dilemna, I'm going to refrain from any assvice. But when fighting my weight, which is a never ending battle for me, I found that it came off easiest when I was happy with my life and who I was. Because you have such wonderful joys in your life now, hopefully the same will work for you too. And I can vouch for one thing - once Olivia gets mobile, you wont have time to sit long anymore. A mobile baby really keeps ya hopping!!!   At 2:34 PM,  Wendy &amp; Karen said… I love your last sentence   At 9:36 AM,  Gemini Girl said… I have been struggling with weight all my life. I was overweight until I was 22 and I finally shed those extra 50 pounds. I did this by cutting back on the crap and the carbs (to an extent) and doing a tae bo video from 1997 for 20 minutes 3 times a week. It worked. The last 15 pounds were shed by weight watchers- and I think their plan works great! It is annoying to count points and live your life by a diet but it helps shed the pounds. I am told that I need to gain at least 50 pounds with this twin pg. I am 3 months along and have gained at least 12. I may even gain 80- who knows? All that matters is that I deliver healthy babies- not that I only gain 30 pounds. you have a healthy daughter- that is the reason the weight is on. It will not be easy to take it off, but it will come off if you stay motivated and go easy on yourself. As the above post said- we are not celebs.   At 7:06 PM,  A said… This is exactly what I imagine myself posting in about six months...so I say to you (and to my future self) don't worry about your weight! It takes time, and you're right to focus first and foremost on eating healthy rather than losing weight. I just keep thinking it's another part of motherhood...putting baby's needs before my own desire for what I consider to be the "right" body. I'm sure you look beautiful and happy, which is the most important thing!   At 9:42 PM,  running wildly said… Good girl. Just don't push yourself too hard. Seriously. I too gained enough for an elephant and myself combined.....55 pounds of goodness. I told myself I'd be back in my regular clothes in a few months post baby. Um, nooooooooooooooo. I recall having a goal of fitting into my "skinnier" maternity pants from the "big fat" maternity pants. My sisters were all back to their normal weights within a few months, so why couldn't I? I mean, we have the same genes. But again....nooooooooooooo. It took me over a year. And I was ok with that. You just have to learn what's realistic for your body and what's not. Cheering you on all the way.   At 9:06 AM,  Jenny said… I am there with you on the lack of a diet while breastfeeding. I focus on eating well, not less and since I haven't had any BF problems, I am sticking with my plan! Eventually the weight will come off, so just enjoy your little angel!   At 3:14 PM,  JennyK said… You're really doing great and don't believe anyone (even yourself) who says otherwise. Trust me, even if you'd only put on 25 lbs while pg, losing the weight doesn't guarantee you'd be back in your jeans now -- all that stuff still needs to go back where it came from, you know? And I've learned to embrace the elastic-waist pant! At least they don't look like the ones my great-aunts used to wear....   At 8:19 AM,  Drew said… You also spoke for me Jen - I refuse to do my maternity clothes but I am happy to hide inside this season's oversized tunic tops. I only just fit into some of my old jeans, but theres alot of my pre-pregnancy stuff that is no longer possible. My ass is bigger, theres still a nice layer of fat around the stomach, but this is the new me...and I think I like it. :P)   At 10:48 AM,  Jamie said… Are you still alive?? :) Just thinking about you and Olivia today and decided to check in. Hope all is well.   At 2:21 PM,  Seamus said… Just checkin' on you! Hope all is well. :)   At 1:10 PM,  soralis said… Wow 3 months already!!! Good luck with the weight loss, I understand and I am looking forward to getting on the weight loss train very soon myself.   At 1:46 AM,  Sassy said… Good luck with the weight loss. It's so hard and I don't imagine it's any easier when you have a baby. Take care and I hope you're going well.   Post a Comment Links to this post:   <$BlogBacklinkTitle$>   <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$> posted by <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$> Create a Link << Home