It’s probably partly my own fault for not exercising very much and going through the drive-thru WAY too many times this pregnancy, but I truly feel that things may never go back to the way they were before.
Why you ask. Here’s my list of reasons:
1. My feet still aren’t completely back to normal. I tried on 5 pairs of my shoes the other day and NONE of them fit. I had to go and put on my trusty black flip flops that I’ve worn for the last 2 and half months. I don’t like these flip flops anymore. I want to wear my other shoes. And they want me to wear them. I can tell they are all lonely in my closet.
2. I have A LOT more stretch marks than I ever did with the boys. Some of them I couldn’t see while still pregnant because they are on the bottom of my belly. But I can see them now, Oh yes I can. Ugh.
3. My belly is extra jiggly. Yeah, yeah, I know I just had a baby not even two weeks ago but still, my tummy has never been this bowl full of jelly-like.
4. My hips seem wider. I say ‘seem’ because they probably aren’t really that much (if at all) but they certainly look it to me.
5. I remember what my chesticles had become after I finished nursing Gavin and though nursing still hasn’t worked out this time I’m holding out hope and I am pumping so… yeah, I’m guessing they’ll be down to my jiggly belly by the time this nursing/pumping session is over with.
I would like to start exercising as soon as I can and I really miss running and plan to begin the couch to 10K program again, hopefully in a month or so.
But right now, honestly, it’s kinda hard to look at myself in the mirror. I just don’t really recognize THIS body. Obviously I wouldn’t change the reason I’m a little physically altered (beautiful baby girl) but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m somewhat mentally altered by my reflection.
P.S. This post is sponsored by the local “Pity Party” committee, of which I could probably be the leader right now…
OMG! You just had her!!! My mom told me when I had my first, that “it takes 9 months to put the weight on, and 9 months to take the weight off!” – and it’s true!
You WILL get your old body back. But don’t worry about it now. Just enjoy your kids and watch what you eat. Ease back into exercise slowly and love your miraculous body. It created life. TWO weeks ago!! 🙂
Natalie @YMCbuzz
I think there isn’t a woman on earth who has birthed a baby who doesn’t feel the same to some degree.
Even if you don’t return to a “perfect you” you are so much more than you were before…for there is no more perfect body than that which has given life to another.
Of course, my own body looks like I birthed an entire herd of elephants and it’s been nearly 4 years since my last (and final) was born.
You have every right to feel like that! We all did right after…and for two years if you are me. As soon as you are ready you will get back to running and be leaner and meaner than ever. I know it!
Otherwise how we gonna run that marathon at Disney together?
Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself! That post partum period is totally sucky and in my opinion all mirrors should be removed for the first three months. And I say go out and treat yourself some new shoes until the old ones fit again!
Oh Elaine.
My baby just turn 1 two weeks ago and my belly is still way too jiggly. Even though I am losing weight, I’m not sure the jiggle will ever truly go away. I can honestly say that my hips did not go back to their normal width until the last few months.
Cut yourself some slack- you just had her. Join us at Shrinking Jeans when you are ready, but not too soon.
Oh Honey! It has only been TWO WEEKS!!! However, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I felt as though Kendall changed my body WAY more than Connor ever thought about doing. It is something about having girls. Even if you don’t get back to what you were, you are still beautiful and have three beautiful children to show. Don’t beat yourself up.
Girl I know how you feel.
And I can tell you, it has a lot to do with your normal body type, a lot to do with genetics, and a lot to do with accepting yourself.
What does your own mom look like? Do you have sisters? How ’bout them? Aunts on your mom’s side? Chances are pretty good you’ll resemble them.
And, before you ever had kids, did you have a pretty consistent weight or did you yo-yo a lot?
I don’t know what it is about the third kid, but my body was never the same after mine. But, I do wonder, how much it had to do with the third kid or maybe just with normal 30-something metabolism. Like, I have friends my age with NO kids and their bodies aren’t the same either.
So, no you probably WON’T get your same body back as before. But you have the badges of honor (aka stretch marks) from your hard work. And, in reality, most women don’t have their 20-something bodies now either, whether they are moms or not.
I’ll join your pity party. I’ve been really down about my figure lately as well.
Your body and feet will spring back, just give it more time…you are still beautiful no matter what. 🙂
And you have that darling girl!
Oh how I remember ALL of those exact feelings. Plus I thought my perlvic floor was NEVER going to regain any kind of strength again (but it did). But here I am now with jiggly belly still (those sucky in super strength pants are good for that!), stretch marks faded (but I know they are all too ready to reappear any day now with this thrid pregnancy). This is the silver lining – all of those pesky complaints that we all have after delivering a baby do go away even if it is with the help of some kind of under garments that you thought you would never wear.
There’s only one thing to do – new shoes are in order for you -something bright and fun! Be kind to yourself as you certainly deserve it.
The imagery that I conjured up in my mind from your previous post had me in fits of laughter. I know all too well that at the time these situations are anything but funny, but boy they make for a cracker of a story.
Hope the rest of the week is kind to you.
Stretch marks –
I have this fear that someday I’ll be at work – and for some reason will have a heart attack. People will gather. The AED will be used. My shirt will be ripped off. And people will gasp in horror! “My god! LOOK at those stretch marks.
Seriously. This is what I think about.
I hear ya on the stretch marks. Maybe it is having a girl thing because with my son I didn’t have any but with my daughter, whoa.
Just give it time.
So some things will never be the same, but you’ll be able to accept that when you are less tired, less hormonal, less in the throes of newborn days.
I have stretch marks that will never go away. I have what I call c-section belly, the little roll of tummy that will never go away no matter how much I exercise. I wish I could be like Kimberly Hahn and see each little mark as a treasure that reminds me of my blessings, but I can’t. But I have made peace with my body (most days) and you will too. Until then, don’t torture yourself by looking! 🙂
I’m going to join you in your pity party…. 12 years later and I STILL haven’t lost the weight. AND now that I’ve hit my 40’s I can’t seem to lose ANY weight….. no matter how hard I try! But, like you said it’s so worth it (baby girl) and I think my girl is worth it too! 🙂
I remember that feeling so well, having lost the baby weight but things still looked odd and out of place….it takes 9 months to put it on, give yourself a good year to fully get back to your shape….you are eager to get back to running so that is step 1 and you have a goal set…not much more you can ask of your self!
Personal trainers are great…invest in yourself!
Sorry you are having a rough time, but I bet everyone feels that way for a while right after having a baby. You will get back to your old self…because you want to. Don’t give up…I’ll be ready to run along side you when you are ready! My belly jiggle (not even from having a baby) bounces everyday too!
Hugs!
I am jiggly too and my baby is 5!
Feel better?
You should.
I want to join you on the road back to running.
It is will get better!!! You are going through a bunch right now so cut yourself some slack. Nine months on, nine months off.
And totally do the C25K—it is the best!!!
Sweetie, give yourself time! It’s only been a few weeks. It took me MONTHS to get back to as close to normal as I got after I had my babies (I have tons of stretch marks. tons. Oh well).
you are going through the hardest part of pregnancy, the after-body. Don’t worry, it will come back, sorta.
I’ll be in that party right with you in a few days for sure. But you know what?
it was totally worth it to get our girls and it can only mean it will give us both the motivation we need to get our bodies back.
We’ve been pregnant,delivered girls and now we can keep each other motivated through this too!
I know what you mean, hon. But it’s slowly getting better 🙂
And anytime I feel sorry for myself? I look at my 2 little ones and tell myself they don’t care what size I am as long as I love them unconditionally 🙂
And that works every.single.time.
You JUST had a beautiful baby, silly girl. Don’t worry about it lady! You look gorgeous. MWAH MWAH MWAH!!!
You JUST had a beautiful baby, silly girl. Don’t worry about it lady! You look gorgeous. MWAH MWAH MWAH!!!
I hear ya. Stretch marks have kissed my butt…and chest….and hips….everywhere.
I plan on getting a personal trainer once this is all said and done. They’re going to have their work cut out for them.
You can do it!
Girl, I remember when I had Zoe and I packed REGULAR clothes to come home in from the hospital.
Yeah, that didn’t really work out for me!
But it eventually did. Just wait, you are going to be running after THREE kids in no time and it is going to come off. Give it time.
Hugs.
Oh, sweetie, don’t be so rough on yourself. Chances are, you felt like this after the boys, but you don’t remember. Time has a funny way of erasing our memory! When you can exercise, I would recommend Lindsey Brin’s postnatal boot camp. It’s a hard workout, but quick and to the point.
I remember feeling the same way. Jiggly and pale, stretch marks and flaps of skin. Give your body some time to heal, girl.
You will get back to where you were before, it will just take some time and work. I can honestly say (aside from the stretch marks) that right now I look better than I did BEFORE I had BJ.
Get your buns over to the Sisterhood on 10/28 when we start our next challenge!! We’d love to have you back 🙂
Oh, Elaine! I know how you feel because I went through this exact same sort of “pity party” after I had Cole.
As much as the kiddos definitely ensure our bodies will never be the same, our bodies are still amazingly resilient and DO eventually come back to some reasonable shape! 🙂
Can’t wait for you to be able to get back to running….I can see a future runner in you! I love it…even though I am far from perfect, the days I get to run I feel like a movie star!