OK, not really. I think plastic surgery is cheating, it can be dangerous, it is expensive...But I am sooo depressed and have issues with this whole postpartum-body-image thing.It has been incredibly hard to get back into shape after Baby Fredegar. Then one sleepless night I was watching some plastci surgery show on the Discovery Health Channel (it's really bad what happens when you give someone who has been living off-grid for two years a remote control) and your skin stretches out after so many pregnancies, like those 800 lb people who lose weight-you need to have it either surgically removed or deal.They have show after show of women who have had children and are unhappy with their saggy guts and saggy boobs. Then they just dish out a few K and bam! Good as new!
That is so not fair! Well, I guess it's fair, I am just not happy about it.I want my body back! I want to be this gorgeous Mommmy person that people look at and say "Wow! You've had how many kids?" and not "Oh yeah, you've had 5 kids!" (Incidentally, is there an in between reaction?)
Anyway, I work out every morning, my diet has been so so. I hope to do better with the New Year. But in the past, with this much effort, I snapped back. It is a year later and I still feel like I have a figure like Augra from The Dark Crystal
You do not look like Aughra, I'm sure! lol
I know I've said this before, and of course, you'd know better than I would anyway with your background...but I swear by Pilates Powerhouse (I just have the book) and the Fit for Life diet (all about proper food combining). Um, and I haven't done the aerobic/cardio thing you said was necessary, but the Pilates and diet are really helping (so if it means I can avoid bouncing off the walls, then so be it). I thought I was going to have a heart attack with Tae Bo.
You can't possibly have a figure as bad as Augra!!! :)
I think I'm going to join your club of depressed post-partum mothers, even though it has only been just over a month... :(
can I sign up too? After having 5, it's the stretch marks thta I am trying to get used to still. Not that I wear bikinis, but i would like to at least have the OPTION of wearing one! sigh!
Don't even get me started about the stretch marks. But stretch marks do not bulge under clothes-a gut does!
I'm with you there, I have had stretch marks since the first, and really bad ones since the third, and I don't really care... but I really hate the bulge over the pants... oh how I hate it... I had JUST gotten rid of it finally after years of having it, and then I had to go and get pregnant again,... and now I have it again. GRRRRRRRRRR!!
I had JUST gotten rid of it finally after years of having it, and then I had to go and get pregnant again,... and now I have it again. GRRRRRRRRRR!!
I know! And it is getting harder and harder to lose after each baby!
Well ladies, after my 7th baby, I pretty much just accept the mom tummy, and get on with my life. Look at it this way, you are going to get old and saggy given enough time, and God willing you will have long lives. If you make peace with it now, your retirement years will be less angst ridden. Your bodies have done marvelous, miraculous things, as close to divine as we can get on earth. Let's give 'em a break, eh?
Stay helthly, take good care of yourself, thank your bodies for the marvelous amount of work they help you do, honor the gift that you are to your families. Be kind to yourselves, ladies.
Blessings!
REnee,
You have a wonderful attitude. But I must admit, I was looking forward to being of retiring age and being in better shape then-no more pregnancies, no more nursing...
Pansy,
My attitude is transitional. Some days I just have to thank my body even though I am mad at it. I am just trying to develop the habit of gratitude, but it doesn't come quickly or easily.
As far as being in better shape in retirement, absolutely! Most my friends past child bearing age are in considerably better shape than they were 10 years prior. But, gravity still has its effects, and they do not look 30. But they look healthy. Mostly the women I admire and hope to emulate are grateful for the gift of their bodies, their children, and all the lessons learned in the years that got them to the age when child bearing is in their past. I think that as the ability to bear children wanes, the gratitude for the experience increases. Blessings to you, and take the best of care!