"Embracing Your Mom Bod": My First Guest Post!
I am so happy to announce that I have written my very first guest post! You can find it here:
http://www.saharsblog.com/family/embracing-mom-bod-guest-post-honest-mom/
I was just so happy with the post that I asked my lovely new blogger friend, Sahar if I could also post it on my site! Sahar has such an amazing blog that is all about being empowered and being positive. It is such a great blog, go check it out!!!!!
www.saharsblog.com
Without further adieu...
EMBRACING YOUR MOM BOD
Motherhood is tough, but what happens to a Mother’s body is even tougher. We go through 10 months (they tell you it’s 9, but it’s all lies! 40 weeks=10 months!) of drastic and intense body changes, internally and externally. While you get this beautiful and miraculous little bundle of joy, you also end up looking like a busted tube of crescent roll dough…. We don’t all bounce back like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian… (Although I really wish I did!)
During my pregnancy I gained right around 80 pounds… 80 pounds… That’s like a freaking 9-year-old. I just couldn’t control my weight gain, and after a while, I figured, screw it, if I’m going to gain weight I might as well go big or go home. Taco Bell, Little Caesars, and freezer section taquitos became my friends.
At my last appointment before I had my little girl, I weighed in at 248 pounds. I could not believe that I had put on so much weight.
Once I gave birth, I started my long journey to getting my body back! 10 months later I have finally lost the 80 pounds of pregnancy weight, but I am still going strong! These are some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Say Goodbye to Your Old Self
Drastic body fluctuations and parenthood changes a person. It is inevitable. Don’t hold on to the person you used to be. Embrace the new you; the better you; the ‘Mom’ you.
Look in the Mirror and Point Out What You Love About Yourself
The first thing I did when we got home from the hospital was look at myself in the mirror. I looked and felt so different. It was scary. Although some parts of my body terrified me (I’ll leave that to the imagination), I pointed out the parts of myself that I still loved, and it made the differences seem not so bad. My skin was the best it’s ever been ever since I had my daughter. I had THE WORST acne for as far back as I could remember, but since giving birth, I have had near perfect skin (knock on wood!). My butt was also AMAZING. Yes, I gained a crap ton of weight, but my booty was still on point, and that meant something to me. When faced with negative thoughts, you’ve got to remember the positives.
If You Don't Like Something, Change It
Don’t ever feel ashamed for changing something that you don’t like. I felt fat and gross, so I started working out and meal prepping. Instead of wallowing in my own self-pity, I kicked my ass in gear and changed what I didn’t like. At the end of the day, it’s your body and your life. If you are happy that is all that matters. I have stretch marks ALL over my body. I hate them…. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them. I totally get the women that love theirs and are proud of them. I totally understand it, and I support any Mother that feels proud of theirs. I just personally don’t like mine and the way they make me feel, so I have started using lotions to fade the look of them. The bottom line is that you have the power to create the body and life that you want for yourself.
Understand the Gravity of What You’ve Done
You just gave another human being life…. A living, breathing person with thoughts and feelings… You made them… (well, with a little help from dear old Dad) THAT IS AMAZING. The stork didn’t just drop this kid off on your porch! Realize the miracle you’ve just gone through and cut yourself some slack! Be gentle with yourself. If you’re making progress towards your goals (internal and external) that is all that matters. You’re not going to just drop your baby weight and heal your lady bits or C-section incision over night!
Build Other Mommas Up
This is the lesson that gets me. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND why Moms judge and tear each other down. I cannot fathom why any Mom would do this to another. As a Mom I lose my shit daily. I constantly feel like my body is a wreck, and I’m not doing a good enough job being a Mom. Why would another woman feel like it is necessary to judge me more than I am already judging myself? This is madness. COMPLETE MADNESS. Build other Mommas up! Compliment them. Tell them they are beautiful. Let them vent to you. Let them confide in you. Be the one to tell them it’s going to be okay, and that she is doing the best she can. If we spent our energy building each other up as opposed to tearing each other down, can you imagine what better Mothers and human beings we would all be?
Final Thoughts
I have changed so much as a person since becoming a Mom. I have a whole new perspective. Life is about finding happiness and living the best life you can. It doesn’t matter what you look like or how you parent. If you and your family are happy and healthy that is all that matters. Embracing your mom bod isn’t just about a number on the scale, or how dark your stretch marks are, or what a disaster your lady bits are. Embracing your mom bod is about loving this new person you’re evolving into, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Live your best life, laugh at your mistakes, love with your whole heart, embrace your ‘Mom bod’.
**Don't forget to check out the original post at:
http://www.saharsblog.com/family/embracing-mom-bod-guest-post-honest-mom/
Special thank you to Sahar for giving me the opportunity to post on your wonderful blog! I hope to work with you again soon!
