The Shape of a Mother
As you all know, I just recently had a baby. Dante entered the world on July 29th, 2008 and is exactly 5 weeks old at this writing. But, this writing isn't about Dante, this is about me.
When I was pregnant with Dante, I watched my body transform completely in a matter of months. This was an entirely new experience for me. I was 25 years old and never have had weight gain. I've always been an athletic person, and even though I never dieted I've always eaten a mostly healthy diet through highschool and college, avoiding fast food, never liking fried foods, and eating chocolate in moderation. Thus, I'd been about the same weight all of highschool and college.
When I was pregnant, my eating habits didn't change much and I still exercised nearly every day. But, as expected, the weight piled on and it piled on quickly. The recommended amount of weight to gain during pregnancy is 25-35 lbs. I reached the 25 lb mark at the beginning of my 3rd trimester, and the gain did not slow down from there. By the time I had my last appointment I had gained 37 lbs. I was hot, huge, and miserable. I hated my pregnant shape. I couldn't wait to have this baby and have my old body back again.
It didn't take me long to recover from Dante's birth. By one week, I was taking Dante out for daily walks in his stroller. Right away I started eating healthy meals, but yet not starving myself so I could take enough calories in to keep my milk supply up. In combination with healthy eating habits, daily exercise, breastfeeding, and the fact that I'm only 26 years old, I figured I'd be able to wear my pre-pregnancy cloths again in no time.
To my delight, the weight came off quickly. After 3 weeks I had lost 32 lbs, all but 5 lbs of my pregnancy weight gain. I tried some of my cloths on, but most of them didn't fit. My jeans, even my baggier jeans, couldn't go over my hips. My shirts did fit but they were tight and revealed my new belly I lovingly called a "muffin top". Strange, I thought. I only have 5 more lbs to go, and at the end of my first trimester I had gained 5 lbs and all my cloths still fit at that point.
Week 4 rolled around. Dante had been gaining weight beautifully, but I was still at that 5 lbs point. It seems the weight loss had stopped. I was getting frustrated. I wanted my old shape back. I had nothing to wear except for stretchy workout gear; everything maternity is too big and my pre-pregnancy cloths are too small. I was still eating healthy and working out 30-60 minutes daily. Should I start counting calories? A diet plan? Workout more? I was already having a hard time finding the time for what I was already doing; taking care of a newborn is alot of work.
I decided to have a talk with my mother, who I've always thought looked great. I told her about the last 5 lbs, and how I would like to find a way to get it to go away and go away soon so I could fit into my cloths again. Then my mother told me something that changed my thinking: pregnancy changes your body.
"My body never was quite the same again," she told me. She said her hips never got down to what they were before and her stomach never was as flat. Sounded like what I was going through. She said to not beat myself up if I never lost the 5 lbs. And even if I do, my "shape" will probably never be the same again.
I thought about what she said for a couple of days before I realized I could either embrace my new shape or be miserable trying to reach a goal that may never be achievable. Looking at my beautiful baby boy, he was worth all that I went through. I decided that I'm a mother, and I'm shaped like one, and I'm proud.
This is when I went shopping. No more shopping in the junior's department for me; I'm a mother now and I need to dress appropriately. This means buying cloths that fit, regardless of size, and finding pieces that flattered my new shape. I actually had alot of fun doing this. Now with my new cloths, I get compliments whenever I see my family and friends. And of course, my husband is happy about it. I look in the mirror and feel great. Who knows, maybe someday I will get that old shape back. But I'm happier focusing on my new baby instead. And that really feels good.
When I was pregnant with Dante, I watched my body transform completely in a matter of months. This was an entirely new experience for me. I was 25 years old and never have had weight gain. I've always been an athletic person, and even though I never dieted I've always eaten a mostly healthy diet through highschool and college, avoiding fast food, never liking fried foods, and eating chocolate in moderation. Thus, I'd been about the same weight all of highschool and college.
When I was pregnant, my eating habits didn't change much and I still exercised nearly every day. But, as expected, the weight piled on and it piled on quickly. The recommended amount of weight to gain during pregnancy is 25-35 lbs. I reached the 25 lb mark at the beginning of my 3rd trimester, and the gain did not slow down from there. By the time I had my last appointment I had gained 37 lbs. I was hot, huge, and miserable. I hated my pregnant shape. I couldn't wait to have this baby and have my old body back again.
It didn't take me long to recover from Dante's birth. By one week, I was taking Dante out for daily walks in his stroller. Right away I started eating healthy meals, but yet not starving myself so I could take enough calories in to keep my milk supply up. In combination with healthy eating habits, daily exercise, breastfeeding, and the fact that I'm only 26 years old, I figured I'd be able to wear my pre-pregnancy cloths again in no time.
To my delight, the weight came off quickly. After 3 weeks I had lost 32 lbs, all but 5 lbs of my pregnancy weight gain. I tried some of my cloths on, but most of them didn't fit. My jeans, even my baggier jeans, couldn't go over my hips. My shirts did fit but they were tight and revealed my new belly I lovingly called a "muffin top". Strange, I thought. I only have 5 more lbs to go, and at the end of my first trimester I had gained 5 lbs and all my cloths still fit at that point.
Week 4 rolled around. Dante had been gaining weight beautifully, but I was still at that 5 lbs point. It seems the weight loss had stopped. I was getting frustrated. I wanted my old shape back. I had nothing to wear except for stretchy workout gear; everything maternity is too big and my pre-pregnancy cloths are too small. I was still eating healthy and working out 30-60 minutes daily. Should I start counting calories? A diet plan? Workout more? I was already having a hard time finding the time for what I was already doing; taking care of a newborn is alot of work.
I decided to have a talk with my mother, who I've always thought looked great. I told her about the last 5 lbs, and how I would like to find a way to get it to go away and go away soon so I could fit into my cloths again. Then my mother told me something that changed my thinking: pregnancy changes your body.
"My body never was quite the same again," she told me. She said her hips never got down to what they were before and her stomach never was as flat. Sounded like what I was going through. She said to not beat myself up if I never lost the 5 lbs. And even if I do, my "shape" will probably never be the same again.
I thought about what she said for a couple of days before I realized I could either embrace my new shape or be miserable trying to reach a goal that may never be achievable. Looking at my beautiful baby boy, he was worth all that I went through. I decided that I'm a mother, and I'm shaped like one, and I'm proud.
This is when I went shopping. No more shopping in the junior's department for me; I'm a mother now and I need to dress appropriately. This means buying cloths that fit, regardless of size, and finding pieces that flattered my new shape. I actually had alot of fun doing this. Now with my new cloths, I get compliments whenever I see my family and friends. And of course, my husband is happy about it. I look in the mirror and feel great. Who knows, maybe someday I will get that old shape back. But I'm happier focusing on my new baby instead. And that really feels good.