Search

Expectations, that post baby bod.

Admin
Apr 29, 2017
4 min read

Did you feel it? Do you still deal with it? Was it ever something you dealt with?

What is the "it" I am referencing? The pressures of molding immediately back to the pre-baby self. Yup, it is there. I know I felt it, I know I see other women dealing with it. The jeans we ache to fit back into. The pictures of our newborns where we might duck out due to the "way we look". Well, guess what sister, it is a ridiculous thing from a idiotic source. Take a step back and think about it.

Where does this pressure originate? Not sure? I will tell you my theory. How about the pictures on social media, or your friend Susie who bounced right back into her size 1 jeans? It comes from comparison. The enemy of comparison is real. Well, the lady on my social media feed did it within 2 months post baby, why can't I?? Let me ask you some questions, do you realize what you have just done and continue to do? Do you realize the sacrifice you, and only you, have made for this baby you hold and family of yours? The difficulty breathing, eating, and even moving at the end of each and every pregnancy. The embarrassing moments of your leaky boobs and your mesh-panty covered booty. The sleepless chaos every night as you rock or pace back and forth, with a ten pound sack of screaming potatoes. Then as you crawl back into your bed, totally exhausted, only to realize you have got to pee or are covered in pee from the tiny bundle of potatoes. The stress of balancing wife and mother of one, maybe two, maybe four or more of these miniature people, depending on you for everything. Do you even realize what you have done and continue to do? Or do you only see how far you are from your goal weight/look and how much better everyone else is at reaching theirs? Let me reassure you of one truth, it is different for everyone. Each health and fitness journey is different. Your path is not Susie's trail, so do not compare to her. Nor should you compare to the idols in our television world. Who knows what resources and pressures are on them to succeed. Maybe they have a chef and fitness trainer? Maybe if they did not reach their goal they would not make their income? Wow, no thank you.

It may take more time than you would like, but let me reassure you, if you put in the work and you will reap the reward. As you get closer to your goal, inch by inch, pound by pound, you are doing it. You may not be where you want to be, but if you are closer to your goal, you are better than you were a few days ago, a few weeks ago, or a few months ago.

Well, that is fine for you to say but what do you know!?

I know. I know what it is like to look in the mirror and your efforts not be reflected back. I know what it is like to look at your friend bouncing back into their jeans even though you are doing everything right and them, they might be working hard or not so much. I know what it is like to have the desire and will, but see little results. How? Because I did. I did everything I knew to do. I started to question that I even knew how. At one point, I paid someone else to make a plan for me, only to see, I was doing exactly what anyone else would do for me. I knew I was on the right track but yet, saw nothing, for so long. I did not understand then, what I do understand now. See, over time, it happened. My efforts reaped rewards. I began to finally see my body mold into the person I knew before I was "mom". It took way too long in my head, but now I know it can and it will. I can look back now and honestly say, I changed nothing. I just stayed true to what I knew would work and kept after it. Am I where I want to be? No. But can't we all improve? And with each passing week or month I see more and more of my goal becoming reality. Am I happy in my own skin? YES! For I have adjusted my expectations.

There is a difference between reality and expectations. When your reality is not matching your expectations, maybe you should step back and reevaluate. Are your goals SMART? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, REALISTIC!, and with a Time. More can be found on how to set SMART goals in previous blog post. If your goal pre-baby was to drop the extra fluff within 2 months of having the bundle, and you did not meet this timeline, did you take all things into consideration? Such as sleep deprivation? Increased demand of the newborn on your time? The amount of time sitting, feeding this tiny creature? Or other internal aspects such as hormones from pregnancy and breast feeding? Hormones from STRESS? I did not take all of this into account and found myself miserably discouraged with my own progress or lack thereof, despite making continued efforts. In retrospect I did make gains toward my goals. Small, but still progress. I did not take into account the difficulty with breastfeeding, the depression of losing my father, or just the amount of stress TRUE colic causes on a new momma.

This is not to scare you if you have yet to have your sweet baby, this is to inform and encourage you. This is not to give you an excuse if you have yet to meet any goals or are not putting forth any effort in the nutrition and health realm, this is to snap you into reality. YOUR OWN REALITY. Not the idols on television and in magazines or Susie's world.

YOUR world. YOUR journey. YOUR health.