Photo by Christianne Taylor
Does anyone else struggle with the balance between loving your body the way it is, but also not letting that be an excuse to not eat healthy and work your butt off (pun intended) in the gym? I grew up modeling, thus I spent lots of time around women that had amazing bodies, yet engulfed in a culture that broke down those bodies as specific measurements and features into a monetized system of worth. You would think it would be hard, always having to worry about your physique, but overall it made me think of my body very matter-of-fact. I knew my strengths, I knew my flaws, they were what they were.
After two kids and gaining 65 pounds each pregnancy, my body has been through a lot. I have a new respect for this bod of mine, not about my looks, but an overwhelming sense of gratitude about my health, and the ability to have two healthy boys. That has helped me be patient through a few months of curvier curves and softer sides, but I don't want to be too comfortable.
As I'm getting back to normal, slowly but surely, friends and family like to tell me how great I look, or how skinny I look, maybe even skinnier than before I was pregnant. I want to call their B.S., mainly because they were the ones that at 8 months were telling me “You can barely tell you're pregnant!” or “You are just glowing.” I look at pictures during that time, and although I'm sure their hearts were in the right place , “Lies, lies!” is all I can think.
Weight is such a politically correct place for women and I'm not encouraging us to start pointing out each other's faults. No one wants to hear specifics of where they are lacking or not lacking enough, we all want to be loved for who we are, but when someone admits they have 10 pounds to loose, or two dress sizes to get to where they want to be, maybe a good response would be encouragement and support.
No matter what my friends do or say, it's up to ME to live a life of good food choices and healthy activity, not just for my looks, but for my family and my long term health. I don't want to be happy enough, but not quite where I want to be. I want to know I am doing everything I can, and encourage my friends to also take their bodies seriously.
It's kind of ironic that Brooke and I are putting this picture out of us in swimwear. It was hard for us to even take this shot, but we all gotta get our swimsuits on and take the plunge. It's hard to not look at yourself and only see the flaws, but when it comes down to it, there are a lot of things you can do to help your situation, and at the end of the day, there are some things you can't. So here's what we are going to do: eat healthy, mostly, exercise whenever we can and then leave those negative thoughts in the dust as we take on this world as loving moms, giving sisters, happy aunts, and/or inspiring best friends.
You ladies look great in your swimwear and this was an excellent post. One thing I personally struggle with is balance. When I am hitting the gym 4 times a week and eating healthy I feel great of course but then I have an extra busy week and the workouts go out the window and so does eating well. I have learned that this should not deter me from getting right back at it the next week. Life happens and things do not always run as smooth as you wish they would and thats just life. Do your best, prioritize and don’t beat yourself up when everything is not perfect.
Thanks for the consistently honest sharing!
Thanks Heather. You are not alone… I am always feeling like something falls behind, but you are right, all we can do is our best! Keep up the balancing act! x
Thanks for this post, it is so true and difficult. I love that my body was able to carry and feed my two healthy little boys, but it is different now and I am still working on loving my post baby body.
I hear ya. OH POST BABY BODY!
x
Thought-provoking blog. I recently gained 15 pounds while traveling abroad and eating lots of high-calorie food. Thankfully, I do genuinely enjoy exercise and I do step, run, and now am getting back into pilates, too. I’ve had so many people tell me that I don’t need to lose 15 pounds. I know they mean well, but I know my body best and actually find it a joy to take care of my health and keep active.
Good for you! I don’t love to exercise, but I do agree. We need to make sure we are taking the best care of our bodies we can. x
Summer, we went to high school together briefly and I came across your blog link on Pinterest. I’m glad to see you doing well. I think that this site is so interesting to me partially because of my entrepreneurial side. You look exactly the same; gorgeous! P.S. Congrats on your marriage and children! The little ones on this site are so cute.
I can totally relate. I was never even allowed to donate blood because I didn’t meet the minimum weight requirements. After three children under the age of five, I feel like my body has gone through “Hiroshima.” On top of that I was diagnosed with a slew of unpronounceable maladies after my first child was born; trochanteric bursitis, sacroiliitis and pubis symphosis dysfunction. Translation: nearly constant hip and pelvic pain! It sure is hard to find the time to work out with three kids and a full time job. When you do steal the time, it’s impossible to do so without guilt. When I temporarily get over the guilt, I then mourn the time I lost to spend family time or clean my house! I can’t seem to give myself a break. Being a mom is like they say, the most difficult and rewarding thing you’ll ever do. Bottom line: I just had my first non-pregnant experience with a tankini! I was a bit disappointed with myself for feeling like I couldn’t wear a bikini (there were so many people on the beach during my vacation wearing one that looked similar to me), but at least it was a tankini that was so cute that I would choose to wear it if I didn’t “have to”. At the end of the day I felt it was most important for me to be confident and proud as a role model for my daughter and I accomplished that!