If you’ve ever had a baby, you’ve heard the most obnoxious responses to complaints about post-baby weight. Here’s my top four things of what NOT to say!
1. “You’re breastfeeding – the weight will just FALL off!” Says WHO?? Yes, I am producing nutritious and calorically dense breastmilk for my new baby human, but that doesn’t mean the extra pounds are disappearing at an envious pace. With healthy eating and, when the stars align with naptime, I can workout, THEN the pounds will start to disappear. But no, they don’t just fall off.
2. “It takes 9 months to gain so it’ll take 9 months to lose.” If I hear this one more time, I might go ballistic. No, it surely did not take 9 months to gain. I didn’t start gaining weight the moment I became pregnant. Let’s get real – I started gaining weight when I stopped working out and started eating Chick-fil-A. I gained most of my weight between the 5-9 month mark and no, I don’t think I’ll lose it in four months. But don’t give me a time frame either. That’s like saying your yard should look perfect by spring without the work it takes to make it pretty.
3. “I have 15lbs to lose and I didn’t even have a baby!” This isn’t about YOU! Comments I make about myself are NOT about YOU! Ladies, stop comparing yourself to your friends, pictures in a magazine or whoever is on TV as the hottest thing. Your desire to lose weight doesn’t reflect on mine, so stop it. Instead, make a walking date with me or offer to come over to hang with my babies while I sneak upstairs for a workout. Don’t pit your weight loss against mine. And if I want to be really harsh, I’ll ask what your excuse is…since, you know, I DID just have a baby.
4. Which now leads to my last and final thing NOT to say to a post-baby mama complaining about her weight: “Well, you DID just have a baby.” Yes. I know. Well aware, thank you! And I have the saggy eyelids to prove it. Restraining myself from being a super witch to this comment is becoming increasingly draining. As I hold my baby in my arms, I’m well aware of why the weight is on my body and being reminded of that isn’t helpful. Yes, I know I had a healthy baby. Yes, I know it’s all worth it. And yes, I know it’ll come off.
Being given the greatest gift of all doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on the bodies we used to have and want again. Be a good friend and just listen. Laugh with us when we make ascribe trying on jeans as stuffing mashed potatoes into sausage casing. Let’s be real – my mid section is a lava lamp and it’s not cute. My saddle bags could hold snacks for 2 weeks for an entire classroom of children. My thighs smack together when I attempt to run up the stairs. If I can get my old workout capris on, I swear I can hear the seams screaming for mercy. Laugh with me about that!!
Just because I don’t love my reflection doesn’t mean I don’t love the reason for it and wouldn’t do it again.
| A mother of two and a Colorado Native, she grew up in suburbia Denver and met her husband in college at Regis University. They were best friends for years before he kissed her and well…as they say, the rest is history. He joined the Army after they graduated in 2002, so they moved several times and just came back from living overseas. Being gone for over 10 years, Colorado is still their home and they feel so good to be back!
<strong><em>Click here for more “New” mom fitness articles from Crystal!</em></strong> |
