Mom bod

[Anonymous]

My stomach/midsection area is in decent enough shape but I have mom pooch and saggy skin when I bend over. I've learned to embrace it and just try to stay fit otherwise.

[Anonymous]

I’m 50 with RA. My main goal is to get strong and live a long healthy life. While I care about my weight, I never weigh myself. It isn’t the metric I follow anymore. I’m focused on exercise and what I’m putting in my mouth (anti-inflammatory foods). I haven’t weighed myself in months.

[Anonymous]

Mommy makeover

[Anonymous]

I think we all struggle with how completely changed our bodies are after babies. Even if it looks okay, that doesn't mean it feels okay.

I had an abdominoplasty with muscle repair surgery because my ab muscles were absolutely destroyed. A year of PT was not helpful at all and I had a hard time functioning. A lot of people like to claim that works for everyone but sometimes the damage is too extensive and it literally needs to be stitched back together. It was absolutely worth it but the recovery was WAY harder than a c-section. My pain tolerance is high and I'd still describe the first 2 weeks as quite painful. It took about 6 weeks to get back to pretty normal (although I could work from home by week 2.5). It's absolutely not a magic fix as it only addresses one part of your body but I'm glad I did it. My core is so much stronger and my whole body is better supported. The scar is funky but fading.

I'm approaching 40 and in the last few months, I try to promise myself 4 work outs a week on the peleton (either cardio or strength). This feels realistic and I dp feel stronger. I also cut out alcohol on week nights. I never really weigh myself but I do notice the difference in the way my clothes fit and how much energy I have. You have to both accept that your younger body is never coming back and make some goals for how to make the most of the body you have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your description of a “mom bod”

That will help in answering accurately if it is changeable

This. Are you talking about losing weight or things that would require surgery to change?

If you're just talking about losing weight, its definitely doable. 40 is still young, you don't have to accept it.

Agreed. By the grace of my long torso and a decades-long workout habit, having three kids in 4.5 years, in my late 30s, didn’t change my body at all, really. Being in my mid-40s, wanting to set a healthy example for my kids (i.e., not severely restricting my food or over-exercising), and generally being stressed, has led to some weight gain.

So - what are referring to, OP?

[Anonymous]

I’m a mom so I have a mom bod because I’m a mom.

If you don’t love me because I have a normal body bye bye.

If I don’t love me because I have a mom bod, therapy.

[Anonymous]

I've been a mom for 20 years. I'm finally done with dieting. I can diet successfully, I cannot maintain it. Ever.

So I'm done. Instead I go to the gym and do classes six days a week. I'm not watching the scale. I hope eventually my clothes fit better, but at least I feel better and I feel stronger. I'm starting to love this overweight, mom body, and enjoy the freedom that a strong able body is capable of providing.

[Anonymous]

I don't really understand "mom bod".

I am 49 with a flat stomach and my weight is what it was in high school. There are loads and loads of "mom bods" like mine and loads and loads of "mom bods" that are bigger, smaller, buffer, flabbier, etc. We're just biological women with natural variations, right?

I know a lot of people have a hard time finding time to work out, etc., after having kids but your body is just your body. You can work to keep it strong, eat well, etc. You may not be a size zero, but who cares? You'll feel healthier overall if you take care of yourself as much as you take care of your kid(s).

[Anonymous]

i went 39 weeks with twins so at some point my skin was actually tearing - now i just have thick, deep silvery lines all over my stomach. i used to be so self conscious about it but nobody really cares

[Anonymous]

I’d work to keep the weight off on a sustainable way and strength train to maintain muscle mass/tone. As you age, additional weight impacts overall health and comfort so it’s better to maintain now (think layers of fat around organs, high cholesterol/BP, extra wear on joints, etc.). It gets harder with age so start now but if there are things outside of weight you can’t change due to child birth, don’t sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand "mom bod".

I am 49 with a flat stomach and my weight is what it was in high school. There are loads and loads of "mom bods" like mine and loads and loads of "mom bods" that are bigger, smaller, buffer, flabbier, etc. We're just biological women with natural variations, right?

I know a lot of people have a hard time finding time to work out, etc., after having kids but your body is just your body. You can work to keep it strong, eat well, etc. You may not be a size zero, but who cares? You'll feel healthier overall if you take care of yourself as much as you take care of your kid(s).

Slow clap for the most disingenuous post on this thread. You know what a "mom bod" is, you're just humble bragging because you don't have one.

[Anonymous]

Depends on how many lbs you are and how your quality of life is impacted by your organism carrying that much more weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if you lose the weight, it’s hard to get your body back. If you have the money, just get the surgery. The recovery is easier than a c-section, and the cost is less than daycare.

NP.. I had a csection (2x). I looked into a tummy tuck. When the Dr. told me I had to have a cathetier, I said, "No thank you". I'll live with my mom bod. I never ever want to experience a catheter ever again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am embracing my mom bod but staying fit. I don't focus on losing weight or trying to get rid of my mom pooch, because I don't want to structure my life around it and I want to set a better example for my DD.

Whenever I find myself thinking negative thoughts about how the shape and weight distribution of my body has changed, I remind myself, "This body made a human. And now it carries me around everywhere I need to go and runs and jumps and crawls on the floor with my kid and builds things and makes art." It's a good body. I dare you to try and judge it.

My DH reminds me of this whenever I get down on my flabby belly. Plus, he says he likes how soft and cushy it is. LOL

I have two kids. They are beautiful, smart, and funny. I wouldn't trade having my skinny self with not having my kids.

Just try to exercise and eat right, and try to get enough sleep. Don't take being healthy for granted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am embracing my mom bod but staying fit. I don't focus on losing weight or trying to get rid of my mom pooch, because I don't want to structure my life around it and I want to set a better example for my DD.

Whenever I find myself thinking negative thoughts about how the shape and weight distribution of my body has changed, I remind myself, "This body made a human. And now it carries me around everywhere I need to go and runs and jumps and crawls on the floor with my kid and builds things and makes art." It's a good body. I dare you to try and judge it.

My DH reminds me of this whenever I get down on my flabby belly. Plus, he says he likes how soft and cushy it is. LOL

I have two kids. They are beautiful, smart, and funny. I wouldn't trade having my skinny self with not having my kids.

Just try to exercise and eat right, and try to get enough sleep. Don't take being healthy for granted.

Ok, I am honestly confused. I had two kids two, and no flabby belly, in fact, it was after I had kids that I had the best abs ever. It is now at 51 that I got some flabby belly. I do not think pregnancy and a flabby belly are a must.