Is it a myth (or excuse) that pregnancy causes weight gain?

[Anonymous]

I have a relative who constantly excuses the weight gain of family members by saying they are “moms” and pregnancy caused the weight gain. Never mind the children are now like 10 or more years old. She gets defensive if anyone even mentions dieting and views the moms with Madonna like awe. Another woman who doesn’t have kids, is overweight because of menopause. I myself have children (more kids than the overweight ones in fact) and am now peri-menopausal but manage to maintain a sub-19 BMI, workout everyday (strength and cardio) and cook wholesome food every meal. I recognize it’s harder now to stay thin due to peri menopause and have to work at it. I think pregnancy is too often a cop out for weight problems especially when your kids are 8 or 20-years-old. These people eat too much, and don’t exercise enough. That’s the real reason.

[Anonymous]

thanks very much.

I am naturally thin and have always gained 50 lbs with each pregnancy (and I have more than 2 kids) and lost it all after.

I am naturally underweight but I see with my sisters who aren't that it is really hard to lose the weight. I eat junk and still lose it as soon as I give birth, not everyone is so lucky.

Enjoy the body you have and stop judging others.

[Anonymous]

I lost weight after kids. It’s rare but true. I also stopped working so now I’m on my feet all day and don’t watch the clock and fantasize about what I’ll have for lunch that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks very much.

I am naturally thin and have always gained 50 lbs with each pregnancy (and I have more than 2 kids) and lost it all after.

I am naturally underweight but I see with my sisters who aren't that it is really hard to lose the weight. I eat junk and still lose it as soon as I give birth, not everyone is so lucky.

Enjoy the body you have and stop judging others.

Can we get this cross-stitched in a pillow? I’d be happy to deliver it to op directly.

[Anonymous]

Why are you asking a question that you can answer? Also, who cares? They're fat, and they're making excuses because women like you are dying to be jerks about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a relative who constantly excuses the weight gain of family members by saying they are “moms” and pregnancy caused the weight gain. Never mind the children are now like 10 or more years old. She gets defensive if anyone even mentions dieting and views the moms with Madonna like awe. Another woman who doesn’t have kids, is overweight because of menopause. I myself have children (more kids than the overweight ones in fact) and am now peri-menopausal but manage to maintain a sub-19 BMI, workout everyday (strength and cardio) and cook wholesome food every meal. I recognize it’s harder now to stay thin due to peri menopause and have to work at it. I think pregnancy is too often a cop out for weight problems especially when your kids are 8 or 20-years-old. These people eat too much, and don’t exercise enough. That’s the real reason.

Both of the bolded imply that women owe you, or society, something. No one owes you their thinness. There's no "excuse" necessary, their body is what it is. As you point out, there would be ways to change it, if they so chose. They do not choose it. Their body, their choice.

[Anonymous]

Congrats!! You are awesome and all the fatty-fat-fat-fats are lazy and stupid

[Anonymous]

Pregnancy obviously causes temporary weight gain but if you're still calling it baby weight after 3-4 years (being generous), then it's just an excuse. It's mainly the lifestyle changes that come with parenting that keeps the weight on.

There also some women who are not naturally thin and struggle with their weight all through their teens and 20s and then just let go after having kids, but still blame it on the kids.

[Anonymous]

OP i agree with you, people gain weight and can't lose weight because they eat too much. I get it. I gained a lot of weight in pregnancy (ate way too much and used pregnancy as an excuse to eat more) and struggled for years to take it off. Pregnancy was the main reason I gained the weight, but it wasn't the reason I couldn't lose it. Sure I give mothers a pass the first few years because it is exhausting and time is limited, but like anything in life, you make time for your priorities.

Not sure why this even comes up though or why this family member or any family member is discussing anyone's weight. That is just odd.

[Anonymous]

Op, drop the rope. This is a dumb post.

Who cares?

[Anonymous]

It’s real. I could go find the links to the scientific literature but typing this message is the limit of how much effort that I think that this post is worth.

[Anonymous]

Well, you and your “credential” of a sub 19 BMI, working our several hours a day despite having children, plus your obsessing over other people’s weight and circumstance says all it is I need to know about you, OP.

These women maintain say you prioritize your Jean size over your children’s well being. But I guess there’s two sides to every story.

[Anonymous]

Do you know what the word matronly means, OP?

[Anonymous]

I also lost the baby weight from each of 3 kids without difficulty. But I consider myself lucky, and fortunate enough to have good, healthy habits that come easily to me (like working out and enjoying healthy food). It doesn’t come that easily to others, and motherhood is an excuse in that it was GOOD for them to gain weight at the time.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you the same poster who is shocked, SHOCKED, that the overweight women she judges aren’t tripping over themselves for her diet advice??