This mom's before and after pictures are not what you would expect
“No, this isn’t a before and after shot of weight loss. But it is a victory story,” says Australian mom, Laura in a Facebook post that has since gone viral.
The post features side-by-side images of the mother of two: one before she had kids and the other after. But unlike the usual before and after comparisons we see going viral on the internet, it isn’t a story of weight loss, but rather one about coming to terms with your post-baby body.
“No stretch marks or scars from belly button piercings. A belly button that was high. A flat stomach,” Laura says of the picture on the left.
“I ate no carbs, and barely any vegetables. Just meat. But I loved it because I was losing weight rapidly and the more bones that protruded the more I valued myself.”
“No one else would have said anything, they would have told me I looked fit, that I was healthy. I remember people asking me what my exercise routine was… They admired me. I admired me! I bought a whole new wardrobe. I was so proud. I showed off my body.”
But Laura admits that deep down, she used to look at this photo and feel fat.
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She then addresses the picture on the right.
“People don’t want to see this photo. All of a sudden it’s not okay. It’s not pleasing to the eye anymore. It’s not a body to be admired,” she says.
“The scars and stretch marks and jiggly tummy is because I made humans. I ate a little more cake, I drank a little more wine. I made mug cakes at 9pm and snuggled on the couch with my husband.”
“But for some reason, I didn’t love this body. It’s sad.”
She addresses how women can be so hard on themselves after having kids, feeling like their changed bodies are no longer worthy of luxuries like sexy underwear or new clothes. She admits that she too was guilty of this and that it really took some time for her to come around.
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“But you know what? I have achieved more with this body, then I have with my old body. I’ve eaten more good food. I’ve lived more, I’ve given more, I’ve enjoyed more. I’ve made life. This body, THIS body should be celebrated and admired.”
“Healthy bodies should be celebrated. Healthy should be what we strive for. Healthy minds, healthy journey’s and however that reflects on to our bodies, we should admire it.”
That said, she does still long to have her old body back some days.
“I still want to look like the first photo, no doubt. I miss that body, it makes me sad. But I want to get there in a healthy way, mentally and physically. I want to be proud and at peace with this body. And I want to like what I’ve got now.”
Laura hopes that other moms will see this post and know that they’re not alone in missing their pre-baby bodies. But also that they should see the value in the body they have right now.
“No matter what size you are, a size 6 or size 60. You deserve to celebrate it. Sexy underwear AND a new wardrobe. So love your body, because you truly really really, only get one! (In this life anyway)”
What do you think of Laura’s post? Let us know by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
