Diana posted on January 19, 2010 01:12
Body Image and how we fret about it.
I was contacted recently by the BBC who asked me whether any of my readers have body image problems. Well if you are anything like me I am sure you will have. Whether or not these thoughts and feelings are at all justified is another question.
This got me to thinking back to when I was pregnant with my first child. I had no inkling that my pert boobs would become deflated – no the thing I was most worried about was stretch marks. So every evening before bedtime I would cover myself from bust to knee in oil. My husband told me I was like sleeping with an oil slick.
I did worry about getting my figure back after the pregnancy, but to be honest I think I was one of the lucky ones. My tummy shrank back to almost its pre baby size and I was lucky enough not to gain any stretch marks. But my boobs – well they were definitely a different shape – and my thighs. Yes they had silvery lines on them. I never liked my thighs much anyway – and this was the end.
Now bizarrely many years on and four children later I can remember how I felt about my body, how imperfect it seemed compared to other women. (And that was before I had kids). The irony is that when I look at photos of me as a young mum now – I am incredulous that I could have been so critical of myself. The photos I hated of me twenty years ago – I think are amazing now. And I just wish that I had appreciated the wonderful figure I actually did have.
These day my flat tummy has that muffin top thing going on. Nothing to do with having kids – just to do with eating and drinking too much. My arms are going stingy and my thighs seemed to be covered in cellulite. Trying on clothes has always been horrendous (even in the pre baby era), but sometimes now the sight of my large orange dimpled bottom and I just think how on earth can my husband possibly find me in the slightest bit attractive. It must be like sleeping with a large lump of milk jelly. And photos – well I hate them.
But a little of me can not help wondering whether in twenty years from now – the same photos I hate now I might possibly quite like. Body image is a strange thing, it is something which taken too seriously can damage confidence and relationships eventually. What we all probably need to work on is the ability to appreciate ourselves "Just the way we are", but of course that is easier said than done.
So if you are constantly fretting about the way you look (like me),you might like to get in touch with Jess….. she would love to hear your views on body image and pregnancy, dieting and the like . Her request and contact details are below..
"My name is Jess and I work for the BBC; we are currently making a documentary for BBC3 which looks at body image and pregnancy, and how hard it can be to lose that baby weight after giving birth.
We will be taking a closer look at how effective dieting is, whether clever body-shaping underwear can help and if getting a personal trainer guarantees success. If not, is cosmetic surgery the best way to get back the body that you once had?
Do you feel under pressure to avoid putting on weight during your pregnancy? How easy are you finding getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight? How do you manage to lose the weight inevitably gained during pregnancy and have you managed to do it quickly?
We are in the early research stages of production and would love to hear from you. To find out more about the programme you can contact me (confidentially) at jess.honeyball@bbc.co.uk or on 020 8008 0611, with of course no commitment to taking part.
I very much look forward to hearing from you,
Jess
Jess Honeyball
Associate Producer | Factual and Learning
MC4 D4 | Media Centre | White City | London | W12 7TQ
Tel: 020 8008 0611"