Why you don’t need to look like a celebrity mum
Like normal modern-day women don’t have it hard enough already. Aside from stressing to achieve work-life balance, and reach the unrealistic standards of beauty imposed on us, today’s mums now also have to face the public scrutiny for not looking like the “momshells”. The term was coined to describe the unbelievably quick post-pregnancy weight losses done by popular celebrities.
It can be quite overwhelming for the sleep-deprived and generally stressed new mums dealing with insecurities about their changed bodies, to watch the famous models, actresses and singers snapping back into shape weeks after giving birth. Even for those not affected by the popular culture and social media, subconsciously most of us feel bad about not reaching a certain standard when it comes to our weight.
The shame game
No matter how accustomed we are to assigning blame to celebrity or social-media culture for promoting the perfect image unattainable by majority of regular women, the shaming came from us, the normal people. Since it’s mostly their job to look a certain way, whenever celebrities show signs of being regular humans, they are judged and shamed in the cruellest way. The only way for us to become free from judgment and body-shaming is to not support it ourselves.
Things we forget
As we scroll through Instagram or read celebrity lifestyle magazines and feel self-conscious about our flabby tummies, we tend to neglect a couple of important facts about celebrity mums and their lifestyles.
From nutritionists and chefs to top-notch personal trainers, nannies and hair and makeup squads, celebrities are equipped with immense resources that make the process of slimming down so much easier.
That being said, in some cases, even with all of the resources, the recovery and weight loss still take more time. And it’s not the end of the world. Each body is different. Even if you had a great metabolism before and no extra fat, giving birth can make enormous physiological changes, and it takes time to get back to normal.
Why you shouldn’t focus on losing weight right after giving birth
It is almost unbelievable to achieve celebrity results, since these processes require time. It’s not just about the number of hours you stay at the gym, nor about the size and ingredients of your meals. It’s about paying attention to your body and respecting the natural processes taking place.
Most professional trainers don’t recommend exercising right after giving birth since the body is in a state of shock and all the hormones and processes become imbalanced. It takes time for everything to heal and recover even if you had a natural birth.
Another reason why getting back into shape shouldn’t be your main focus in the first months after delivery is the bonding time with your newborn. The more you are focused on your weight, the more it takes from your joy and care for your bundle of joy. Don’t miss out on those moments that you can never relive just because you have a couple of extra pounds.
Change of perspective
Instead of blaming the celebrities for making us feel bad, we should adopt a different mindset and look at things from a different angle. In order to not feel the need to hide into two-size-bigger maternity clothes each time we see a celebrity flaunting their perfect abs on a magazine cover, we should actually admire their struggle and move on with our lives. If they are doing what’s best for them and taking care of their health at the same time, then kudos to them. In the same way, if you, or any other mum, cannot achieve the same, you shouldn’t be torturing yourself by losing confidence, nor thinking you are lazy.
Furthermore, make sure to listen to your body and do things at your own pace. There’s no timeline to losing weight after pregnancy. It’s all individual and depends on a number of factors. Don’t rush your body, but rather praise it for creating a miracle by giving birth and gradually start working on getting back in shape on your own terms.
Once you start to exercise again, check your reasons and self-beliefs first. Make the workout meaningful by doing it for the fun, and for the positive effect on your psychological health as well as physical. Take an altogether healthier approach towards exercise so as to achieve long-lasting and healthier results. This method will also help you keep your motivation high.
Don’t strive for perfection. Love your body and accept it for what it is. Intense workouts and focusing too much on the issue will only make you frustrated and postpone the results. Once you relax and ease up into the new you, your body will be less stressed and take care of itself more easily.
And finally, don’t feel ashamed or worried about the excess skin on your belly after shedding the extra baby weight. See it as a reminder of an amazing event and your achievement in terms of losing weight. The good news is that you can always consult a surgeon and have a cosmetic procedure to get rid of it permanently.
