Thursday, May 14, 2009

Dear Celebrity Mom...

W.T.H?




She is probably rocking my CRAZY girdle under that dress, at least I hope so!





Who has time to go clubbing TWO MONTHS after a baby? And would you look at that stomach? The belly button alone AMAZES me.





You bitch, put down those damn weights. Now you're just showing off.


Sincerely, Bev.

Yes, yes, I know. They are celebrities. They get paid a enormous amount of money to just look like this (and act in movies/tv shows/whatever they still get paid to look good in my mind). Yes, they have trainers 24 hours a day, nannies to watch their baby while they work out and plastic surgeons that will never leak their tummy-tuck/breast lift/thigh lipo secrets due to doctor-patient confidentiality laws, but damn it ladies, can't you just let the pooch hang out a little two months post baby? Must you wear tight pants with no apparent saddlebags and crop tops without a sign of a saggy belly, stretch marks or a c-section scar and say it is all due to working out and "eating right"? No? Fine then! ::sulks::


I do admit, I don't think my body looks THAT bad post-baby. I meant really, I gained something like 42 pounds in the end, and Lucy was only 7 lbs 3 oz, so I did pack on a little extra padding on during my pregnancy. Maybe it was the cheesecake that I ate everyday...mmm, cheesecake, God I love cheesecake.


I started out at 140 lbs pre-pregnancy, I am now at 137 lbs but STILL do not necessarily fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans (I think I've got two pairs on steady rotation out of like...oh... twelve!). That is frustrating. I am still holding a lot of my weight around my middle and, let's be honest, a bunch of it in my boobs (formerly A's now C's, I'm not complaining about that!), so mathematically speaking I should be thinner somewhere else, right? Now if I could only find out where that is and highlight it... does anyone know how to highlight thin ears or skinny feet?

Anyways, you are now officially warned, I'm posting pictures of my bare stomach (::gasp::). Here are the before, during and after pictures:


April 2008





December 2008





May 2009






Ok, it's not too shabby, right? I even think it doesn't look THAT different in the pictures, (you can't see the stretch markets that MAGICALLY appeared only AFTER I had Lucy!), but I definitely notice my extra baggage around the middle, especially when I sit down. Also, when you look at my stomach from the front my belly button now looks sad think :( instead of surprised :o.


Ideally, I'd like to get down to 128 lbs. It's the weight where I've felt the most confident and I haven't weighed that much since Rob and I were dating (damn him and his culinary training!). Any ideas on how? Is anyone out there doing the 30 Day Shred? I've heard about it in the blogosphere and am thinking of giving it a whirl.


"Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes."
-Joyce Armor

42 comments:

Stacia said...

I started the 30 day shred on Jan 1 and did it every other day religiously for 6 weeks...I lost 15 pounds (also with a better diet). It is a killer the first few times you do a new level, but doable. The best part is that each workout is only 25-30 minutes, but you don't rest at all! I highly recommend it! I'm now 11 weeks pregnant and quit the shred all together...maybe after baby!

Bren said...

Darn, I was hoping you'd have some "one week after baby" pictures of your tummy to show and shock us :P

Maybe I'll do that...ha ha ha NOT.

I agree with your rants about the celebrities...I think it sets a lot of real-life women up for disappointment...but then again, they're probably missing out on a lot of time with their babies to work out, so maybe we DO win in the end...

Kris Norman said...

I went back to my pre-preggers weight almost immediately after I had Olivia, but I only gained 15 pounds. The pooch that hangs over your pants when you sit down is extra skin, I have it too and it will go away with time once that area tightens up a bit. Don't fret! You still look great! My belly button was a half-outtie and that's where I got all of my stretch marks so it'll never look the same again =[

The Mama said...

Hey! I'm been a lurker for a little while. I have b/g twins who are about two months older than Lucy (but they were due at the end of December). I just wanted to say that your tummy looks great! Good job, mama! I'm not sure that I have the guts to post mine. Haha, but I might just have to put my before and after pictures up. I think that I started out my pregnancy at 128 and am now at like 134 (but I was about 175 when the twins were born!). So, I am not back to to my prepregnancy weight yet, but I'm not too far off. I have really noticed that I can't fit into my old jeans well. I do fit, but there are definitely some love handles hanging over where I don't remember any from before. Haha.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that you look great. Feel free to drop on over to my blog (in all your free time, right?). I'll let you know if I get up the guts to post my stretch marked belly.

Carrie
mama to six month old b/g twins

Joey said...

1. You look great and I really don't know what you are worried about! Give yourself a break you carried another human for 9 months! :)
2. I bought the 30-day Shred and have never made it past level 1... it's HARD but I think if you stick w/ it for 30 days you'll definitely build/tone muscle & lose lbs. Good luck! :)

Maggie said...

Bev, you look fantasic!

Mia said...

PP body is a biotch isn't it? I am about the same weight as I was pre pregnancy which is not ideal to begin with but I was ok with it back then. Now everything looks different. The body changes so much after the baby and it seems like it's irreversible. At least you know you are not alone in feeling that way but I have to say you look fabulous!

Bld424 said...

Hey, Julian also has Biggest Winner dvds that are SO SO SO Challenging. I felt ripped after one workout! And exhausted.

I think you look very good.

I deliver in July, and I am very stressed about my physical appearance. I think you have a healthy attitude about it!

Vikki said...

You look amazing!!

Bridget said...

I think you look great!!! I am going to start doing the P90X videos, I know they are going to kick my ass, but I really want my pre-baby belly back. And I have to say I am a little jealous about your boobs. I was an A before and I am now a B and I am still nursing:(

Susan F said...

You look great! And real mom celebrities - Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Garner are some examples of those that didn't get back to size zero in a week :)

Amy said...

You look great!! And the celebrities just suck. :o(

Emily said...

Wow, you look great! My son is almost three months old and I still have a belly pooch. None of my old pants fit, so I'm still in maternity pants :( I finally got cleared for exercise last week (long recovery after a c/s), so I was thinking about the 30 Day Shred too. If you try it, definitely let us know the results!

annie said...

You look great! My daughter is 2 months old today, and I am currently doing Jillian's 30 day shred. It kicks my butt every day. I highly recommend it. I am already 3 pounds lighter than my prepregnancy weight, but I am also having problems fitting into my favorite jeans... good thing summer is almost here, even if it stays a little cooler in the pacific northwest. Good luck!

teacheroftwos said...

Walking was how I did it and plan to do a lot of walking after this one too! Breastfeeding helps to so do that as long as you can (I think you are breastfeeding?)

Lea Liz said...

Sooo... I think you look great!
I gained 65 lbs during my pregnacny and I have lost about all of it but 15 lbs.. I wish I would have already lost it all but we have to be realistic.. everyone says you had 9 months to gain it so you need 9 months to lose it! I think you look great!

Anonymous said...

I just ordered the 30 day shred because a friend recommended it. I too weigh less than I did before I got pregnant but the extra in the middle just won't go away so my clothes don't fit right. I'm hoping the 30 day shred will get the middle back into shape!

Unknown said...

Celebrities suck and I think you look absolutely amazing! My husband and I do not have children yet. We've been having a rough ride TTC for all but a year now. It's so great to see the amazing support system here! You look great! Don't let anyone tell you differently!

Jess B said...

YOu look amazing for Lucy being so young yet. I've had four boys, and I never looked like that 2 months PP. The girls over at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans just started a 30 Day Shred challenge. There'd be others joining you doing it....it's shrinkingjeans.net if you are interested. :)

Kelly said...

I am doing the 30 day shred and I love it!! Another dvd that I love is post natal bootcamp by Linsay Brins. You can focus on specific core areas you want to work on.

Trish said...

Hey from SITSta's. You look great!!!!!...at least you don't have tons of stretch marks and look like Freddie from Nightmare on Elm Street...I sure do.....YUCKY. I gained over 70lb with my son and now 12yrs later I weigh less than I did in high school...long road huh?

Danse said...

I hope I look as good as you do post pregnancy - seriously, you look great. Good luck on the 30 day shred, I've heard great things about it.

Jennifer said...

I'm doing the 30day Shred. And its great. For me level one really worked my legs. I was so sore after the first day I had to wait 4 days before I could start again. I had to be careful going down stairs because my legs would give out they were so sore! Its a good sore though!

Unknown said...

I think you look amazing :)

I started the 30 Day Shred and love love love it. I used to be an avid gym rat...I would spend at least an hour each day working out. 20-30 minute workout DVD's always made me laugh...who could get a good workout in that short amount of time?? Well, Jillian Michaels has proven me wrong! I'm a huge fan. I'd say you have nothing to lose :)

Abby said...

I am doing the shred now and love it! I am very sore from it though! You look great !!!

Shanna said...

I've never commented to you, but I do keep up with your blog and cute baby! I actually just started the Shred this week. It is a serious workout and I can't remember a time when my muscles have been so sore! I do feel pretty great after the workout though. And it's a quick 20 minutes. Good Luck! Let us know how it goes!

C and M said...

I don't think my body will ever be the same. I'm 10lbs below my pp weight b/c I'm on a strict elimination diet to continue breastfeeding my son. He has food allergies/intolerances so I'm dairy, soy, wheat, and egg free. Sucks but it's worth it. Anyway, even being at my 'wedding weight' doesn't put me into the jeans I wore back then. I have that belly roll too but it seems to be getting better. You look great! Good luck if you decide to do the shred.

AmandaG said...

Agreed about the celebrites. You are a brave woman to post pics, but you look great! Just had a baby myself, and feeling blah about my stomach. To the gym I go...

Marcy said...

There are plenty of celebrity moms who don't bounce right back, you just don't see those pictures b/c they're not interesting or exciting-- think of Miranda in SATC after she had her baby. You can tell just by looking at her body that she really did have a baby, it wasn't just pretend for the show.

(Besides, if you looked THAT GOOD a mere month or 2 after having a baby, wouldn't you want to show it off, too? lol)

I think you look pretty great in that last picture. The thing is things just... shift.. after a baby. Your hips may never be quite as slim simply b/c of how the moved to let a baby through. So old jeans may never fit quite the same, but it doesn't mean you don't look great anyway.

andrea said...

you look fab!!
and the 30d shred is great!!

KK @ Running Through Life said...

You look great Bev!

Jessica said...

omg i laughed out loud at your celebrity comments! i feel the same way--can't they let it all hang out *just once* so the rest of us don't feel so dang bad?

my belly looks disgusting after having had 2 kids. my belly button was completely wrecked by both pregnancies: i ended up with an umbilical hernia and had surgery to fix it a few months ago. i have a normal looking belly button again but still have the saggy, flabby, stretch-marky skin. the dr. said my fascia was the most stretched he's ever seen. thanks, babies. :)

Erin said...

Looks Fantastic, I only wish I looked that great just a few months after pregnancy! I've had 2 and my youngest is 8 months and I STILL don't look that good, I'm started the shred on Monday! So good luck to you! (even though you look great anyway)

Anonymous said...

You look so amazing! Definitely give the 30 Day Shred a shot, it's a killer, but man does it work! I started to notice a definite difference within a week, especially in my arms and legs- major definition! It's worth the agony you're in for those 20 minutes!!

The Mama said...

Okay! You inspired me! I took and posted postpartum pics! http://takencare.blogspot.com/

soxchamps said...

I've decided to give in to the pooch! At least until after another baby. I would like to lose some more weight, but I'm sure not going through the pain of crunches just to lose the flatness again!

Jessica White said...

I think you look GREAT! Thanks for being brave and posting pictures: I always wondering everyone's body looks like after they've had the baby.

MayDayGirl is doing 30DS and is looking awesome!

Carissa said...

You look great! And, I'm sure you already read this, but it's really common for breastfeeding moms to hold on to some of the extra weight just for breastfeeding purposes.

Kate Giovinco Photography said...

A few things:

1. You look great

2. I hear the 30 day shred is fabulous...the lady I nanny for, my old roommate and a few others are doing it. They are seeing results.

3. I have a ton of weight to lose but not from a baby, just letting myself go. working on getting back in shape. Just started the 30 day shred and running again!

Audrey said...

your belly looks GREAT. 30 day shred is a great workout...3 levels that give you full body workout and it's only 20 minutes. i have a 10 month old and time is definitely a challenge! get it!

Valerie said...

mmm... ok. I have no idea what you are complaining about. You look great! I wish my belly looks like yours now after my pregnancy.

kathleen // scout + lilly said...

Oh, lordy... you should read the article that Jamie Pressly was interviewed for in either "Shape" or "Self" magazine... I can't remember which. But she was on the cover, if that helps. It's hilarious. She's so brutally honest about the whole post-baby body thing...

I distinctly remember her saying something along these lines: "It was horrible and it was incredibly hard. I hated every second of it - I wanted to be with my son. All I ate was veggies and lean protein. But it's my job and I had to do it."

She basically said that any woman who says it's easy to get your pre-baby body back is flat-out lying.

It's fantastic and inspiring, and I heart her!

And for just having a baby, you could be in faaaaaaaaaar worse shape! You look fantastic! :-)

Oh - and Jessica Alba apparently cried every time she tried to work out after Honor was born... she swears by wearing a girdle... I don't know if I believe her, though :-p

Related Posts with Thumbnails