While I know that I am nowhere near my pre-pregnancy size and there are loose bits here and there, I am comfortable most days with my body image. I have, after all, gone through two pregnancies. Never mind that Heidi Klum and Brooke Burke each have given birth to four children and both still look drop-dead gorgeous. Four! And look at them.
Not very many women –even those who have never given birth before, –would look as fab as Brooke did in that dress.(Image credit: DWTSshow.com)
Heidi Klum, only six weeks after giving birth to her fourth child. On the runway already! (Image credit: Baby Bump Blog)
But I digress. I don’t mean to talk about pre- and post-pregnancy body sizes…
I look at myself in shiny surfaces and I note the little
But it is not in my nature to dwell on the not-so-nice. Whenever I feel myself spiralling down the eddy of body image discontent, I try to enumerate instead the physical parts of me that I like, namely: My eyebrows, my forearms, the shape of my feet, my skin. I love that I don’t have tweeze or shape my eyebrows. I like that my forearms look slim and strong (the only part of my body that is slim and strong, it seems!). I am thankful that my feet are slender and bunion-free. I thank good genes for good skin.
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Which various parts of your body would you like to trade in for nicer/newer models? Which parts are your best features?
16 COMMENTS:
lol buckeroomama! you are a mom! relish in that! even though the heidi klums of the world look like they did when they were 25 that is their "job" and "if" they didn't look like that it would be someone elses job! lol so don't beat yourself up, i'm sure they are killing themselves with unhealthy diets and tons and tons of over exercise! lol, well let's just tell ourselves they are... hahaha hope you have a great fathers day weekend!
shelley :)
So, if you want me to ship you one, just let me know:). Seriously though, I think coming to like the not perfect me shape much more than I liked the more perfect me shape is one of the great gifts of middle age. I like my shoulders. And my feet. Everything in between did its job with the babies:).
Oooooooh, you're good -- much nicer to yourself than I am ;) I need to take note!
I was just thinking about this the other day. What I would like to trade in: my skin, as it is too oily and my calves, as they also appear disproportionate to my thighs (maybe I am the only one who sees this). What I like most: my eyes, hair, hands, body shape, teeth, and ears.
-Jessica a.k.a Nya's mom
Well, if we had personal trainers like those celebrities do, then I think we'd be in shape quickly too.lol.
It is hard to accept how our bodies change after pregnancies. I'd take a new belly or just my pre-pregnancy belly. I try to appreciate what my body has done and what it still does. I can run 4 miles and I made 2 beautiful babies.
Fortunately, my three childbirths have not done too much to "expand" me. OK, I can't fit into me honeymoon Guess jeans anymore, but I'm almost as slim as Brooke Burke in that picture ;-P When Narelle stops breastfeeding, I may even get my breasts back in shape... have a blessed weekend!
It is great that you list the things you like about your body, instead of focusing only on the negative.
I wish my thighs were thinner. I am grateful that my eyes and ears work well. I'm glad that my head is a nice size. My ankles are nice and thin. Let's not mention my stomach. Baby #4 murdered my ab muscles.
Uh oh, now we're in dangerous territory. I'd pretty much trade it all in for a newer, updated model.
Yeah, it's all about the personal trainer. Since, I'm 5'3" and 4 sizes bigger than I was 8 years ago, I try to never compare myself to a super model. Ghack!
I'm in my late 30's and it seems that 40 is right around the corner :( So, I have a belly pooch - but can I hate it when it is a result of 3 beautiful children? I try not to.
I am self conscious about my hands though. My mom says I have long fingers of a piano player...I don't buy it. :)
I don't want to talk about the things I hate on my body so....
the things I like??? My fingers and fingernails. My fingers hold the power behind my abilities to write, type, paint, play the piano, cook, play air piano and drums....
I also like my dimples.
You are gorgeous! That's what life is about. There are no perfect body types. I figured that out years ago.
Thank you for this. I needed to read your perspective which is a healthy one. Thank you. XXXX Lori
I watched a video in which Heidi Klum talked about her strenuous workouts to do the VS show. It was really hard work! No kidding! I don't think I have that stamina to do all those exercises.
My best feature is my nose. Many people think I had a nose job. I like your positive take on your body image. I wish all women realize that every one of us has good and bad physical features.
Someone told me once that, in college, I was the "best I would ever look." I...didn't believe them. I thought, "yes, but I have the REST of my life to lose this weight I don't want around!" I didn't realize how much popping out two babies would CHANGE my shape!
Hrm. So.....I just try to play up my favorite features. I love my eyes, and my hands, and Lo Gung loves my neck. Easy enough!
Brooke Burke is one of those people... if I could look like anyone.. I think she is beautiful and exotic looking.
But then again, just think how good we would look if we had personal trainers and stylists and make-up artists. I mean do you remember the before and after pictures on my wedding day? those people can work magic.
I've never liked my stomach... it's never gotten hard-even when I weigh 100 lbs and worked out nearly daily.. and my thighs get too bulky if I'm not careful. I've always had good skin and am lucky because I don't take great care of it :)
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