The Real Deal
Posted: January 18, 2011 at 1:00 pmYou know what really irks me? Headlines on magazines like US Weekly with claims like the following: “See How So and So Lost All Her Baby Weight in 10 Days!” or “Celeb X Got Her Pre-Baby Body Back in ONE Month”. You know what I’m talking about. I don’t know if these were actual headlines, but they sure do sound familiar. And okay – it’s true you can lose all the baby weight that fast. As for your body achieving the same shape? For your average Jane without the trainers and nannies, not gonna happen that quickly. It just won’t. That is why I plan to tell all (openly, honestly, and with pictures) here on FFF.
I delivered baby B one week ago. My body looks like this right now.
And it is absolutely perfect. Just how it is. It carried my child for 9.5 months. It nourishes my little man right now. It plays with my beautiful daughter. It is me. It is real. It is beautiful.
Sure, I have fitness goals I want to achieve…but that’s more about caring for myself and doing things I enjoy. I still need to love my body where it’s at in this moment. And I do.
In sharing my “body after baby” journey, I hope to show that it is possible to regain fitness and get back in shape with balance, moderation, and consistency. I want to reflect the reality that it takes time, dedication, and effort but that it can happen.
More important than anything though, I want to express the strength and beauty of our bodies. They can do miraculous things – whether carrying a child or running a mile or hugging a friend. Please love yourself today and every day. I’m beautiful! And you are too.
Question of the Day – What about your body amazes you right now? Remember – be confident!
And for those interested – I shared a link to the sneak peek of Braedon’s newborn photos on my Facebook page. 🙂
Tags: body after baby, early post-baby days, love yourself, positive attitude, post-pregnancy fitness, progress pictures
AMEN. I hate those headlines too…they make just losing weight in general a completely daunting and unrealistic thing! You are beautiful just like that…way more so than any celebrity!
I admire you so much! Like….more than you know!
I love that my body is finally strong enough to do a pull-up today. Only one…but it made me feel like a champ. 🙂
Pullups are a goal I want to work back towards. That’s awesome you did one. Those suckers are hard.
You are an inspiration. Thank you. 🙂
Two words for you – YOU ROCK! I don’t have any kids, but I know the pressure my sister felt after having her daughter. Thank you for being an amazing role model to women everywhere!
Tina,
I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I had tears coming down my face when I read this post.
You are truly inspiring and one day (hopefully soon) when I am one week on the other side of having a baby, I hope I can have the same outlook as you.
You are glowing and radiant. Keep shining girl. You’ve got a ton of followers that love you!
talk about confident! i love that you embrace your body no matter what! i’m trying to do the same with mine. right now i’m amazed that my body is still functioning after i treated it so poorly this weekend…ugh! i’m craving veggies like crazy now, and probably will for the rest of the week!
You amaze me. Seriously.
I’m amazed at my heart. All the work it does when I’m running. Pretty fascinating and mind-blowing.
You are amazing girl and I LOVE this !
You are beautiful and we are all beautiful! We do need to take care of our bodies and its amazing what our bodies do, like carry a baby for 9 months, life is a beautiful thing! I really really really love this and thank you for this post!
Wow, what a great post Tina! You look great for havnig a baby only a week ago! I’m sure many women who have recently gave birth will really appreciate this post.
I love that my body is able to wake up at 4:30 for my workouts everyday!
I also hate those headlines… I’m sure it’s not healthy what they are doing… for both themselves and their kids. I’m pretty sure they don’t take care of their own kids during that time. I’m sure you are where you should be and will get where you want to be soon enough.
tina, you ROCK!!!!!!!!
You know the first thing I see when I look at your pictures? Your smile. Your confidence. Your beauty. I love you for “keepin’ it real” for the 99.99% of mamas who don’t have the celeb trainer/chef in their home each and every day. We need to remind ourselves that that image post-pregnancy is NOT real, nor does it really matter! You brought a life into this world – THAT is what matters and is beautiful no matter what the color, shape or size.
The thing that amazes me about my body (currently knocking on wood) is how I was injured for 18 months and in pain everyday, and now my knee does not hurt AT ALL – even when I run! That just blows my mind.
You are such a beautiful woman TINA! The confidence you have the power that give yourself in defining your self worth is absolutely admirable!
THIS is why I read your blog Tina! We all know that headlines like that are rubbish – and you take it to the next level by reminding all of us why! You’re an inspiration – not only for those of us in the planning stages of parent hood, but to those of us (me!) that still struggle daily with self-esteem issues. Your reminders that we really are beautiful, strong, etc really work – they’ve done wonders for me already!
And that sneak peak of Baby B – ADORABLE! Newborn photos always warm my heart!
First of all, you look especially amazing for having a baby last week! 🙂 Second of all, even if you didn’t just have a baby you would still be beautiful. Third of all… you are an inspiration and a great role model. Thank you 😉
And …. your sneak peek images are incredible. I want to see more!!! I don’t know how you are going to choose. Maybe we can all go in on them and get you the disc 😉
Girl – you look soooo beautiful!!! A happy, healthy mama!!! And your smile and confidence is contagious!! You should be proud! You carried a baby for 9.5 months and now are nourishing him, that is something to be so proud of!!! Thanks for being open and honest because that is exactly what the world needs. It’s true – our bodies go through the extreme to have a baby, and to make mom’s think that they will have that amazing body or to put pressure on them to think they have to have it in a specific time when life itself is hard adjusting to a new life. Thanks for this! 🙂
Those headlines are super annoying. I try to ignore them, but they seem to be everywhere! I guess that’s what sells… (Hah, reminds me of Caitlin’s HTP post about being excited to see Jean Kilbourne in person… :))
I’m so glad you’re always honest about things! We need more honest people in the world… And you do look wonderful! 😀
I’m amazed at my body’s ability to get me up when I need to be. When I have free days (like yesterday), my body seems to know exactly how much sleep it needs and just wakes up whenever it feels it’s rested enough, I guess. It’s crazy!
I have a lot of emotional pain in my heart right now and my body is just telling me to rest. I am letting it be okay and I am proud of that.
I am so irked by those magazine articles too!
Good for you for resting. I know things are rough right now. Thinking of you.
Girl, you are incredible! Way to rock that post-baby bod! 😉
It’s been a week already? Wow!
You look amazing! 😀
Wow, you go girl! I’m still working on the confidence factor, but I’m always amazed that my body is capable of more than I ever thought it was!
Love it! Thank you for giving us real expectations!
I was so down on myself after having DD because I wasn’t back into my pre-pregnancy clothes by the end of my maternity leave.
You look beautiful now, and I’m sure you’ll see even more transformation just by following reasonable measures.
You are amazing for sharing these things! I continue to love your blog for its utmost honesty and realness! 🙂
ahhhh you rock! I can’t wait to see all your amazing fitness and progress! <3 So inspiring!
right now, what I love most about my body is how glorious it responds to being less stressed. when i'm relaxed my skin behaves, my weight stabilizes, my cheeks have color on them and i'm just overall my best. Now if only I can keep the unneeded stress away as loooong as possible!
xoxo
jenn
ps: you've got me head over feet addicted to Chobani now. my husband too. We think it's better than ice cream =)
Glad you are feeling great! And Chobani is addictive, huh? LOL
You are amazing and brave and such an inspiration to me. Honestly – I love you! 🙂
Love this post Tina. You are such an inspiration!!!
Right now I’m totally amazed at the way my body is shifting from off season to prep… it’s ALOT different from last time and it’s so cool to see. 🙂
What shows up most in your pictures is you glow, smile, and confidence. How can a woman hate her body after given birth? I felt like a rock star for weeks after Noah was born. O would look at him (still do!) and think, “look what I did!”
The pictures on facebook were beautiful! Icantwait to see the rest. For baby#2 I definitely want to do newborn photos!
The first thing I see in these pictures is your gorgeous smile! You look beautiful just the way you are today. I’m excited to follow along and support you in your body after baby journey – I know it’s going to inspire a lot of people!
I’m amazed by my body’s ability to fight germs. I think my increased focus on nutrition has improved my immune system.
You are too awesome! Such an inspiration! I thank God everyday that I can simply get out of bed, walk, run, hold, touch, taste and all of the simple things that we take for granted. Imagine if tomorrow you didn’t have feelings of your legs? It’s so unimaginable, yet, many people go through that feeling! I thank God everyday I am able to do the simple things in life and try not to take it for granted.
not to sound totally dorky, but YOU GO GIRL!
You look fabulous for having a baby a week ago. Plus, you are absolutely glowing!
Having a baby, and then breastfeeding him is the most AMAZING experience in the world. When you’re able to do that, the fact that your belly isn’t as tight as it used to be stops mattering!
You look gorgeous!! You are such an inspiration 🙂
I love, love, LOVE that you are doing this!
Ah! Love this so much Tina. You are beautiful and look absolutely fabulous! You radiate confidence!
You look great! And you are amazing for having the energy to get ourt of you sweats, put on a bathing suit, and take a picture of yourself a week after giving birth. Not to mention your always awesome confidence!
Awesome Tina! You look AWESOME for having a baby one week ago, i can’t even believe it!
You are glowing! What a refreshing post!
I’m thankful that my body is strong. It can pushups, pull ups, and run a 5K. It always reminds me when I’m pushing it too hard or when I’m not giving it what it needs.
I love your confidence and bravery, you look beautiful!
You are just BEAUTIFUL! Such great confidence and bliss in that body. AMEN!
LC
Or how they look like they never gain an ounce pregnant?!? I’m coming up on 8 weeks & feel like an oompa already. And that’s eating healthfully! They either don’t eat or they lie! hahaha
You look beautiful!!
You are amazing! I love you for being so honest, and I think you look fantastic. You have such a happy glow.
Thanks so much for being open and honest with your readers! I look forward to reading through your journey of getting back to pre-baby body. I LOVE how you stress that you love yourself the way you are no matter what though!
I know for myself, gaining weight (even for a pregnancy) seems daunting to me and I don’t know why. I fear that I won’t be able to get back in shape, etc. It helps to read REAL stories like yours! I appreciate it and I know other readers do too!
I love how open you are with sharing body pictures pre and post baby! I realllllly want a baby and during my pregnancy and afterwards I hope to inspire women like you are!
Anyway, right now I’m really loving on my quads.. 🙂
I’m such a visual person I couldn’t do it any other way. LOL
This is a wonderful post and you are such a wonderful blogger! So glad to read your posts every day. You are such an inpiration (I know I say that all the time but it is true!)
You are so brave – and beautiful!!
I’m lovin my shoulders right now – they make me happy. 🙂
Those magazine covers always seem so sad to me- sure the women look great, but why are they celebrating getting back to their old size, instead of the birth of their child!! I think you are so brave and amazing for posting these pictures. We need more reminders that in a woman’s life, a new baby is one of the most miraculous things that can happen!!
Wow. I agree with everyone here…you are amazing and the confidence just shines! To put these pics up takes guts even though you look great! You were clearly all baby 😉 Rock on!!! Keep inspiring us.
Agree with everyone here (and my sis who just commented, too, ha!) – you are ridiculously inspirational and I am SO floored by your open, and honest approach to body after baby. Amazing. I wish I had the confidence that you do – I’m trying so hard to push back my own qualms and fears and to just embrace my body for what it is rather than shunning it more often than not. You are my inspiration, through and through. THANK YOU!!!
Yeah, what IS that?! I would consider spending time with my family a little more important than working out for hours each day and restricting my food. Poor famous people.
It amazes me that my body is still here!
Thank you so much for your honesty! I too think you are an inspiration. Not just like “I hope my body looks like that post baby” (though that would be great!), but an inspiration in the way that “it’s OK to be human and be honest”. It’s very endearing because so often we spend so much time putting on “masks” of various sorts, but what really draws others to us is our honesty and vulnerability. Which is undoubtedly why so many people read your blog!
Thanks! I’m seriously floored by all the kind words. I don’t try to be an inspiration. Just try to be real. Thinking that it motivates or helps another really means so much.
You are AMAZING Tina!! I am so happy to have ‘met’ someone who is so open about themselves, physically, spiritually, and psychologically. As you already read on my blog, yesterday I said my arms amaze me because I did 8 chin-ups… and I’m still pretty amazed! 🙂