No one warns you what your body will be like after giving birth. I naïvely believed that my body would be much like a deflated balloon. After following my doctor’s recommendation to gain no more than twenty pounds, I was horrified that I still had a flabby belly when I went home with my newborn.
Abdominal stretch marks were devastating to me. What the Hell? My mother didn’t have any! I consistently rubbed coco butter on my belly, yet there they were. Their ugly purple zig zagging scars deformed my once perfect belly.
I got over it and gave birth two more times. The weight came off easily because I didn’t over gain and nursing my babies burned fat quickly. Life went on and the children grew up.
As if giving birth and having a period every month weren’t bad enough, Mother Nature had a cruel streak when she cursed women with menopause. I experienced night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings. Layers of fat mysteriously appeared around my mid-section.
No amount of exercise would shrink it. For the first time in my life, I had to cut carbs and count calories. None of it helped and the stubborn fat remained.
After a few years, I sort of gave up. I still exercised, walked, and followed a healthy diet. My mom assured me that when menopause was done with me, the weight would come off.
I accepted her explanation and bought loose fitting tops that flattered my weird shape. Then, my daughter got engaged. What an exciting time it was.
I enjoyed dress shopping with her and her best friend. After she found the perfect one and said, “Yes to the Dress,’’ I realized that horror of horrors, I would have to be in photographs.
While I co-existed with my fat, I didn’t want it showing up in photographs. I decided to join a gym.
I took it a step further and got a personal trainer. I had a year to get in better shape. I stuck to it. By the time of the wedding, I had lost weight and looked better.
Still not happy with my body, I took up weights. Exercise was good but weights were better. I noticed the results quickly. My arms became muscular, my legs were toned, and my back was smoother.
As an added bonus, weight training is great for your mood. Angry, sad, or stressed, lift for a half hour and your disposition improves. I still haven’t regained the flat stomach from my pre-mom days, but I’m more comfortable with my body and happy to be a work in progress.
Sheila Kirk became interested in writing and storytelling in first grade. She enjoyed writing assignments and started writing short stories in high school to amuse her friends. She enjoys writing horror and dark comedy.