Whether you read a book, got advice from a doctor, talked to a friend, or you’ve been pregnant before, you had some idea of how having a baby would change your body. You realize that it was going to take some effort on your behalf to get back to where you wanted to be. Yet, after weeks or perhaps months of eating the proper nutrition and working out, you’re still not satisfied with the woman you see in the mirror. How do you overcome body issues after having a baby?
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An Emotional Rollercoaster
You try to remain optimistic and not let it phase you, but these “imperfections” are starting to negatively impact other areas of your life. Those extra pounds, stretch marks, loose and chaffed skin, thinning hair, or brittle nails, consume your innermost thoughts, causing you to feel less confident.
You stop going place you once enjoyed and interacting with friends and family for fear of judgment. You start relying heavily on your significant other’s affirmation and validation to feel attractive (which puts a strain on the relationship). Some women feel so hopeless that they give up their efforts to improve their appearance after giving birth.
Regaining Confidence
While it can be challenging to adjust to the physical changes that come after childbirth, you don’t have to allow them to consume your thoughts. Below are some suggestions on how to overcome body and confidence issues after pregnancy.
Stop Comparing Yourself
It’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different and will have a different experience. For example, let’s say your best friend and co-worker gained 30 pounds after having a baby. They both start on the same diet and exercise programs to lose excess weight. After a few weeks, your best friend lost all the weight, and your co-worker only lost 10 pounds.
This outcome doesn’t mean that your co-worker failed or did something wrong. It merely means that it will take her more time to reach her body goals. If your co-worker were to see this as defeat and give up, she would have never lost the remaining 20 pounds instead of sticking to the plan. You are your only competition. Keeping this at the forefront of your mind enables you to succeed in your victories and stay the course.
Evaluate and Adjust
Once you’ve grasped the concept that everyone’s body is different, you can then analyze your efforts to overcome body and confidence issues and make adjustments. Keeping a food journal, for example, can give you better insight on which foods are most effective in shrinking your waistline. You can then make simple diet changes for better results.
Measuring and recording your progress also works to boost your confidence. It allows you to see how far you’ve come. As you continue to see the change from your efforts, you’ll feel good about where you are and more optimistic about where you’ll end up if you keep pushing forward.
Ask for Help
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help or turning to other solutions to help you reach your post-baby body goals and confidence issues. Some physical changes may not be accomplished without a little assistance. Perhaps you lost so much weight after the pregnancy that your skin is sagging. Visiting the best plastic surgeon in Houston to discuss a tummy tuck might be the most efficient way to resolve it. If you need help for postpartum hair loss, you can learn more with Majka to know your options.
Similarly, if trying to stick to a diet, create meal plans. Consuming the right portions is a struggle. Becoming a member of a nutritional or weight loss program can give you the tools, discipline, and support you need to eat better. While asking for help might seem weak, or like taking a shortcut, it takes great courage and gets you to your body goals faster.
Pregnancy changes a woman’s body in ways she likely never imagined. Though it’s natural to long for the body you once had. When this longing reaches a point that it’s negatively impacting your life, it’s time to do something about it. By realizing that your body is different and your journey is your own, tracking and analyzing your progress and asking for help in areas you can’t fix alone can boost your self-esteem and learn to love the woman you are now.
Featured Image Iuliia Bondarenko by Pixabay
