As of late I've seen several links flooding my Facebook newsfeed to articles about moms who are speaking out against the impossible body standards created by the media. These moms advocate for "real" women to be featured in magazines and on TV. They speak out against magazines that photoshop models and celebrities, and don't even get them started on the "thigh gap" trend. Several of these women even posed nude to show what real women look like after having a baby, stretch marks and all.
Trust me, I get it. I'm still not at my pre-baby weight, and my thighs have more stretch marks than I can count. I have come to terms with the fact that my body will never be the same as it was before Rory, but when Marcos or someone else tells me to relax about my weight, because I just had a baby, I resist the urge to use Rory as an excuse. I didn't just have a baby. I had a baby 9 months ago, and that's plenty of time for me to get my body pretty darn close to pre-baby shape if I'm making healthy choices a priority. I don't expect women to leave the hospital wearing their skinny jeans or to bounce back as quickly as a Victoria's Secret model, but I do think too many women use babies as an excuse to indulge in bad habits and put off getting in shape.
It's not that I have anything against overweight people, it's just that I think displaying large, naked women all over the internet and calling them "average" sets a bad example. Yes, it's difficult to find the time to workout when you're caring for a baby, and eating well when you're busy and running on very little sleep seems next to impossible, but I don't think posing naked when you're clearly above what would be considered a "healthy weight" is any better than a too-thin model posing in the latest issue of Vogue. Both set bad examples and play a role in promoting negative body-image. A size 18 may be the average in America, but that doesn't make it okay.
I recently read a Huffington Post article encouraging moms to put on a bathing suit and enjoy pool time with their children, no matter their size. While I don't think heavy women should be ostracized or banned from the beach, I think we should step back and think about what articles like this are promoting. In short, an unhealthy lifestyle. No woman should feel ashamed to put on a bathing suit or miss out on opportunities to spend time with their children at the pool or beach, but parents are responsible for fostering healthy habits in their children, and encouraging women to "bare it all" and to be "proud" of their unfit bodies sends the message that it's acceptable to be unhealthy. I'm okay with stretch marks and saggy boobs...but not 40 inch waists.
Balance is key. I don't think it's healthy for young girls to flip through magazines and see only bone-thin models, but I also don't want my daughter growing up thinking it's okay to be 30 pounds overweight. I want Rory to understand the importance of leading an active lifestyle and making healthy food choices. And not so that she can look good in her bathing suit. I want her to feel fit and confident and strong. So, even though I'm also suffering from post-baby chub, you won't see me jumping on the bandwagon and supporting the "real body" movement. Let's focus more on promoting a healthy lifestyle and less on shock value. A woman's body is a beautiful thing, no matter the size, but we seem to have forgotten that size is an indicator of health.
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