Fat Moms
The Misconceptions of Fat Moms
In today’s society, thin is considered to be beautiful. It seems that everyone is either starting a diet, dieting at the present time, or planning to start a diet soon. Many new mothers expect to return to their regular body weight when they have their babies and are depressed when this does not happen. They have this self image of being one of those fat moms who gain weight when they have children and remain heavy for the rest of their lives.
A Change of Self Image
After a new baby, it is normal to retain some of the weight that you have gained during the pregnancy. To change this poor self image, these mothers need to realize that your extra weight after pregnancy does not need to be permanent and that postpartum weight does not mean that they are one of the “fat moms.”
Hollywood has been the root of all evil as far as today’s distorted self image that being thin is best is concerned. Hollywood mothers appear two weeks after giving birth and look as good if not better than they did before their pregnancies. Normal mothers see these women and fell like they are fat moms compared to these celebrities.
If regular women were allowed to go behind the scenes, they would see the lengths that these famous mothers have to go to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies. During the pregnancy, the celebrity mothers have a whole team of doctors, dieticians, and personal trainers at their beckon call to control their weight gain during their pregnancy as well as to lose any additional ponds immediately following delivery. These women also expose themselves to grueling exercise routines and may have to limit the time that they can spend with their babies. Since most of these women’s careers are based on their appearance, they need to take any steps possible to keep from becoming fat moms and jeopardizing their financial stability.
So if a new mother is comparing herself to Hollywood mothers, she needs to stop and consider the price that these women pay to regain their normal body weight.
Exercise and Diet
There are several steps that you can take if you fear becoming one of these “fat moms.” Implementing a healthy diet and exercise program can help you to lose some of the pounds that you have gained as a result of your pregnancy. Before beginning an exercise program, you should consult with your obstetrician. Most doctors advise you to wait at least six weeks after delivery to begin exercising, eight weeks if you have had a caesarian section.
Another way to prevent becoming one of the fat moms is to eat a well balanced diet. You need to ensure that you are still getting the calories that you will need to meet the demands of your role as a new mother. You will also need to decrease the amounts of your food portions if you are still in the “eating for two” mode.
An unexpected way that you can lose weight after pregnancy is through breastfeeding. This natural feeding method requires 200 to 500 extra calories a day and new mothers have claimed that they have dropped most of their body weight by this one activity. It is safe to say breastfeeding is healthier for both you and your baby.
Feel Good About Yourself
Another important thing that new mothers need to remember is that they should feel good about themselves. Gaining weight is a natural side effect of the miracle of giving birth and does not make them one of the “fat moms.” New mothers should also keep in mind that it took them nine months to gain these extra pounds. These women should give themselves the same amount of time to lose them.