Seventy-five pounds. That’s the amount of weight I needed to embrace in order to nurture my two children. It’s also the same weight that marked the beginning of my healing journey, leading me to finally break free from the relentless cycle of diet culture. My experience with pregnancy weight gain turned my entire life around, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
In fact, I have no intention of shedding a single pound. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m perfectly content with my current state.
Let me clarify: this isn’t some façade of self-acceptance because I’m a new mother who wants to let her body “be” for a while. I can say with absolute certainty that if my body were to remain like this forever, I would be completely okay with it. This includes fully embracing every stretch mark, every dimple, every sign of having carried two incredible lives.
I went from longing for a thigh gap to celebrating the strength and beauty of my fuller figure. Honestly, my body has saved my life in ways I never could have imagined.
For years, I covered up my deep-rooted body image issues with temporary fixes. Since I was twelve, I relentlessly pursued thinness, engaging in destructive behaviors like bingeing and purging, severe dieting, and even a four-year addiction to diet pills. I attended weight loss programs that I didn’t need, all while battling a mind that equated my worth with my size. I was trapped in a distorted self-image, a prison of my own making.
Then, life took an unexpected turn—I became pregnant. Sometimes, the most inconvenient moments lead to profound growth. Initially, my postpartum journey was riddled with attempts to lose weight quickly. I exercised excessively, tried cleansing diets, and fell back into old, unhealthy habits. I even listened to well-meaning friends who insisted that breastfeeding would magically melt away the pounds. Yet, nothing worked. No matter how hard I tried, my body refused to transform.
I remember the compliments I received when I was at my thinnest; they fueled my obsession with losing more weight. When my pregnancy weight began to accumulate, loved ones expressed concern, often saying, “I hope she gets her body back.” This only deepened my shame during the first year after my daughter was born.
Then I had an epiphany: there is no going “back” in this journey because my body has always been with me. It has supported me through every challenge and change. I spent my first year postpartum resenting it for simply doing its job—creating and nurturing life. I realized I was fighting against the miracle of motherhood by blaming my body for the evidence of its miraculous work.
It’s astounding how far we can drift from self-acceptance due to societal pressures to despise the natural changes that come with motherhood. Thankfully, I didn’t stray too far. A single photograph captured by my husband after giving birth revealed the truth. In the picture, I appeared still pregnant, adorned with stretch marks, yet I radiated happiness. I had just accomplished something extraordinary, and for the first time, I felt proud of my body.
Gradually, I began to appreciate my reflection in the mirror, recognizing the beauty of my curves and imperfections. I immersed myself in the body positivity movement, discovering freedom in occupying more physical space. I have been embracing my new self for over two years now, and while I weigh about the same as I did when I gave birth to my son, I no longer let a scale define me. I have no scales at home, and I have no plans to change that.
Never would I have anticipated that my pregnancy weight gain would lead me to liberation. Now, I choose to enjoy life, cherish moments, and fully participate in my own story. I celebrate every mark on my body that tells the tale of growing and birthing two incredible children.
I proudly embrace my body, and I no longer care about societal expectations. Those seventy-five pounds brought me back to life, and for that, I am profoundly thankful.
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Summary
This piece reflects on a woman’s journey of self-acceptance after pregnancy. Embracing the weight gained during motherhood, she shares how it helped her break free from diet culture and learn to love her body, imperfections and all. The narrative emphasizes the importance of self-love and the profound changes that come with motherhood.