I’ve heard of the dad bod but what about the mom bod? To me the word bod is a positive word. “Nice bod!” would be a compliment. I’ve read that the dad bod is actually appealing to women, that the image of a man with a little extra girth and less chiseled muscle makes us think of a man who cares for his children. A man who would be outside playing with his kids or coaching a kid’s team sport. However, women have much more pressure to look as thin and in shape as they did before kids. The mom bod may not be considered as desirable by our cultural standards. The mom bod is a body that was stretched to its max in many different areas to carry and birth a child. The mom bod is more squishy than toned. Yet, the mom bod is what a baby wants to cuddle up to.
That’s a pretty positive definition. So we can all be shocked by the women who are back into shape a month post-partum in their yoga pants but every bod is different. This time around my bod didn’t pop back into shape the way it did after my first. So much so that I have been asked if I am pregnant again. I won’t take offence, I did just have a child and I WILL have a mom bod from now on. My body did exactly what was intended to create life. Beyond that, working out isn’t quite as high on my priority list. Being healthy is, but not by lifting lots of weights or running or biking long distances like my before kids self. Now, if I get outside to walk our neighborhood, clean the house, or chase my daughter around in the basement that is good enough exercise for the day.
Mom’s need to focus on what works for them to stay healthy and in shape. I would never advocate not exercising because that is crucial to staying healthy, but exercise doesn’t have to mean going to that Zumba or weight strengthening class at the gym. Exercise can mean pushing a stroller to the park or dancing with your baby on your hip to nursery tunes. Whatever your exercise is…
just keep moving!
Don’t sit down too long or momma you are not getting back up. I know that all too well. I have to keep moving after work or I start feeling like I may be too tired to get through the rest of the evening. We know there is plenty to do.
Chores are exercise! Lucky for us…
Some evenings I go up and down our stairs two dozen times just doing laundry and chasing my toddler. One morning, I may be on my hands and knees scrubbing sticky spots off the floor for a half hour. One afternoon, I might decide to vacuum with a baby strapped to my body.
Just keep moving!
If your job keeps you mostly at a desk, ask for a standing desk or take time to get up and move every hour. Take a walk on your lunch break.
Just keep moving!
No matter what your mom bod looks like make sure you are happy with who you are. If you want to lose some baby weight be intentional with what you want to look like. Of course be reasonable too, you’re never going to look the same way you looked before children. Be happy with your mom bod, it did amazing things! Look at your children’s sweet faces and love your mom bod!
Happy Mother’s Day!
My body is neither the source of my strength nor a source of shame. My body just is. – E.J. Dickson, ELLE online
