Giving Myself Grace For My Post Baby Body

Grace is something that needs to cover so many areas of life and one that I’m needing to focus on right now is my body.  To be honest, I’ve never been one to like the shape of my body.  I’ve always felt too large – even at my smallest in college (looking back I realize I was a twig!) when I weighed 110 pounds.  My body has always been out of proportion of the world’s idea of gorgeous.  Instead of having the perfect hourglass figure I am pear shaped.  I have tiny boobs and a bigger backside.  I’ve always joked about having childbearing hips and, as my easy delivery shows, I guess it’s true.

Now that I’m a mama, I’m having a hard time accepting my post baby body.

Since having Caleb, I have unfortunately begun to have an even more negative view of my body than ever before.  I’m over 20 pounds heavier than I was pre-pregnancy, my hips have only gotten wider, I have stretch marks over pretty much every surface of my body, and my boobs are either hugely engorged (which, to be honest, I kind of love) or floppy.

I knew things were going to change but I didn’t realize how much. I need to be giving myself grace for this new body of mine.  For Pete’s sake, I pushed an 8 pound baby out of it less than 5 months ago.  This body is amazing and wonderful, full of power and intensity!

I need to view it as it really is, strong, beautiful, and able to create and nourish another life.

I need to listen to the words my husband tells me.  When he tells me I’m beautiful I need to say thank you.  When he tells me I’m sexy I need to believe it.  I need to allow him to say those things and not shoot him down.  I’m thankful I’m married to a man who won’t stop speaking words of truth into my life and who encourages me to believe them.  I need to take to heart the words he is telling me since, ultimately, it’s only his opinion that matters.

I need to keep my self talk positive.  Instead of letting my heart go to a negative place I need to speak beauty into my life.

I need to smile at my body in the mirror and be happy in my own skin.

I need to give myself grace for the days that I’m not able to exercise but have discipline on the days I am.  I need to focus on being healthy, not getting skinny.  Even if my body never looses the tummy, thighs, or muffin top I need to be ok with that.  I want to be healthy for my little man – able to roll around on the floor with him and, eventually, run around with him.

As I learn to give myself grace for my body I hope I become an encouragement to you to give yourself grace for your own beautiful body.

Your Turn:
How do you feel about your post baby body?
What changes do you need to make in the way you think to love your body?

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