Mel recently had a baby, so she was excited to finally book a session with a personal trainer. She wanted to strengthen her body and build endurance. But Mel was disheartened when her very first exchange with said trainer was less than satisfying.
Mom walked away from the session feeling angry, annoyed and plain ticked-off. It got her thinking about the way new mothers are supposed to look, what society considers an "appropriate" post-baby body, and self-esteem in general. In addition to her story, Mel included a photo of herself standing in front of a mirror in her nursing bra and underwear, for all the world to see. She had no idea her post would go massively viral, and that women all over the country would show their support by joining her movement.
Keep scrolling to see what the personal trainer said to Mel. She's one brave and beautiful mama, if you ask me…
"So I had my first session with a PT today and the first thing she said to me was 'Obviously you want to get back to your pre-baby weight.' It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
And it pissed. Me. Off."
"I corrected her nicely by simply saying 'my goal is to regain my core strength and endurance…I'm not worried by how my body looks, only how it functions…it can be pretty badass.'
But it got me thinking. Post pregnant women are told they look good if they return to their pre-baby body quickly leading to the assumption that they look bad if the keep the extra weight. Skinny people are envied for their lack of fat or shamed for apparently starving themselves. Voluptuous women are either labelled fat and shamed or they're labelled brave for being comfortable in their own skin. There is always pressure."
"No one is comfortable in their own skin 100% of the time. Constantly labelling people and piling expectations associated with these labels on them is harmful to everyone…including those doing the labelling.
What we should be worrying about is if people are ok, not what they look like."
"So here I am. I may not be magazine ready, my nana undies and bedtime nursing bra are certainly not going to be rocking a runway anytime soon, my hair is greasy, I have no makeup on, my body is squishy and plentiful, I'm not even sure I'm totally ok.
But I am strong. My body is healthy.
Screw what society wants from me. This is what's on offer."
Mel is right. I think it's time we spend a little less time on what's on the outside, and a little more on what's on the inside. If you agree, please SHARE this with your friends on Facebook.
