Positive Reframe on Female Body Image

I have been seeing a slew of photos of new celebrity mother’s showing how wonderful they look after losing all their baby weight gain while their babies are still under the age of one. Some have only just made it out of the 4th trimester – the first three months after the baby is born. Now don’t get me wrong, I want women to celebrate their bodies and feel comfortable to share no matter what stage or shape you are in. I happened to lose 60 lbs after my second child was born and was asked to pose for some clothing advertising. I was actually “skinny shamed” by a commenter. They had no idea nor took any consideration on how this was my first time ever modeling and I was finally feeling confident and flattered for being asked after losing all the weight I gained from four pregnancies, three being consecutive miscarriages, including a stillbirth.

What concerns me the most is the added pressure and sub-text, the negative messages that women are absorbing about their bodies when they are the most vulnerable, in the transition of being a mother and needing to nurture a dependent soul. How you look should absolutely be the last thing on your mind. In fact, I don’t even think it needs to be on a list of worries. Have you had a baby!?! I assure you, there is enough to worry about. Being able to shower and sleep are hard enough. I could easily go off on a tangent about privilege as well… losing weight is hard and it’s one thing when you have secure resources and an elaborate support system but let’s get back to weight.

The most recent comment I read from a celebrity was regarding her postpartum body. She stated, “I don’t even know what to say, other than I’m so sorry to my body.” … I wish we could reframe this messages to one of gratitude, strength, encouragement, and compassion for our bodies like, “Wow, thank you body for supporting and nurturing me and my baby. I will continue to prioritize my well-being and nourish you the best way I can.” Imagine what would happen if we consciously chose to send positive and supportive messages about our bodies…”What if tomorrow, women woke up and decided they really liked their bodies, just think how many industries would go out of business.” Dr. Gail Dines

Here are some links on how society influences and/or distorts how we define beauty…

Below are resources to support positive body image:

How to Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-image_b_3678534

When Your Daughter Says “I’m Fat” How To Build Body Positivity in Girls https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=23026

Celebrating Every Body 25 Body Image Positive Books for Mighty Girls  https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10912

Take Wonderful Care,

Disclaimer: Positive Reframe shares resources with the intent of the positive progression of informed decision making related to issues associated with emotional, relational, physical and spiritual wellness. While I share personal and professional perspectives, my posts reflect my personal opinion and not intended to substitute professional advice, diagnosis, and treatment thus the content shared on this page is for informational purposes only. This online medium does not lend itself to the level of detail and rapport building required for thorough assessment and therapeutic intervention. To make well-informed decisions that best meet your family’s unique needs, I highly recommend exploring and researching available options, consulting primary health care providers, as well as seek referrals from a trusted source for professional counseling. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy in the state of Illinois, USA