Aug 13 2008
Question of the Week: Hot Mamas–Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em?
Eight weeks after giving birth to her THIRD child, Heidi Klum walked the Victoria’s Secret runway in (and this is not a joke) an electric thong.
Five months after having her son, former Bachelorette Trista Sutter appeared on the cover Us Weekly in a bikini with visible ab defintion and nary a stretch mark in sight.
A recent article at MSNBC questioned whether the insanely quick return to pre-baby condition by celebrity moms like Heidi and Trista helps or harms us mere mortals.
In one camp, moms like Catherine Lang-Cline are inspired by these hot mamas. “… I do find it inspiring that I don’t have to stay the flabby lump of goo that I feel I am now. Celebrities show that it’s possible to look good after having a baby. Granted, they’ll probably do it in half the time, but at least it’s possible.”
On the other side of the fence, some experts argue that celebrity moms set expectations that simply aren’t realistic for the vast majority of us who don’t have a nanny, nutritionist, chef, and personal trainer on call. These expectations influence our husbands, who wonder “If Christina Aguilera can lose the weight, why can’t you?”, and us, sparking disordered eating and exacerbating postpartum depression.
The question of the week is this: Are you inspired or discouraged by women like Heidi and Trista? How does their post-baby body success make you feel?
Speaking as a terrified mom-to-be with a history of disordered eating, I’d have to say that it alarms me. I don’t feel inspired; I feel intimidated. What if I can’t measure up to this impossibly high standard? I’d prefer to spend the first few months after delivery focusing on the baby rather than freaking out about my body (although I suspect a certain measure of freaking out is inevitable).
What do you think?
I’m not a mom or mom-to-be (yet) but I think I agree with how you think partially, yes you should focus some much needed time on the new baby BUT don’t forget yourself in the process.
My mother “let herself go” and it wrecked havoc on her life (sadly) and I don’t want to go down that road since I –like you– have struggled with body images.
You have to put into the mindset that celebrities have people around them helping them stay thin, if you can acquire all the things that they use more power to you but just cut yourself SOME slack at least, at first.
I think that it can be an inspiration, as long as we temper the expectation with reality. If you aren’t in as good of shape as Heidi when you get pregnant, you aren’t going to snap back as quickly as she did. We can’t devote all of our post-birth energy to eating right and working out. We don’t have cooks and trainers. Seems to me that we should say to ourselves: “I could look like that too, if it were my biggest priority. It isn’t my biggest priority, but it’s important enough to me to put some effort towards, and I can see that my efforts will pay off.”
I agree with verybadcat. The stars, definately, have people cooking for them, a personal trainer and a nanny. They, also, probably have some good genes going on in there
They are not the same as everyday people. If I felt intimidated, I would be curled up somewhere and I have other things to be curled up in a corner about *lol*
When you have your baby, you will be to tired to work out 5 hours a day
Speaking from the perspective of someone who’s had a child, I know that this ‘want’ to get back to our pre-pregnancy state is possible. I think the stars show us that is can be accomplished, however I think they do it so quickly that they leave us with unrealistic hopes of how quickly is usually happens. True, some women come out of the hospital looking like they didn’t give birth days ago, but typically we lose the weight in our own time, if we choose to change our eating habits. I think it is important to remember that it is our state of mind that affects this process more than anything…if you went into being pregnant thinking “I am eating for two and can eat what I want” and end up gaining 60 pounds and continue this mentality after the baby is born, they yes it will be hard to lose the weight.
Just my two cents
~K
I think it is pretty inspiring actually. Granted, I am not a mom or anywhere close to it but I think it would be helpful to have something to strive for. (with realistic timelines of course)
I read that article. I’m sure I’d feel the same way you do if I were pregnant right now. It’s definitely crossed my mind before, just wondering how I’ll deal with growing larger (and then losing the baby weight) if I have a kid at some point.
I don’t even think of celebrities as real people, so when I see them do things like that, I just chalk it up to celebrity. They do crazy things that I could never do, and that’s all it is. Of course, I’m not actually having a baby any time soon. Ask me again when that time of my life comes.
I might need an ELECTRIC THONG. WTF?!?!!
Other than that, I’m sitting here eating a chocolate covered banana, so pregnant or not, I’m totally nowhere near being as fit as Heidi Klum.
This is the first time I’ve been to your site and just by this one post, I can tell that I like you!
Being a perfectionist and a health nut, I have struggled with eating problems and mind sets for years. After my second child was born and I tried to measure up to the unrealistic look of celebrities, I wound up in a full blown depression and took on unhealthy habits. Thankfully, after a lot of intervention, I am completely different now and I am dedicated to helping other women achieve positive self image and acceptance. I’m excited to keep up to date on your blog.
NO CLUE IF IT IS TRUE but I used to be so smitten with heidi (and seal. but thats a different story :)).
she seemed SO NORMAL.
and I really bought into the fact she lost the weight in a healthy way, that she is a bazillion feet tall so it’s easier there as well, blahblahblah.
then yesterday I saw an interview where she said (sigh) she’s always hungry.
that she knows it’s her job to be thin so shes, well, ALWAYS HUNGRY.
*sigh*
I haven’t visited in a while due to my own hectic life, so CONGRATS!!
My advise based on my life through 3 pregnancies in 4 years: You have to keep in mind that you are growing another being in you and that baby needs what it needs. You are mindful of what you eat so just keep doing that. Hormones may make you desire Boston Cream Pie and ice cream sundaes every single day but you can get through that with distraction. When you look at your ever expanding belly, know that it is the baby and not how fat you’re getting from eating extra fruits and veggies - relish that belly, it only lasts a short while. After wards, well you’re in great shape now so don’t worry about it too much. It’s not your first priority but it is a priority to you so you’ll be OK just start checking out jogging strollers HA! Really, though, most babies love it. If you ever do look down at your belly and feel a little squidgy, plop that beautiful child of yours down on top of it and your attention will refocus. It may not always feel like it, but you’ll do great.