Hate my postpartum body

[Getyournamefaceon]

I am losing about 0.5-1lbs a week despite killing myself at the gym and eating well. I've been on a diet many many times and know what works for me to lose weight but it's barely shifting. I think pregnancy has changed my metabolism!

I hate my stretch marks, section overhang. None of my nice clothes fit. I can't afford new ones and want to slim into old.

I'm pale and flabby. My skin isn't nice even when i look after it. I have excema and veins.

My boobs are huge and I hate them. I'm 4 months postpartum and my confidence in how I look is holding me back.

Please don't recommend therapy, I've done more than my fair share!

Yes my body gave me 2 beautiful babies but it was just a big flabby vessel.

I wish I appreciated my body but i feel disgusting. I need to change my attitude before my kids pick up on it.

I have 4 stone to lose.

lots of love and kindness to you. It's horrible to feel crap about yourself.

4 months PP your hormones are still not back to your usual levels yet but you've already created the habits, so hopefully once its all levelled out you will see results and feel happier in yourself.

Posting in solidarity, especially about the counselling advice/see your body as a beautiful life giving temple shite people keep saying!

When fistfuls of your hair comes out and you have a forehead like Nicholas Cage, it is NOT irrational to be pissed off and downcast about the change to your appearance.

What I do try to remember is that because I did something as wonderful as create my fabulous little son, I deserve and my body deserves the time and effort to get my body into something that feels like mine, even if it doesn't go back exactly to how it was before.

'mummy, I love you because you have a flat tummy' said no child, ever.

You said it yourself, your body has done a miraculous thing....twice. Be kind to yourself.
Those hormones are still wild. That said, I completely get it. I'm 6 months pp and have just under 10kg to lose to get back to my pregnancy weight. I bought a pair of jeans that are tight but fit, some leggings and a couple of jumpers to see me through autumn (vinted). Im looking forward to autumn so that I can wear them and feel nice! Remember the clothes size you wear really is the least interesting thing about you. Just trust the process. Give your body time to heal. Sod the gym (and I'm a qualified PT 😅). Brisk walks, a jog with the pushchair if you're up for it, a silly dance in the living room, some home workouts that get you nice and sweaty. That's all you need. Making exercise fun sets a good example to your kids, they seem you working out and being happy but not obessing. Keep eating healthy, and nourishing your body. Your babies need you to be in good form, don't starve yourself to lose weight just stay consistent and next summer you'll be so much closer to your goal. Also when you are running around after two kids the weight will drop off. Im happy to be squishy for my baby, it's temporary. As I write this to you I am a glorified pillow!

If you want practical advice, I would suggest getting one or two outfits that actually fit you so you can feel good. Have a long shower with some fancy smelling shower gel. Find yourself some nice moisturiser. Keep it simple. Little habits add up.

If you think about evolution, nature doesn't want new mums starving to death or the babies would be in trouble. So weight is hard to lose when you're a new mum. 1lb a week is actually sustainable so that's a good thing.

It's going in the right direction and you are doing well.

Fake tan is also your friend

How's the sleep OP? I think that's huge in feeling normal and helping things settle down - im assuming at 4 months youre in the trenches with sleep? Be kind to yourself and know it will settle, it just takes time.

If you can stretch to it - and you dont need to buy anything expensive - id tackle it with fake tan as a PP has said, hairdressers (getting my roots done about 3months post party made me feel like a new woman!), getting a couple of floaty tops, eyebrows, nails. You dont have to spend the world on this and you can DIY it, but it might make you feel more you. Make yourself feel valued and nice!

Small things too i noticed made me balloon the other side of pregnancy - any booze id bloat up, milk in drinks/dairy, my body couldnt process carbs properly for a while (never been so constipated the year after birth which doesnt help!) but after about 9 months, when i got some nights that were properly solid sleep wise, it went back to normal.

Youre loosing, it just takes time... give yourself a massive cuddle and be kind to yourself xxx

It gets better but takes time. I found walking was the best form of exercise at the start to loose weight and then things like yoga are amazing for the pelvic floor which helps bring the flabby tummy back i . It takes 12 months to make a baby and at least 12 months, I feel it's more to then get back to normal.
I remember feeling the same after my first, I was so shocked about how I looked. Like jelly but honestly it does get better. It just takes time and if you can continue to exercise the weight will come off and the body does kind of start to be less wobbly 😊

You have my sympathy OP but to echo others - 4 months is early days.

I think it took 18 months for my abdomen to feel anything close to normal again.

Oh my love. 4 months pp is nothing. It will take a long time for things to settle after baby. Roughly two years.

I'm only just getting mojo back and being happier in myself 2 year pp!