To feel massively depressed about weight gain **pic inc**

[WhyTheHeckMe]

I had my second ds 3 months ago and I am seriously low about my weight. My 2 boys are my world but I can't help but feel down about my body.
After ds1 (now 2.5) I snapped back. Always had a slim waist and curvy bum but was slim so didn't mind.
Now I just feel fat. Everything is wide.
I have spent the last 3 months eating nothing but healthy food. No treats. I walk between 2 and 4 miles a night once the kids are in bed.
The first pic was 18 months ago and the one on the he right is tonight.
Do I look hideous? I have to wear this dress at the weekend and now I'm dreading it.
Also does anyone have tips on how to target my midriff?
I feel like ds2 has changed my body shape permanently and I'll always be this wide.

You’ve got a lovely figure. I’ve gone up 3 dress sizes since my baby last year think how I feel 😂 nah you don’t even look that much different and for having 3 kids you look amazing!

Sorry OP, the posters who corrected me on plank challenge are absolutely right. You need to be sure and abdominal separation is fully closed before attempting crunch or plank moves. My apologies, I completely forgot.

Any, not and!

Pic update - I have control pants.
I feel a lot happier (although I'm quite sure you can see the leg marks on my thighs but hey ho).

I'm really grateful to everyone who responded to me, you've all made it hit home that I have only had a baby 3 months ago which I guess is a shirt amount of time, plus the csecs so it's always going to be a bit harder.

To answer a couple of questions - I've not really had time to get a new dress. Had a 2 hour shopping window today and that's it all week. Managed to get to m&s and try on every single item of shapeware in the shop but wouldn't have had time to go dress hunting.
The pics don't do it justice, it is a lovely dress and it's actually pale pink it looks cream in these pics though. I know I probably could have found something more flattering but it'll have to do :-)

@ambereeree unfortunately not breastfeeding no. I did with my first for 8 months which I'm sure is what helped with the rapid weight loss. This time ds was in neo natal when he was born and despite trying for 1 month he wouldn't latch. A lactation consultant was the one in the end who told me to give up for both our sanity!

Anyway pics of dress now with shape wear. Probably can't see the difference but I definitely feel 'smoother'. Tried to stand more similarly to the first pic too!

Thanks again to you all. Now just need to focus on not letting this become an obsession again.

And the back....

OP you look amazing especially for three months post birth!

You look better than I do 9 years after my last birth! Give yourself a break, you’ve a cracking figure!

Oooh you look lovely OP! You really don’t look like you’ve just had a baby. I’m glad the control pants made you feel a bit better though. I always said to myself that it took over nine months to put on all that weight so it’s not going to fall off overnight. (Not that you need to lose weight though - you look brilliant!)

Whytheheckme you look fabulous from behind too, there are so many ladies in their early twenties that haven't had children would love to have your figure. You have lovely hair too. There will be plenty of heads turning in that dress.

Thank you so much ladies
I did take a behind pic last night and didn't post it. Back fat is bad! Thankfully I found pants that come up to my bra to hold the lot in!

Relax. Are you bigger in the right picture? Yes. But your figure still looks great, it's just different to the pic on the left.

You gave birth to a wonderful little boy 12 weeks ago. Your body is magnificent and looks great in your dress.

You look smoking hot in that dress; go and have a lovely time!

Also just to amplify what others have said, don’t even think about planks, sit ups, crunches, chin-ups or high impact stuff until you’ve had your ab separation checked and have done a good few months of 3x a day pelvic floor exercises (the nhs Squeezy app is great) - you’re still in the ‘fourth trimester’ and at high risk of pelvic organ prolapse (ask me how I know - rubbish) and/or worsening a separation if you have one. Cycling, however, is low impact and a good plan if you enjoy it.

Try these www.marksandspencer.com/firm-control-waist-sculpt-no-vpl-cincher/p/p22377619?prevPage=plp&pdpredirect

Or

www.marksandspencer.com/firm-control-floral-lace-body/p/p60090711?image=SD_02_T33_1675_Y0_X_EC_90&color=BLACK&prevPage=plp
(Removable straps)

Geekone the ones on the first link are what I've bought today, in nude :-)

Breaastfeeding makes a big difference to both weight, but also it contracts your uterus so slims your tummy.

...saying that when I stopped breastfeeding I gained about 1 stone so its swings and roundabouts!!

You really do look fab, in both pics, and even more so in the control pants!!

Wear that dress with pride, you've just had a baby!!!

Hi guys . This is the dress i wore instead and felt so much more comfortable !
My mum lent it to me!
Thanks for everyone's input. Going to try going easier on myself now.

Fabulous!

I liked the first dress but love the black dress. It accentuates all your lovely curves and you look great, very slim but with a nice figure. Pregnancy and childbirth is tough on the body. Be kind to yourself. You’re not gross, neither inside nor out.

Ooooh you look even better in the dress you borrowed! That looks fabulous on you. Hope you had a great time

You look lush.

If I hadn't seen the before picture I wouldn't have any idea that your weight or shape are an issue for you. Honestly, you look lush and feminine in the dress now.

Personally I love Spanx biiiiiig knickers (the knee to rib ones) for holding everything in and up. The hold my chub in and my confidence up

Enjoy your 'do'.

Ha! I missed your update. Both dresses are lovely on you.

When my youngest was about 8 or 9 I realised that I was never going to get my pre-babies body back, even if I was a healthy BMI, so I'd better learn to look after and love the body I have. And this change of mindset made me realise that I had never loved my body in the first place Such a shame: when I had a firm, flat-stomached, smooth-skinned, fit body, all I saw were flaws and that I didn't meet society's expectations of dainty femininity. When I lost all those positive attributes I learned to love myself and appreciate my curves, my true femininity, my history and my potential. As they say, youth is wasted on the young!

You looked amazing OP. The control pants really did the trick in your first dress and you looked fab but the black dress is even better. You have a gorgeous figure!

Thanks! Definitely felt better in black! :-)

The black is so much nicer. That nude/blush pink is not really flattering unless you're tanned

Black dress looked a lot better. You look great in it