Should I just GIVE UP???

Meecher

Meecher

Cathlete
I've got a question for anyone out there who can help me!

I need to know whether - after birthing two children - I should just TRASH all my NICE CLOTHES and ACCEPT my wider waistline as a permanent reality (and buy new clothes) ... OR ... is there still hope?

Here's the deal: I have a 3-year old and my youngest will be 2 in December...so I'm about two years postpartum. I gained 50 and 75 pounds (I know...yikes!) respectively with these two, but I've managed to pretty much lose all the weight (seriously...maybe a pound or two difference). My endurance is back and better than ever. I fit into all my old clothes WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE WITH WAISTS! In other words, my hips may be a size 6, but my waist has decided to go up a size!

So now I've got a pile of REALLY nice skirts and pants that I cannot seem to close comfortably...what the heck???? (And I paid a ton of money for this stuff, darnit!!!)

Am I expecting results too soon...or am I dreaming thinking that my waist will EVER be normal again?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BE HONEST! THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!

:) meecher
 
Well to be honest, your body *could* have permanently changed and if I were you at this point, I would seriously consider this as something that very well may have happened...I am only 4.5 months P/P but I seriously doubt my figure will go back to exactly what it was pre-pregnancy even when/if I lose all of the weight! I still think my proportions will be different! The only other thing I could think of is maybe if you attempted to lose a few extra pounds, it might shrink your waistline a bit??
 
I would not give up because then you might just gain back some. Keep working out, watching what you eat. I found some clothes that I had before my 17 year old was born, and can finally fit back in them. With little kids, it is easy to let the weight creep on because you are so busy. So don't give up!
 
My shape has definately changed since having children. I know my body was a bit different before having my kids but I can't remember what it looked like, exactly.

I guess it really depends on what your goals are. If you are working out and paying attention to your diet to get down to prepregnancy weight or if you plan on working out and eating healthy for life...if it's the later, hang onto the clothes because odds are your waist will shrink and at some point you may need smaller clothes. If it's the 1st option, donate them and start buying bigger clothes.
 
Gosh, great post, Sarah!

I have changed shape since I had my two kids. I am three years post partum and my waist is definitely a little thicker. However the pluses are my hips are slimmer and so are my thighs :) Go figure!

I would buy clothes that you look and feel good in NOW :)

Liz :)
 
My body shape changed completely after the birth of my son, who is now 16. All my life, I've had to have the waists taken in on my clothes. These days, I have a saggy seat whenever I buy pants that fit my waist. It's very frustrating, I know, and I was much happier (and more comfortable) taking the waists in. I wouldn't give up, for sure. I'd keep all those clothes. But in the meantime, I would definitely buy comfortable clothes. If you get back into the other ones, great! You can have the new ones taken in and you'll have TWO wardrobes. If not, you won't have spent all that time uncomfortable and self-conscious.


Good luck,
Shari
 
Although I'm thinner now than before I had my 3 kids (my youngest is 5), my waist is a bit wider. I've always been more ruler-shaped anyway and I prefer low-waisted pants because they look better on me and are more comfortable.

Do you like low-waisted pants? Could you buy a couple pairs in the mean time and hang on to the old stuff a few more months to see what happens?

BTW, I met you on the Road Trip and you have an absolutely awesome body, Meecher! You look so strong and lean!
 
Hi There,

Honestly, who knows? I had my daughter 9 yrs ago and I don't look the same now.I mean we can all get into great shape and if anything we are in better physical shape but some of our bodies may not be the same as they once were.I blame my waist on the fact that I have stretch marks, how is skin that as been stretched ever going to go back ? It can't. And if you can comfortably fit into a nice size now ,without undereating and over exercising and are hapy with the way you look then maybe its time to forgot about how you once were.
I gave up.I use to wear a size 26, now I wear a size 27 - 29(you know how sizes are these days:) )
But then I have a friend who looks better now then she did before she had kids..so who knows?You know your body more then we do and I think you know what your body is capable of.
Lori:)
 
That's a tough call, Meecher. Like everyone has said, our bodies change after pregnancy, even after all the weight falls off. My waistline is definitely bigger than it was even though my hips and thighs are smaller. The thing is, my waistline was very tiny pre-pregnancy, so the extra inch that came along hasn't really been a problem. And most of the jeans out there today have a lower rise than 5 years ago, which makes their waistlines a bit wider and accommodates my wider torso. I do still have to wear a belt everytime.

I can totally understand why you want to hang on to them, and maybe you should. Just for a while, to see how much farther you can take your body. I recently just discovered the right amount of carbs to fuel my body during and after my workouts. It was a long journey of trials and errors, and even then, I know my body's needs will change as I get older. Congratulate yourself for your improved endurance and your weight loss. I've seen your photos and you're one fit, toned lady with nice guns.:) In the meantime, why don't you shop for a pair of jeans (or two) that fits you well. You might be surprised to see them getting looser one day.

Pinky
 
This is all too fitting that I came across this post today. I too have a closet full of expensive suit/work clothes I wore before child number one. Back in those days, I did very little weight training (and what I did do, were VERY light weights). After having a child and working out with Cathe, I'm bigger all around. FOr me, it's not so much weight gain as fat, but as muscle. I was a stick, now I have a butt and quads.
I'm pregnant again and have been in the process of going through all closets in my house and organizing them. The last one is the one with all these suits. I was planning on packing them into a clothes organizer. I'm rethinking this now. I'm not a pack rat, but just have a hard time letting go of these clothes. I think it's a money thing.

Susan C.M.
 
I don't think you should ever give up. I am 6 years post partum and I thought I would never ever lose any weight again. Yes my shape has changed a little, I can fit into pre-pregnancy jean shorts, but they don't "look" the same as they did, nor do I ever expect them to. The point is I fit into them again after working out with Cathe doing lots of cardio and light weights and eating clean. That was the breaking point for me. My family and friends tell me "the weight is falling off of you" and it is. And I feel great.
So I wouldn't get rid of the clothes just yet. And don't give up on yourself. You CAN reach your goals. All of us can. So hang in there!!

Kali
www.PictureTrail.com/kkali
 
Well, I can respond as a person who also works outside the home (and therefore requires way too many suits and dressy things) and has been up and down the scale.... my closet used to go from size 2 to 10. I didn't want to give up anything (particularly stuff that was pricey or to which I was attached for whatever reason). What I found was this was very demoralizing every morning. Nothing I wanted to wear EVER fit correctly (too small OR too big) and I could never really get a handle on what I did actually have. Which meant that I ended up wearing the same things over and over because it was too much of a hassle to figure the other stuff out.

Eventually I did a major closet purge and donated everything that didn't fit.... even stuff that still had tags on it. Some of it was too small, some was too big, some was just not particularly stylish any longer. My rule of thumb was, if it has not been on my body in the last year it is DEFINITELY going, if it has not been on my body in the last six months, it is LIKELY going.

I would suggest going carefully through your wardrobe and asking yourself (1) is this still in style or is it likely to go out of style quickly, and (2) am I ever likely to get into it again? Anything on the trendy side should probably go; anything else I would put in a spare closet for a few months with the thought that I'd go back and then make a determination.

The fun part of all this was rebuilding my wardrobe in a much more logical and systematic fashion. I definitely do not have as much as before, but it is much higher quality and can be easily mixed and matched.

Good luck!!
Marie
 
My one child turns 1 tomorrow and I am smaller then I have ever been in my life. I eat ok and I work out the same as I did before but I do more core work now because I knew that would be a challenge. I would not give up. I would look at what you are eating and switch up your workouts and see what happens. My nice work clothes were the last thing that I got back into also but now the clothes i thought would never fit 6 months ago because they were too small. Guess what they don't fit but it is because they are too big. There is always hope! Good Luck!
 
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!!!

You all give such good advice. I will say that much of the clothes I'm complaining about are "classics," meaning the kind of basic wardrobe items that never really go out of style...and I guess that's what is making this tough. I have NO problem tossing clothes (even expensive ones) that are trendy or out-of-style...that just means I can buy new ones!!! }(

But this waistline thing has just been a pain. There were some shorts I couldn't wear this summer and a black dress skirt that I love and needed to wear many times but couldn't...and it all adds up to pure frustration! I AM going to take your advice, Shari, and BUY SOME NEW STUFF, though. I gotta be happy, right?

Sooooooooosan and Pinky, you goddesses of the Road Trip...you're sweeter than sweet with your compliments! (My ego smiled broadly, you best believe!) And yeah, I'm liking low rise pants these days, even though my underwear peeks out the top. (I refuse to buy a low rise thong...there's just something wrong with that...I don't know what it is...)

:) meecher
 
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