I’ve never had a baby, let me first say that. In fact, one of the things that terrifies me most about pregnancy is that it may change my body forever. Call it narcissistic, I call it “I care about what I look like.” When did wanting to look and be fit become such a crime?
This week, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson made famous by her Method Workouts and string of celebrity client endorsements, came under fire for comments she made in DuJour Magazine regarding women and post-pregnancy bodies. But as the media loves to do, it was all taken a bit out of context.
Tracy was quoted saying, “A lot of women use pregnancy as an excuse to let their bodies go, and that’s the worst thing. I’ve seen so many women when who come to me after having children with disaster bodies that have gone through hell,” she said, adding that they use their kids as an excuse for letting their bodies go.
Sure, at first glance this seems harsh. Pregnancy is difficult and it changes our bodies, and it’s certainly a season in which we put the needs of our baby before our own.
But isn’t she right to a certain extent? My own mother had two very difficult pregnancies during which she gained a fair amount of weight. But as soon as she was able to, she started right back up on her walking routine and got back to her pre-baby weight within a year of giving birth.
To me, that’s normal. So when I see women who gain a lot of weight during pregnancy as a result of eating poorly and being inactive, I don’t feel that bad for them just like I don’t feel bad for myself after week of heavy eating and I’m left a few pounds heavier for it. It all comes down to personal responsibility. (more…)
