In Celebration of the Mom Bod {Accepting Your Body’s Life Journey}

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We all have heard of the “Freshman Fifteen.” You know, you go to college, you’re out on your own for the first time, and you go a little crazy. You don’t have a parent making you dinner every night or packing your lunch for school. You’re on your own, making your own decisions, and that includes food.

I feel like dealing with all the coronavirus restrictions and finding our new norm has created a deja vu of sorts with the body changes and weight gain.

mom bod

And on top of being stuck at home, many of us have turned into homeschoolers. We have turned into the food delivery service. We have become the crafty mom, the creative science experiment mom, the bread-baker mom and everything in between! That added stress and pressure to perform tasks assuredly contributes to this.

Yes, I know I want and need to lose some weight, and I’m in the process of doing that (hello Keto!) and getting myself to a comfortable spot.

And sure, society tells us we should look a certain way or feel a certain way about our bodies. And unfortunately, for decades I fell prey to this unhealthy mindset. BUT, I’m also to the point in my life where I am not going to obsess to look a certain way that is portrayed in magazines or on social media. I’m over it!

I’m far from perfect or what perceived perfection looks like. I have dimpled thighs. I have cellulite and stretch marks. I have thick thighs that rub together when I walk. But that also doesn’t mean that I’m not beautiful. My Mom Bod size or imperfections do not define my beauty.

  • This body has been through weight gain and loss, over and over again.
  • This body has been through sexual abuse.
  • This body struggled with infertility and pregnancy loss, including twin girls in the first trimester.
  • This body has seen the operating room over 20 times for various health difficulties.
  • This body miraculously carried two pregnancies to term.
  • This body fed and nourished my children for a combined 24 months.
  • This body has been through a vicious cycle of depression and anxiety.
  • This body has been through two divorces, financial struggles, a bankruptcy, a house foreclosure, and now a pandemic.

I’m raising my sons to be respectful, kind, non-judgmental and accepting of others. If I’m expecting this mindset of my children, how can I not have the same mindset about myself? Years of hating myself, my body, my fat, my “flab,” my flaws has come to a complete stop. It’s time that I start celebrating my body. My “Mom Bod” that has carried me through so many trials and struggles over the years.

Please know that I’m not advocating for living an unhealthy lifestyle and just “giving up” on ourselves. What I AM advocating is that we cut ourselves some slack. I’m pleading with everyone to quit the fat-shaming and name-calling. We don’t know the internal and external struggles that everyone works through. We don’t always know where people come from or their stories.

Don’t let anyone else dampen your spirits or dim your light. You shine brightly like the rock star mom that you are. You’re a rock star for everything you’ve done, are doing, and will do in your life. So celebrate yourself and embrace the Mom Bod you are dwelling in. Once you start doing that, I guarantee your outlook on life and family will be boosted and others will recognize that in you and envy you, and want to know your secret!

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Abby Turner Hager
I am originally from New Hampshire and moved to the Cincinnati area in 2003. I am a single mom to 2 amazing boys, Eli and Ethan. We are avid Reds fans and you will likely find us at the ballpark quite a bit during baseball season. I have a degree in healthcare management and work full-time in Cincinnati. I have shared parenting of my boys, so when we are together, I try to make sure we make the most of our time! Whether it’s seeing Madcap Puppets, exploring the numerous local parks, enjoying the Cincinnati Pops, or cheering on our Cincinnati Redlegs, I strive to expose my boys to as many aspects of culture that I can! I enjoy music (I’ve played piano for 30 years) as well as being crafty (as time allows!), making crazy cool cakes, and relaxing with my boys, our dog Frankie and cats Lyra & Luna (we have quite the animal kingdom in our house)! I’m really excited about sharing a piece of my world with you and this oftentimes humorous and wild adventure I call my life as a mom!

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