Mourning a Size Zero Figure

I could only dream to be a size 6-8!! Size zero seems like an unrealistic goal after three kids. I have three kids my youngest is six and I'm still a size 14. My goal is to become size 10 again. I think that is more realistic than me trying to get down to my size 6. Good luck, but I really think size 6-8 is much healthier than a size 0.

I'm an 8 now. Sometimes I can buy a size 6 if it runs big. Older women, anyone over 30 looks sick in a size smaller than 6.

Keep in mind that your skeletal structure can also change after carrying babies. My pelvis and rib cage were wider after pregnancy number 2 although I weigh 30 lbs less now that I did when I got pregnant.

Um, your child is 3 months old. You took 9 months to create that baby....take 9 months to take it off.
I don't know what it's like to "mourn" a size that small.
L.

It may be a first-world problem, but it's something that bothers you.

Size 6-8. I can't imagine being that small. I'll be happy when I can get into a size 10.

You already know that your body changes with pregnancies as well as with time. Why not go talk to your doctor about it?

Perhaps a change of eating habits will make you feel better. And keep on exercising. Try new exercises - don't just stick to the things you've always done. Go outside the box. Set yourself some goals that don't have anything to do with poundage or clothing size.

Get yourself some nice clothing that looks good on you now, and get a cool new hair style. If anything in your closet makes you feel like a frump or a failure, give it away to a thrift store. And don't get on the scale. I have a feeling you need to learn to like YOU again, and your personal value isn't dependent on some magic number.

Once you like yourself, you won't worry so much, and you may be surprised what will happen.

Your youngest is only three months old. It took me at least 9 months to get back to normal after my babies were born.

You've had 3 kids and you are also only 3 months off the last one. Please be more gentle to yourself. You took 9 months to get the weight on in the first place. It won't be overnight.

I was once very thin, and wore a 00. And I was not healthy. And after having an 8lb baby that really did a number on my abs, I struggled with not being just the same as I was before. But even if things are not like when I was 20, my DH says he likes my body better.

So here's what I did and maybe you can, too - find someone who will build you up. Someone who isn't watching the scale for you and doesn't judge you on size. Let that person encourage you. Give away the clothes that are making you feel unworthy and unpretty. And buy at least a few outfits that make you feel awesome to wear while you transition back to a smaller size. And do something that makes you feel happy, hopeful, etc. Maybe with your kids. Because I don't know about yours, but my kid makes me feel beautiful every day.

Be gentle with yourself.

It sounds to me that you don't need the help of a trainer or dietician as much as the help of a counselor. I suspect your weight and size are quite healthy for your height, but your mentality and body image are not.

You may never get the same figure back after 3 pregnancies. You may be pre-pregnant weight, but the body probably won't be the same. Things have stretched during pregnancy and probably won't retract to the same way it was before.

Like another poster said, you'll have to learn to wrap your head around the fact that you're healthy and not overweight.

I would say take up a hard weight lifting class like Power Up (at the YMCA). Putting on all that muscle will help. Warning - you get super sore when you first start this class but it is addictive!

Buy new clothes that flatter your new shape and donate the ones that no longer fit to charity. You are obsessing over weight at a time when I was just barely beginning to start wearing non-maternity clothes again. Just love your baby and play/walk/have fun with your kids, you will not be sitting much for the next few years, and as long as you eat healthy foods your shape will be what it needs to be. This reminds me of a cartoon I saw: a woman tries on pants that do not fit and says "what is wrong with me?", a man tries on pants that do not fit and says "what is wrong with the pants?".
Buy new pants.

Give it more time. U can get there and better w good diet and exercise. Go girl!

I am the same weight I was before I got pregnant with my first and my second is almost 2. My hips have shifted and stretched out, my boobs have completely vanished and my tummy is something of its own. What Im saying is the scale is telling me that I should be the same as before but I swear if it wasnt my own body I would think it was a completely different one. Pregnancy does crazy things to your body and even if you get back to your pre baby weight your body will NEVER be the way it was before you had kids. You also have to consider that on top of the e kids you have had you also age with each pregnancy and that doesnt necessarily help with the bouncing back part. You sound healthy you just need to work on the happy to be healthy part now
Good luck

It's too early to say things "aren't budging" when your baby is 3 months old :) After my second I was back to my normal weight immediately, but my first and third EACH took one year to lose the weight. You will get back your shape with hard work (I've never been smaller than an 8 in my life, and now I'm back to 8) Size zero doesn't even sound real to me!! But if you were a zero you will be again.

I say ditch the running or do it very little. When I was pushing a jogging stroller all over the world, I lost no weight. I had to learn to lift weights and change my routines. Cardio is just a buffer and good for your heart, but it's not much of a fat burner and it's DEFINITELY not a toner. Do classes that incorporate muscle training and sculpting and treat running (Or Zumba, dance has a lot of toning in the cardio) as an extra treat. Use weights. A fresh, clean, healthy diet will also put you back on track, but give it a little time! Three months is nothing!!

Also, I'm 43 and have always had a hard time staying slim, but I'm my slimmest now thanks to the right exercises and diet. But my youngest is 4. It took a year to get into my old clothes and completely tone up-and that was with lots of hard work.

My shoe size, got bigger after my pregnancies.
Even if I lost weight after, my feet size are still bigger.
That will never shrink!

If you feel flabby and overweight, just tone up.
Toning up, can or may tighten up your figure.
But its shape, may still be different, as "Persimmon" below says.
Because pregnancy, changes the body's distribution. Each woman being different.
I used to be in super shape before I got pregnant. 6 pack abs and everything and very slim. I used to work out a ton, everyday.
Now my shape is more curvy. Not "fat" but curvy.
It just is.
I will never be a "stick" like I was before getting pregnant.

I'm mourning the size 8 I was down to after my daughter. I lost more after her than before I had her. I went to the gym, and found that I loved it! I went for an hour a few days a week nd found myself happier and able to handle stress better. I did notice that I was toning up, but I didn't notice the weight loss until I started getting compliments.
The weight loss was just a bonus.
Find a toning activity that works for you and makes you happy and the rest will come. Don't worry about what size you end up-just about making mom happy ;)

I know where you are coming from because I am quite petite and a size 0-2. When I got pregnant I was scared out of my mind because of the horror stories I heard about pregnancy and what it does to your body. I was super careful to make sure I ate healthy foods and maintained my exercise. My top weight at delivery was 138 and that scared me because I am usually around 116. After delivery, I tried to remain calm and continue my workouts and eat right. I was fortunate to get back to pre pregnancy weight in a reasonable time and have maintained it since. My daughter is 19 now.

What you have to keep in mind is that your baby is only 3 months old. Your body is still in recovery mode from delivery. It can take time, be patient with yourself.

Also, size 6 is not bad. You probably need to think about toning more than anything. Just don't get in a position where you obsess about it. I bet in time, you will be back to your original size. Accept everything now, continue to work on yourself and most especially, enjoy your children.

i was 118lbs prior to my son, never a size 0-2, but a size 4-6 but had a butt, otherwise i would be a 0-2. Now one child later i am up to 150lbs! Funny enough, NO ONE says i look like i gained an ounce of weight and i look healthy.

Yet i am very unhappy with my body. Even at 118lbs i thought i was fat, yet i look back and realize, WOW, i was skinny!

We as women are NEVER happy with our body on the outside, even skinny girls. you have to be happy with yourself as a whole to except the changes children make. Heck my hips are huge now since having my kid. Sucks cause I had to toss ALL my clothes after having my son cause all my weight went to my butt, lol. I can still wear my 6s but different styles now due to where the weight went and how my hips stretched.

I am sure if i lost the weight and inches (i put on 6" not including the weight), i be back to my 4-6's. But i don't care to loose it as I am working on my self worth now and learning to love myself for who I am, not what I look like. My son loves me, for me! Not how I look. His acceptance is all i will ever need. As his response is pure and his truth is innocent.

In time you will get back there. Until learn to love yourself as a whole. Then use that worrying time enjoying your kids, as you know, they get old fast. Blink and their 18! All that obsessing could of been used sharing a wonderful minute or two with your kids :)

If you are truly unhappy about the way you look....only you have the power to make the changes. Plus, unlike all the models out there, us women don't completely bounce back 100%. it takes more work for us to get results now that we hit our 30s. its just the way our bodies are.

Oh and also realize this...models, TV actress have personal trainers and have their own cooks...something us regular ppl don't have the access to 24/7. They have ppl to care for their homes and children, while they spend 4+ hrs working their tails off and having meals prepared for them. Different lifestyle different results then us working or stay at home moms who have that typical everyday life.

SMILE!!!

I never was that small. I got to a size 7/8 in dress and 10 in pants. My body build is about size 12 dress and 14 pants depending on cut.

Babies change your body in many ways hips, waist, and breast, shoe size.

When I had my daughter my shoe size spread from a B to a C width. Talk about having to throw out a bunch of shoes because they did not fit any more. I had a lovely sundress I made. I put it on and the waist was tight even after baby and I took it out. Did not like how it looked so it went away. Bra size changed around the ribcage a bit because of how baby was positioned inside.

So don't go beating yourself up on the size 0. Embrace the new you and learn to enjoy the extra curves. You may find that you like being a 6. At least you won't look like a Zombie walking about and unhealthy. Also remember each time you have a kid you are at a different age and the body is always changing and maturing.

Love what you got and be happy no matter what the size says on the pants, dress, blouse or skirt. Heck some designers cut patterns smaller and some cut them larger and you have to go up or down just to get them to fit. Think of the "What Not To Wear" show and remember they found clothes to fit the body as it is. Keep a few smaller clothes in the closet for old times sake as away to get smaller and get rid of the rest. By the time you can get in them they will be out of style.

the other S.

1.You should give yourself a break...your baby is only 3 months.

2. you said you work out...which is awesome but how are your eating habits?

3. A healthy mind is also very important. Being this focused and this sad over being a size 6 is hardly healthy