This makes me REALLY cross!
It’s not about bouncing back… it’s about moving forward.
A word of warning – I am about to get on my soapbox here. Many of you will know that once I do that, I find it very difficult to get off it!
The ‘bounce back’ message makes me cross – REALLY cross
This message is putting an immense amount of pressure on women.
Have you seen (yet another!) picture of a mum at 6 weeks post-natal with a flat tummy? Is she back to working out at a high level? Does she look radiant and well-slept? Is she really back to lifting the same weight at the gym?
Where are the pictures of the mums that haven’t managed to get out of their pjs (and it is 5pm)??
What about the women who go 5 days without washing their hair? (I was this person in the early weeks after having my boys…)
What about women who have less support at home? Do their partners/husbands work away?
What about single mums? Will those mums be back to training within a few weeks of having their baby?
Also – are women who are feeling vulnerable and self-conscious likely to be posting images of their bodies all over social media?
No, probably not…
Maybe you are only seeing a very small proportion of women… Also, how many photos have been taken before they found the one that gave the best view of them? Is it ‘touched up’? Maybe
Before you are self-critical about your body, ask some questions about what you are seeing…
How many mums out there are REALLY bouncing back??
Everybody out there has a different journey. It is not about looking left and right at what others are doing – it is YOUR journey, and it is about putting 1 foot in front of the other.
Give things time and take the pressure off yourself. If it is a priority for you, you will get back to what you love, whether it be the gym, running, HIIT training, weightlifting, playing sport….
Do it on your own timescale, there is no race to the finish line.
For now, be kind to yourself