It would be easy to look at my body as it is now and be disappointed. It would be easy to say that I’ve failed to reach my goals for my body. It would be easy to look at the weight I have to lose. To give in to thoughts that I have a baby who is not a baby anymore and at 18 months, I should have lost the weight by now.
But I don’t think that. I think I grew two humans. I think that I’m ok with the fact that I’m a person who gains weight everywhere and lots of it when I’m pregnant. I look at them and they are worth far more than the fat on my bones.
Image from here
I could think about how much more work I have to do now to even think about losing weight. I swear, in my early twenties I barely even had to look at a treadmill for the weight to fall out. But instead, I can be proud that I am capable of all of that work. I can be proud of the fact that I love my body enough to make it run, lots. Most weeks I make it run about 34kms. I love it by giving it strength, determination and the ability to not listen to it when i need to find the next gear and the wisdom to listen to it when it needs a rest.
What do I love about my body right now?
I love all the parts that all that work has touched. I can see where all of that running has defined my body, in the same way carrying and birthing my babies have defined it. I love both definitions.
34kms a week, I usually only manage at least 16kms or less.x
Beautiful words Zoey. Is it okay if I keep calling my 18 month old “the baby” though? Sounds so much less scary!
Oh please do! I still call mine ‘the baby’!
Depends if I get to the gym on Saturday and Sunday, but that’s what I aim for!
Great post, and lovely pics. There is so much to love about our bodies and you’ve highlighted that beautifully here.
Thanks Emma!
34km a week?! You are amazing!
Beautiful photos Zoey xxx
On a good week! I’m upping my speed on a regular basis now too which feels great!
Lovely tummy shot. I use to have a flat tummy but now it’s a little ‘pocket’. I don’t mind though because it was a special person’s first home.
Looking fab Z
PS you have the best lips ever
Thank you Sarah! xxx
The big surprise for me of body post-kids is how much more comfortable I am with it than when I was much more slim. Different perspective I guess!
“the ability to not listen to it when i need to find the next gear and the wisdom to listen to it when it needs a rest.” You’re a clever one, Zoey. x
I had to go through a few injuries to get there, but now I’m pretty good at being able to tell. xoxox
Hiya, I’m visiting from blog school and until I read your blog, I didn’t realise that a reformed perfectionist is just what I want to be. Thank you for your words of wisdom
Reformed perfectionism is the best!
Don’t ever stop loving that beautiful body, ever.
x
Thank you Cherie xox
Gorgeous woman (love the belly shot!). You touched on something I also wrote about – listening to your body. I’m finally listening, and it’s empowering. Thanks for helping me make a decision to take part for the first time
I love that kids have no concept of what parts of your body you might not love that much. The girls are constantly rubbing my belly
Zoey; thank you for linking up again. I love reading your posts and I love what you love about your body right now. You have an amazing body! xx
Thank you Carly! It’s such a great idea. I’m happy so many people are joining in!
I feel the similarly about my body – proud of the effects of the hard work I put into it, both in trying to lose the buttload of baby-weight I put on (after 17 months, I still have 7kgs to lose. I’m trying very hard not to beat myself up about this!), and in the changes I have made through my own efforts to keep fit. I am inspired to try and run myself, I’m a bit goofy and tend to go for the lifting things route rather than the running route to keep myself fit!
Thanks for reminding me about the importance of looking past the result to the heart of the issue!
Bea xo
Don’t worry I still have about 15kgs to lose! Although I’m starting to notice now that I’m not breastfeeding I’m making more progress!
That little cartoon is so true. Given me lots to think about!You’re beautiful Zoey. xx
Thank you Amelia! I just love that cartoon too!
So well written and beautiful photos. Love the cartoon too – so true xx
Thank you Catherine!!
Love this post Zoey. The good bits and the bad bits we have to embrace them all – it’s who we are. I think you look great. And that cartoon – so true!
Thank you Jodi! Frankly even when I’ve been at the gym and thinking was all that pregnancy eating worth it and I’m still coming down on the side of hell yes!
I hear you about being younger and weight falling off – I do love how your perspective on that has changed xx
I love this post. I’ve bee finding it really inspiring reading everyone’s stories and realising just how very alike we all are in our struggles to love and accept our bodies. I love that cartoon quote, that is gonna stick with me for a long time!
I think that we are our harshest critic when it comes to our bodies! It can be really lovely to hear how other people see us too!
I know, right?! Totally under-appreciated at the time. But I like being fit more than I liked being slim I think. Although hopefully soon it will be both!
I’ve gotta say I love the red face of a woman who has totally killed a workout!
I love your definitions too
I wanted to get a photo of that so I took the picture in the bathroom at the gym. I picked a speed that was a real challenge for me on that day and at several points I felt like stopping but I kept reminded myself it would make for a good blog post LOL
What you said about definitions is so poetic.
Making 2 of the cutest kids on the interwebs and running 34km pw is quite an achievement, Zoey. Your body has done amazing things.
Thank you Jayne! xxx
You run 34km a week?! WOW
Love the post Zoey, you made to beautiful little girls, how could you not love your body? Look at the positives not the negatives, right?
Rach
x
I run 34kms on a good week. Tonight I ran 8.5 and I came home to ice cream and wine. All about the balance!
Love the ownership you’ve taken of your body and the things it has done, and can do. All these posts are inspiring me to get back to running, pronto!
The way you push yourself to pound the pavement never fails to inspire me x
Thank you Holly! Have to replace those happy breastfeeding hormones with exercise hormones
Running is the number one thing I do for my mental health!
I have so much love for that cartoon about only loving your kids when they are perfect! I shall have to keep that in mind everytime I avoid the mirror.Our bodies are so amazing, the things we can do with them leaves souvenirs and it is wonderful you love them all.
So very true. That image is as moving as your photos are. xox
Thank you Jac! xox
I just love it too! It stayed with me for a long time after I first saw it.
Beautiful post zoey!! I remember seeing you on twitter talking about how many ks you did on the treadmill and being inspired. 34kms!! Wow zoey just awesome! X
Winter knocked me around with illness so I’m very happy to be getting properly back into the swing of things now.
34kms!!?? Take my hat off to you! Well done, that is something to be proud of. Makes me tired just reading it.I gain weight everywhere while pregnant too, spreads evenly from my feet to my head. I think that’s a good thing? x
Whatever gets you from point A to point B in pregnancy is a good thing. I like the babies. I’m not so keen on the pregnancy.
34km?! You are awesome, Zoey x
Thanks Tina! xxx
I love that you balance out the running with ice cream and wine. Jacinta
So necessary!
You and I are at very similar places I think.. great post.
Thank you xox
You look fabulous Zoey. And all that running, wow, good on you. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with running. Are you training for a race or particular run?x Laura
You should be so proud of yourself and it is so inspiring. May your strength and determination and love only continue for many many more years to come xoxo
Thanks so much Tahlia!
I am so envious of your running weeks! I cannot wait for this baby to get here so I can get back to some sort of running fitness! You sound content with your body and that is the best place to be! I think you like great x
Thanks Jess! I know what you mean! Even once Piper arrived it was really hard to get back into a routine because she was such an unpredictable feeder!
“I love it by giving it strength, determination and the ability to not listen to it when i need to find the next gear and the wisdom to listen to it when it needs a rest.” That is a beautiful sentence, an inspiring sentence and one I need to remember! I certainly don’t have this whole thing figured out yet, but all these stories are so inspiring! I’m so glad I played along too!
Back at you! xox
Thank you Anne!!
<3
I think you look great!