a challenge to dress
August 29, 2013I’ve been getting emails and Instagram comments on how I lost my baby bump so fast.
Ho ho ho, they’re all still there girlfriends… I would just take my top off for you guys to see, but might scare off potential moms so I better not. But fret not, trust me when I say even though my tummy is a lot smaller than when we left the hospital, I’m still not happy with the little stubborn pooch that’s still remaining. My friends tell me to relax and it’ll go away in a few months etc etc. But I want it gone like.. yesterday! Typical impatient me.
I guess there’s no shortcut; food and exercise are still key. I’m trying my best for both, so we’ll see how fast I can go back to flat tummy.
For now, dressing for the new body is a new area that I explore everyday.
I see too many moms wearing loose shirts and palazzo pants, and I’m like uh-uh… trust me, you will get too comfortable in those clothes as they are stretchable and you will never be motivated to get back into shape because there is no pressure to. That was how I felt during pantang because those kain batiks were just too forgiving. The pressure starts when I had to wear normal clothes again and they don’t fit!
In my case, I am now really heavy at the top… like we’re talking huge here, guys. So when someone is heavy at the top, I always tell them wear something nipped at the waist to show some curves and break the heavy look. But I can’t even take that advice for myself because my waist is now 3 inches bigger and it’s not the body part I’d like to show at the moment. So it’s pretty tricky. On top of that, I’m breastfeeding so I have to find tops that are easy to pull up or unbutton, so hello shirts and loose tops and bye bye peplums and jumpsuits and maxi dresses.
For now, anyway.
So to compensate the boring loose plain shirt look, I usually accessorize more, wear printed pants or make a bit of effort with my hair. Try to colour coordinate if you can, so you don’t look like a messy vomit of all sorts of colours. I mean really… with a crying baby in one hand wearing colorful dinosaurs as a print, you don’t have to compete with even more colours on you. If all else fails, just wear all black and pretend you’re fierce like Victoria Beckham!
Wearing a cardigan from Capital T and a necklace from LVW
Whatever it is, fellow new moms, we’re in this together! Everything comes with effort and we should not go into self-pity mode and get comfortable. I’m sure that’s not how Miranda Kerr got her body back. We can do it too, Insyaallah!
hahaha facing this too! i hate this bump & stretchmarks and on my wayyyy to fit them.
Hi VV,
Not sure whether you are interested on wearing corset etc. But if you do, let me know. Its good for our health and also physically. and also good for those in ‘Pantang’ or just finish their ‘pantang’
– help minimize back pain and correct posture, to help those with past injuries (e.g. car accidents, slipped discs), neurological disorders (e.g. tics, ataxia) and autoimmune disorders (e.g. osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia).
– prevent scoliosis patients from worsening of their curvature once they no longer have a brace, or they may be used to prevent back pain from the curve.
– correct posture also helps prevent other skeletal issues. One viewer has experienced relief from her plantar fasciitis while wearing a corset because of the redistribution of her weight on her feet. I have experienced considerable pressure taken off my knees since wearing corsets (bad knees run in my family), as corsets have changed the way I sit and stand.
– used as lumbar support to prevent potential back issues, and give support during work — eg during heavy lifting, repeated tasks or long hours in front of a computer.
– used to reshape and feminize the figures of transgendered women, or genetic women with deformities or undesirable figures.
– worn by men who need back support – a custom fit piece can help them keep a masculine physique, so they don’t have to worry about any feminizing effects or stigma of off-the-rack corsets meant for women.
– Corsets can also help to protect the organs during horse-riding or motorcycling, holding the kidneys in place and preventing bruising of the retroperitoneal organs.
– help to minimizing menstrual cramps in women. Many women temporarily relieve their dysmenorrhea by lying in the fetal position, which exerts pressure on the peritoneal organs and somewhat decreases the painful uterine contractions. Corsets can mimic this position by exerting pressure on these same organs, reducing uterine contractions (and thus cramping) while her posture remains erect.
– prevent hiatus hernias by exerting external pressure on the abdomen, or can prevent hernias from worsening (they can also help minimize the pain from one) if they’ve already occurred.
– help to heal diastasis recti, the splitting of the abdominal muscles (postpartum) by holding the muscles together and preventing them from separating further.
– used as a weight loss aid – they do not allow much expansion of the stomach, thus helping to control appetite and reduce food portions.
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i think i’m going to do sit ups.
congrats for choosing bf and still looking effortlessly chic!
u r an inspiration v!
p/s : i hope u continue to bf until baby D at least 1 yr old! 2 better 🙂
As a fan of your blog, i would like to congratulate u for breastfeeding…good job hot mommy…keep up the great work…
P/s: I would like to share a great blog written about breastfeeding to keep u motivate!!!
http://ouradoptionfaithwalk.blogspot.com/2013/08/world-breastfeeding-week-salute.html
Hi Vivy,
I would like to share some exercises that would be awesome to get rid of the lower belly. It is the hardest part of the abs to tone up as people are not usually aware on how to do it. The best ones that I find are; scissor crunches and pipe.
Scissor crunches: lie down on your back with head looking up, remember not to strain your neck and lift your legs up, maybe about 2 or 3 inches off the ground and start moving them horizontally like a pair of scissors. You get it ;-).
The second one called pipe: its literally like a pipe. I’m not sure what the Americans call it but we call it pipe in Australia. So, lie down on your back and with your arms extending outwards. Bring your arms, core and straight legs upwards until they form a pipe. Or until your hands touch your legs if you are that flexible. If not, do your best anyway.
Sorry for writing too long but I thought I would share it with everyone cause these are good exercises for everyone that has a lower belly problem.
Thank you.
i got my pre pregnancy body back at about 2-3 months after giving birth. the pooch slowly went away by itself. i mean i din’t really have the time to actually exercise as my baby was hanging on to my boobs 24/7! but bf tremendously help shed all the fats. i wasn’t even on strict diet or anything. in fact I was eating more than i’ve ever been as bf makes you hungrier than usual. but it will help you get back into shape don’t you worry 🙂
haha..u are too cute for ur baby D.. =)
But vivy at least u still look ok, i mean x nmpk pun perut u bila u pakai baju n tight in dgn yellow pants tu.. Some ppl like my sis can see u noe. Ermm btw r u using d abdominal wrap tu lagi ke? Or how do use that abdominal wrap? R using d whole day during confinement cz ur body back to normal size la dear
Omg finally someone who shares my “huge” woes. Trying so hard but everything looks larger than life because the girls have to fit you know!! Am waiting for them to shrink back but still breastfeeding so not anytime soon sadly.