Scarlett O'Hara bragged about her 19-inch waist in "Gone With The Wind" (my all-time favorite book, thank you very much Margaret Mitchell).
Rapper Nelly crooned about a girl with 36-25-34 inch measurements in "Ride With Me".
And Sir Mix-A-Lot, the cast-off of British royalty, apparently, fantacized about a woman with measurements of 36-24-36 (but only if she's 5'3").
Yes, like it or not, our measurements are a part of our culture (pop culture, even).
This week, I was lucky enough to win a great giveaway from Table For Five (if you haven't visited that site, you should; Nancy has the hook up on great products!). My prize? An item of my choice from online clothing shop Down East Basics. I'd never shopped with Down East before, so I had to first acquaint myself with their sizing chart.
Boy, let me tell you, that was fun. (Sense the sarcasm?)
Before we even began, there was the simple matter of locating the measuring tape. Actually, it wasn't so simple. G likes to play with it from time to time, so DH and I spent a solid 15 minutes on our hands and knees, scouring all her usual stashing places. He ultimately located it tucked between two couch cushions in our sunroom.
First up, measuring my waist. I've long known this is probably my strongest feature, so I wasn't frightened. An early morning measurement on an empty stomach meant a flattering number- 27 inches. Really solid for a 28 year old mother of one. Ego stoked, we moved on.
I needed DH's help to measure my chest; he didn't protest. I honestly don't remember the last time I'd had my bust measured, but I do remember the number: 38 inches, a nice, full-chested number that accurately reflected in all my pre-pregnancy C-cup bras. No sooner did DH line up the tape, though, than I saw it read 35 inches. 35? 35? It was just a reminder of the saggy nature of my post-baby breasts. I knew nursing for 14 months had taken a toll on my body; here was the concrete proof.
With my ego brought back down to size, DH slid the measuring tape down my torso and to my hips. A brief debate ensued-- did DH measure the part of the hips where I normally wear my pants? The widest part? Somewhere in between? For safety's sake, we measured the widest part.
MISTAKE.
"41," he whispered.
"Come again?" I asked.
"41," he said a little louder, refusing to look me in the eye, as if he were responsible for the post-baby inflation of my lower body.
I was incensed. I've spent far too much time in the gym over the past year and a half to be saddled with... well, saddle bags! No wonder every pairs of pants I've worn in the past year that have fit in the waist have been far too tight through my hips. I made DH measure again, but it was no use (it was actually closer to 41.5" the second time around, but I refuse to acknowledge that second, slightly higher number). My post-baby body had betrayed me.
I went to work this morning plotting various ways to move some of the bulk from my lower body to my chest. Lipo and breast implants? Nah, plastic surgery is too expensive for where I am in my life right now. Spanx and a Miracle Bra? Not in the budget either. What about three extra weekly trips to the gym? I can't afford the time away from my family and friends.
I skipped lunch, the measurements of the morning still weighing heavily (no pun intended) on my appetite.
Then I had a revelation.
My body bares the scars of my battle to become a woman. It shows the evidence of a job that, while I might not love, I do well. It shows proof that I've carried a baby for nine months inside of me, and nursed for over a year more. It's me-- through and through-- and while I might not like the numbers I see on the tape measure (or more frequently, on the scale), I'm comfortable in my skin. I like who I am-- inside and out.
So, no extreme dieting or workout regimines or plastic surgery for me. Sir Mix-A-Lot may never rap an ode to my chest-to-butt ratio... but as long as DH isn't complaining, neither am I.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, June 16, 2010
and is filed under
beauty,
body
.
You can leave a response
and follow any responses to this entry through the
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.
34 comments
Post a Comment
i remember hearing "36-25-34" on nelly's song in high school and thinking i must have a pretty big behind.
i'm definitely not a fan of how society can make us all feel horrible about ourselves.
and amen to everything you said at the end!
ericka
http://alabastercow.com
Congrats on your winning.
Our little ones play and hide a variety of objects that we need from time to time. Unfortunately, under the cushions is a good place for me to look, and also find lots of old pop tarts pieces hidden there.
You are my hero.
Wow. Thunderous applause. And you know my favorite line...probably unexpected to you, but it is "a job that I do not love, but I do well." Thanks for that.
Elizabeth .... my friend! How are you?
Man, can I relate.... size is tough stuff.... and as women, it hits hard!
Thinking of you... Cheers to being a woman!
totally right...we all have areas we would like to see disappear, I am not interested in beating up my body with surgery to get there.
No body is quite the same after birthing kids....we should all claim our post baby bods!
As you shouldn't! 27?! You go girl! I'm impressed, and you should be too. Trust me - hip measurements are enough to send me into a full-fledged nervous breakdown. No matter how much I weigh and how satisfied I am with that number, my hip measurement ALWAYS seems out of proportion. Like you said, if DH isn't complaining, you shouldn't either :)
You got it head on with those last few paragraphs lady! Your body shows what you've done, and that is a beautiful thing!
Sing it sister!!! You earned those extra inches!!!! Glad you're handling it well!! Don't skip lunch next time tho k?
"My body bares the scars of my battle to become a woman."
Well said! We as women & mothers should be proud of what nature has given us in return for using our bodies to populate the world :)
Thanx for a lovely post!
too cute! thank you for the shout out!
What great timing you have... DH & I were just talking the other day about how, I feel sexy - even though I'm heavier than I was when we got married.
Amazing how being proud of the path that got you here, helps you see your body through the glass half full, as opposed to being to tight & uncomfortable.
Big Hugs!
Love, love, love this!
I am really trying to change the way I look at myself. Being 5'6 and 135 pounds after having one and twins doesn't make me fat. I have three girls who I want to embrace their body images. Screw society and their idea of perfect beauty.
Again, love, love, love this post.
Oh the hips! I feel your pain! Still can't wear most of my pre-pregnancy jeans because of my hips! Are highwaisted "mom" jeans my destiny? Keep up the good work but don't skip any meals!
I just recently came to this conclusion as well.
Its so true. We are who we are and we need to embrace it sometimes.
I use to be so concerned ab what i couldnt wear because my legs weren't made for shorts or, how I was too hippy... or the cellulite-- O the cellulite!... now my rule is- if I love it? i rock it. period.
Good for you! It's only a number, and what matters is how YOU feel about yourself. It's so easy to get bogged down on the size on the tag or the reading on the tape measure (and I'm guilty of being incredibly hypocritical on this issue, depending on the day). I think I've finally accepted that my hips are just going to be wider than they were pre-baby.
Great points! Good for you!
I love this! It is so important to move past those measurements and love ourselves for all that things that make us who we are!
I would totally write a rap song about you....but I just don't know how! Instead I will give you a loudly sung....."Ammmmmmeeeeennnnnn sister!"
Good for you, I think it takes a lot for a woman to be ok with the post baby body
Amen sista! I HATE my after 4 kids body, but after a trip to the gym, when I see how strong I am, I feel better, even if I do have a few (okay, 15) pounds extra over all my big muscles. BUT, I know they're in there somewhere!!
Being a woman in our society is hard. We are forced to look at the "ideal" body so much. Good for you for seeing through it all.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thank you so much for your really kind comments on my blog...I appreciate that you took the time to comment AND that you were so nice :)
I really enjoyed reading this post! I just had a lady 9 months ago, and I am going through the same thing. I feel the same way...I'm happy with me now, and I feel like I've done something beautiful with my body. What it looks like isn't as important to me anymore ;) It's a nice feeling!
Going to go follow you now! I'm glad you stopped by so that we could "meet" :)
Blessings,
Stephanie - Ten Talents
I love it! A darling post! I was wondering if I could post it on my pimde.com site. It is a site for girls and women and true beauty/self esteem. It this is ok. let me know! Thanks!
I had to come to the same revelation and it was so hard. Pants I wore before the twins STILL don't fit, even though I way less than before I got pregnant. There is a fundamental shift in our bodies and it's hard to come to terms with. Thanks for the reminder today!
It's good to be happy with you, just as you are. I love that you acknowledge your bodies journey to motherhood and your acceptance of that.
Beautiful inside and out. :-)
I love this. It's all about being comfortable in your own skin. I've just recently become used to how my body seems to be gaining weight in all the wrong places as I get older. I'm trying to embrace it.
Now body after baby is going to be a completely different monster.
Oh I love this post! WE as mom's are never going to be "what we were before" and I hate the women who do go right back to the "pre-baby body" with no battle wounds to show for it. The ones who can slide back into those cute size 2 designer straight leg jeans....GAG ME!
Props to your hubs for loving YOU...just the way you are!
And I don't care if the previous "perks" of my body are heading South...as long as they have a nice frozen drink waiting for the rest of me when I get there :OP
Love it!
Ok, so now I will be singing Baby Got Back all night long. Our women sometimes dont believe us when we tell them how HAPPY we are with THEM. Now DH needs to do a post on his thinking of the measuring!
BTW - my blog has gone public again, in case you've been one of the many who've been having login issues :)
I just posted it! Thanks!
i am definitely humming "baby got back" right now =) but you are so right! our bodies change from pregnancy and those sweet babies are worth every stretch mark...
(although isn't it frustrating to see those women who are strutting in their bikinis 2 months after giving birth? i have a friend like that! ugh. ;)
Great post!
This post really struck a cord with me. I think it was just what I needed to read this morning as I sit here in my pj pants (which hide my "trouble spots" really nicely thank you very much).
The last 2 paragraphs were just what I needed to read. So much so that I blogged about it and linked to you here http://lucagraham.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-wanna-look-like-movie-star-without.html
I've been reading for quite a while, but haven't been commenting. I know, BAD GIRL! Don't hate me!
love love love what you've said in this post! thats a good motto, "if dh isnt complaining.." lol!