I’M NOT PREGNANT, I’M JUST FAT!

circa May 2008

This is not a picture of me now, I must say, but rather when I was 9.5 months pregnant with Little Miss.  I had a GIANT belly, had put on a LOT of weight (thank you muffins, fish & chips and anything that didn’t run away from me) and ended up rather mahoosive.

I gave birth to Little Miss in June of 2008.  Some of the weight drained away but a lot of it stayed.  And I’ve actually probably added some to replace the weight that drained away.  I am VERY far off of my pre-pregnancy weight which wasn’t even a good weight for me either.

Thanks to my giant belly, I have a rather significant diastasis recti (abdominal separation) and for the most part, my internal organs are falling out of my abdominal cavity (there’s a nice picture).  I have an aching back, an aching tummy and feel rather miserable.

I haven’t done much to get rid of it however.  I have had fits and starts of walking, attempts to eat more healthily and failed attempts at limiting wheat & sugar to decrease bloating.  I’ve had advice and help from Mummy Tummy Guru Wendy Powell and yet, there remains this belly.

I would like to state for the record, “I’M NOT PREGNANT, I’M JUST FAT!”  I have had 3 people, in the last 2 weeks, ask me when my baby is due.  I’m humiliated.  I can’t find clothes to wear that don’t make me look pregnant.  I resort to wearing hubby’s shirts which makes me look pregnant AND frumpy.  I can’t find decent trousers to wear as, under my “tummy bump” I’m probably only a size 12 (from the hips down) but then pull my belly into the equation and god only knows what size trouser I’d need.

I know why people think I look pregnant.  Because I do!  I have relatively slim everything else but still have this BELLY poking out.  Sensible brains tell these people “There’s a pregnant lady!”  But I’m not!  I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat.  I hate it when I’ve had the questions about my due date!  I try to laugh and say, “No, not pregnant, just fat” and then the commenter feels horrible and tries to make me feel better and I laugh and say, “No worries”.  It kills me though.  Really, truly.

I would really appreciate any clothing advice to help me disguise my protuberance.  I would really appreciate a consultant to repair my diastasis recti.  I would really appreciate a personal trainer to come get me out of bed and help me solve this horrific and embarassing problem.  I turn **40** this year.  I would like to look a bit better in November.  Any advice is welcome.

And please remember, the next time you run into me, I’M NOT PREGNANT, I’M JUST FAT!!!  sigh…