TV host and model Bianca Gonzalez recently shared an impressive photo of herself during her workout on Instagram. She captioned it “payat but strong” but was fully aware of the unrealistic body expectations it could fuel. The mother of two quickly followed up in the caption with a message for and about moms who are pressured to lose baby weight.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2lzRlthwoH/
(Andi Eigenmann Begins Her Post-Pregnancy Fitness Journey)
“‘Parang ‘di nanganak (It’s like you did not give birth)!’ I fully realize that photos like these may contribute to the unrealistic expectation on mothers who just gave birth. I have no ‘secret,’ I always say I am just SWERTE (lucky), and that I know this is NOT the norm,” Bianca began.
She talks about how her slim body could be the result of any number of things: good metabolism, Pilates, breastfeeding, or eating lots of vegetables. But, she disclaims, “it could be all these. It could be none of these. Another mom reading this could be doing all that and more but the results could be different. That is why I always say na swerte lang talaga ako (that I am lucky) and of course, thankful for it.”
Which brings us to the heart of her message: “Every mom is different, every body is different!”
To those who choose to body-shame mothers she says, “Moms should not be shamed for being ‘ay, ang laki niya (Oh, she’s so big)!’ because that ‘laki’ (size) is what helped grow and nurture a human being inside her.”
“And to the mom reading this who might be frustrated that she isn’t losing the baby weight, know that you are so much more than your size or weight. That you should work out or diet when you feel you are ready, not because others are pressuring you to do so. Know that your child loves you whether or not you shed those ‘extra 10 pounds’,” Bianca directs towards mothers.
Bianca also talks about the different struggles that each mom goes through, from ‘fat-shaming’ to ‘skinny-shaming’ and how no one is alone in any of them. She ends her sentiment with the thought “ang dami natin [there are so many of us who] struggle with our bodies after giving birth, how it will “never be the same”. But if we think about it, we have a child! Our lives will never be the same.”
What do you think about this?
