What a 35lb weight gain looks like...

Until about 32 weeks into my pregnancy I had a very difficult time with the weight gain.

I unfortunately haven’t been one of those people who could work out throughout their pregnancy and to top it off food aversions mean I just had to eat whatever I could stomach until about 26 weeks.

That is difficult when you’re a former ballerina that’s always had a strict diet and work out regimen.

I don’t know when the tides turned, but at some point I began to accept the weight. Everyday is more than I’ve ever weighed in my life, but I’ve stopped panicking about it.

Well, today I was looking back through my phone for a good before photo (since I unfortunately cannot wear the same leggings I started out with in my first baby bump photo bc of the Brand and material). And I came across one I’d taken sept 20th 2017, 2.5 months before pregnancy. Out of morbid curiosity, I pulled out the leggings and sports bra to see if they still fit - because I’m a glutton for punishment.

And took photos!

And it actually made me feel great about myself!

I finally feel like I looked amazing before pregnancy (and I now realize bc of the pressures of my job I did not appreciate that at all - I never felt thin enough then) and I STILL look amazing now.

I know it will be a whole new struggle postpartum, but I’m really hoping to be able to feel this content at some point then too - and maybe add a photo to the collage. 😊

I never knew having a baby would bring me to my own personal acceptance of my body - something that I’ve struggled with my whole life.

I just hope I can raise my daughter to be more confident in her own skin. I want her to know she’s beautiful no matter what. 💕