Toxic dieting and SnapBack culture..

I’m noticing that in this era of pregnancy dieting and SnapBack culture is running rampant. More than ever is social media spreading the propaganda endorsing pregnant and postpartum women to participate in dieting culture and to SnapBack fast after pregnancy. It’s awful that we can’t be pregnant in peace without the pressures of maintaining our pre pregnancy weight or with having to snap back right after pregnancy and being praised for it.

I’m not encouraging unhealthy habits/behaviors but one of my friends posted on Facebook about how 2 weeks after having a c section she wants to go back to the gym. Just two weeks!! Women can’t even enjoy their newborn without worries of how we are being perceived by others because of our recent pregnancy and weight gain.

Although this friend was also on a weight loss/gym journey prior to getting pregnant which so why it surprised me that she did bc pregnancy is the time when you gain the most weight. Not to say she shouldn’t have another baby but idk she probably should’ve waited either way bc the situation with the father of her child isn’t great at all. Not to judge I’ve been a single mom and can be one again but yeah on her 3rd kid and the dad claims he can’t leave his home state because of politics and missed the birth of his child…if that isn’t being done dirty then idk what is. Somehow she was married, pregnant and living with this man within 3 months.

Anyway I’m also feeling the toxic dieting culture at 6 months pregnant and cutting back on meals as a result. Or planning times to skip a meal so I can eat one later. Or maybe picking at my food so I don’t eat all of it.

Then comparing myself to skinny women wishing I was them. For some reason my build is just broad shouldered and sorta wide and adding this weight emphasis my shoulders and widened body. And idk it sorta hurts when my partner is with his friends and they look at other women who ARE NOT pregnant and obviously think they are attractive. However those same women can be pregnant and then end up like me, pregnant and gaining weight and suddenly losing their appeal..

Idk I just think my friend should focus on her newborn more, and not feel pressured to lose any weight. Plus a c section is a dangerous procedure and opening the incision back up by exercising too soon could be fatal/injurious. But men I feel are the driving force behind this toxic dieting and snap back culture. My ex always made sure to tell me I better still be skinny after I gave birth and not gain too much weight when he looked like an Oompa Loompa himself. Like he was on the chubbier side trying to get me to be skinny like wtf?

Thankfully my partner now is a bit more understanding. But he still like other men is empathizing the need for me to lose weight after I give birth. Last time I was weighed I was 155 lbs and I’m just about 5’8-5’9. Why is their an obsession with womens bodies and how we decide to wear them?