For many, many years, new moms have faced immense pressure to regain (or be smaller than) their pre-baby body. It somehow defines how well one is handling motherhood – the faster you lose the baby weight, the more you have your stuff together and the better you are at being a parent. Which is interesting, because regardless of how much weight I lost postpartum, I never felt like a stellar parent, and still don’t. And I doubt you do either.
There is a misguided assumption out there that correlates a smaller body size with greater health. This leads people to go from one diet to the next in pursuit of fast weight loss. Chronic dieting, disordered eating and a constant fixation on what one or those around them are eating has become a norm among women.
Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders don’t have a look. It is almost impossible to look at a person and tell whether they have an eating disorder or not – and this includes people who are thin as well. Eating disorders don’t discriminate between gender, age, race or income.
With eating disorder research being one of the most underfunded mental illness, NEDA hosts awareness walks all around the United States. The San Diego chapter is going to be held on Saturday, March 16th at NTC Park in Liberty Station.
Come and join us raise awareness and support those who are currently recovering or have recovered from this deadly mental illness.
Register here!
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their relationship with food and/or body image, click this link to access NEDA’s screening tool and find tons of support and resources to help you and those you love.
Many, many women struggle with their postpartum body image. We will have a Registered Dietitian and mom, Erika Salaman, speaking about her own struggles with food and body image and how she, today, advocates for those living in larger bodies with a Health At Every Size approach.
In addition to the NEDA walk, there is a New Mom Body Image support group that meets twice a month to address the physical and emotional changes that comes with being a new mother. This group will help you
- Build relationships and find support
- Build a Body Positive Attitude
- Stop the cycle of dieting and learn the benefits of intuitive eating
- Identify techniques for self-care
Click here to find out more about this amazing support system created by Alyson Lischer, LMFT
