I’m in a toxic relationship.
I’m in love with my maternity clothes but they don’t love me back. I can’t seem to let go no matter how many times I try to cut ties and walk away.
Our love affair began as soon as my belly popped around 16 weeks into my pregnancy. I loved being able to live in stretchy leggings and blousy tops. As my bump grew I wasn’t afraid to wear tighter tank tops or shirts to show off my belly. I embraced my growing and changing body.
Since my son was born, things have changed. I focused on maintaining a pretty healthy diet and exercise regiment so I was lucky to lose most of my baby weight quickly, however, my shape just isn’t quite the same.
Now, I am 7 months postpartum and even though my regular clothes are beginning to fit more and more each day, I can’t seem to let go of my maternity jeans, leggings, and baggy tops. On several occasions, I’ve packed these items away, only to find myself dragging out the box at 6:00 a.m. when I’m desperately trying to find something comfortable to wear to work.
When I get to work and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I realize that these ill-fitting clothes are not kind to my appearance or my confidence. My jeans and pants are loose in all the wrong places, tops hang too long in front and short in the back, and that belly band is not so secret as it bunches underneath my shirt. I immediately become self-conscious of my figure and spend the rest of the day tugging at my clothes in an attempt to cover everything that looks wrong.
Despite this, I keep all those clothes close-by and this scenario plays itself out day-in and day-out.
I’m stuck in this pendulum swing where my old clothes don’t fit and my maternity clothes are too big. I rationalize that I don’t want to spend money on clothes for my current figure, hoping that my current size and shape is temporary.
It’s time for an intervention. Just because I am still uncomfortable in my own skin does not mean I need to hide under clothes that don’t fit me well.
I need to STOP wearing my maternity clothes. This includes bras, underwear, pants, leggings, jeans, dresses, shirts, tank tops, all of it! I’m quitting, Cold Turkey!
I am not doing myself or my confidence any favors by continuing to wear clothes that don’t flatter my figure.
All the clothes have been packed away and stored in the basement, 2 floors from my closet and hopefully out of sight, out of mind.
In an attempt to get some new clothes into my closet without breaking the bank, I’ve been in touch with some girlfriends and organized a clothing swap. I’ve also been keeping an eye on clearance sales at some of my favorite stores.
I DID go out and buy a pair of jeans. Having a pair of jeans that fit is definitely a key to feeling comfortable and confident.
I’m hoping by incorporating a few new items into my wardrobe I can get through another month or so before the summer season comes along. Then I’ll have to deal with bathing suit shopping!
Are there maternity clothes that you can’t seem to let go? How did you deal with the in-between stages from maternity wear to post-baby body clothing?
