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The other night my curious boys were comparing their belly buttons--much to my relief because it could have been other comparisons. For some reason, it struck them as hilarious that one had a belly button that stuck out and another that stuck in. As I began to explain about innies and outies, I showed them my own stomach. One of my sons immediately began to point and laugh. “Look at Mom’s stomach! It’s old and wrinkled!”
Ouch! That hurts the self-esteem.
That night was not the first time that I ever wondered if I could ever get rid of my stretch marks. Of course I don’t like them but I don’t waste a lot of time thinking about them either. After having three babies that were more than eight pounds each, it only makes sense that skin that is stretched over and over will never be the same.
When I was pregnant with my first son, I religiously slathered the expensive anti-stretch mark cream on daily as my belly grew. I am not sure if it was the cream, my youth, my first baby or just luck that I didn’t notice stretch marks after that pregnancy. It was into my second pregnancy that I noticed the flesh colored, shiny lines appearing. I didn’t understand. I had the same dedication in applying the cream with the second pregnancy but this time it didn’t seem to be working. Now that’s discouraging, I remember thinking. I guess I will file it on the shelf with the breast enhancement cream and the vanishing veins lotion.
By my third son, I had given up. I still applied lotion on my growing belly but more for comfort to ease the itching as the skin stretched to its limit. So is there really a way to be rid of stretch marks without surgery? Even with weight loss, isn’t there extra skin left over? I see plenty of photos of celebrity Moms with rock hard abs and smooth tanned skin. Do they know the secret or are they unwilling to give his or her name?
I think that if I gave up sleep, I could workout six hours a day to obtain a perfect body physique. But even then, I think I would still have my Mom scars. Is that really such a bad thing?
Edited by Alison Stanton
Add a Comment5 Comments
I have a 5 month old daughter and I was lazy in applying anything to my stomach. Well i got dark stretch marks on my belly, my tighs and breasts. My stomach looked like a dried up prune, sounds bad right? On top of that the stretch marks were itchy and I have to say I did scratch them a couple of times. During the pregnancy I barely used lotion, now I wish I had.
After I had my daughter and recovered from the pregnancy I wanted to get rid of my stretch marks. I was recommended the Dr Max Powers Stretch Mark cream. It doesn't stain my clothes, and it leaves my skin feeling soft. I ate better, exercised when I could, and I have applied the lotion on 2 times a day to those areas. I'm glad I purchased it because the stretch marks are less visible.
Throughout the month, I kept asking my mom to see my belly. She was very glad to see my stretch marks are going away. My stretch marks are now lighter, smoother and less visible. I am happy to say the ones on my tighs are practically gone and my stomach looks less like a dried up prune! I am glad with the results so far and I'm looking forward to another month of using this lotion!
November 1, 2011 - 9:05pmThis Comment
I don't think stretch marks are unattractive. What matters most in terms of a person's attractiveness is their self-confidence. If you believe in yourself, you will carry yourself confidently.
I also think wrinkles can be very cute, no matter where they are on the body. If you focus on your overall health, and stay confident and believe in yourself, you'll look attractive with or without wrinkles or stretch marks.
Kids say all sorts of things. They're just kids...they don't mean to offend. If you were to laugh they'd see it as a joke. We can only be offended by a comment about body image if we are insecure about our own (openly or secretly). Maybe the ideal to strive towards is not to have a "perfect" body, but rather, to be perfectly confident in the body we are given, so that no matter what someone says about our body, we can smile and laugh and really feel it sincerely without any doubt.
=)
May 31, 2011 - 7:59amThis Comment
They do fade, people are just too anxious to get rid of them and end up giving up. Consistency is the key, keeping applying and you will see results. I had good results with Excel Skin Care's cream. They have a store on Amazon which has the best prices for them.
May 28, 2011 - 9:46amThis Comment
They do fade in time. Treatmentsa re of limited use by eat well, drink water, sleep well and use either a natural moisturiser or a stretch mark cream with good reviews (e.g. stretch-mark-treatments.com).
I managed to prevent any forming for my first child using the tips above. We'll have to wait and see with the second (if I have a second!).
Good luck...
May 27, 2011 - 7:23pmThis Comment
My family got stretch marks with each pregnancy....I was determined NOT too.
May 27, 2011 - 8:34amThis Comment