When it comes to before-and-after photos online, many moms are constantly showing weight loss after pregnancy. It’s become something of a social media fad.
Many new moms feel insecure about their postpartum bodies.
Almost immediately after giving birth, a lot of moms feel the pressure to “bounce back” when they should be focusing on their recovery.
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Social media is full of moms sharing their weight-loss progress pics.
Everyone wants to document their journey in a different way. What’s important to remember is that not every new mom wants to or needs to lose weight.
However, Allison Kimmey is a breath of fresh air on Instagram.
The mom of two constantly shares before-and-after photos on Instagram, but, showing her changing body in a different way.
While many moms show weight loss, Allison shows a bit of weight gain.
However, she said she’s nothing but happy.
“My Instagram feed was FILLED with before-and-after weight loss pictures. I looked at my own life, and started to realize that my story looked quite different.”
She said she felt the best being at her heaviest.
“After spending 15 years trying to achieve the perfect before-and-after photo, I was most alive right then, in that moment, being far heavier than I once was.”
She also said that the reason she began redefining her body image had to do with her daughter.
When going into the pool, her daughter called her fat.
Her conversation with her daughter went viral.
After her daughter called her “fat” Allison shared her response in an Instagram post.
“Let’s talk about it. The truth is, I am not fat. No one IS fat. It’s not something you can BE.”
She went on to explain that having fat is normal and healthy.
“But I do HAVE fat. We ALL have fat. It protects our muscles and our bones and keeps our bodies going by providing us energy.”
She decided that for her daughter, she had to change our perception of beauty.
“In the moment, I knew that it was important for me to reassign a new meaning for this word that had plagued me most of my life. I knew that I didn’t want her to grow up thinking that it was bad.”
Women all over social media comment on her posts saying how inspiring she is.
One wrote:
“Your confidence had [sic] inspired me to not only buy my first bikini.”
Another says her posts help her get by every day.
“Thank you for this. I love your posts. I am working on self compassion and being kinder to myself. It’s a daily struggle but each day I know I am trying my best to give myself a break and seeing myself in a positive way.”
Many have praised Allison for sharing her ups and downs with others on social media.
“I just want you to know that I’m super proud of you. I’ve been following your journey for a bit and you are walking through this with so much openness and bravery,” said one Instagram user.
Above all, Allison said she’s happy her kids are becoming better people because of this.
“I have heard the conversations we have had come full circle, and the ideals of compassion, and kindness, and respect for ALL being echoed in their behavior with their peers and adults and it is quite satisfying!”
Her husband even says she has made HIM more confident!
He recently told her: “I’ve never told you, but you’ve inspired me too, to feel comfortable in my body.”
It’s clear that Allison is breaking the stigma of “mom bods” through her posts and updates.
Keep up the amazing work, Allison! Your posts are helping a lot of moms feel comfortable in their bodies.
