I was clipping coupons the other day and found an ad for Suave beauty products. It read "89% of moms admit to having let themselves go. 100% can get it back. Suave."
My first thought was Well. That's obnoxious.
My second was 89%? Really? That sounds made up.
Off the top of my head, I can't say I know any mom who has really "let herself go."
I know I haven't.
Sure, I'm not as firm as I was 15 years ago. I totally fail The Pencil Test. There are things I will never wear again. Like miniskirts and anything with an empire waist. And my skin's not as elastic as it used to be and their are faint lines on my tummy and maybe a little extra padding.
But I'm also thinner than I was before the kids were born, more aware of my body and my health, and I exercise more than I have in years.
Most importantly, I'm more confident than I was as a younger, child-free woman.
So if Suave is trying to gain my business by appealing to insecurities they assume mothers have about their appearance, they missed the mark with me.
Readers? Have you let yourself go?
My first thought was Well. That's obnoxious.
My second was 89%? Really? That sounds made up.
Off the top of my head, I can't say I know any mom who has really "let herself go."
I know I haven't.
Sure, I'm not as firm as I was 15 years ago. I totally fail The Pencil Test. There are things I will never wear again. Like miniskirts and anything with an empire waist. And my skin's not as elastic as it used to be and their are faint lines on my tummy and maybe a little extra padding.
But I'm also thinner than I was before the kids were born, more aware of my body and my health, and I exercise more than I have in years.
Most importantly, I'm more confident than I was as a younger, child-free woman.
So if Suave is trying to gain my business by appealing to insecurities they assume mothers have about their appearance, they missed the mark with me.
Readers? Have you let yourself go?
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9 comments:
Girl- I am way hotter than I was years ago. My tummy looks like it went through a fire and my thighs are not as defined as they once were, but damn, I think I look good! I feel good and I am the happiest I have ever been... I love my husband, I love my kids, I love being a wife and a mother and I love working at Gap and most importantly I love ME! And that's why I don't use Suave:)
What! I am bigger than I was even 5 years ago. But, dude...I run marathons and I work out and get showered and dressed every day. So, no, I might have evolved a little, but I have not let myself go.
I don't feel like I've let myself go, in fact, just the opposite. I feel like I've found myself. So my body is a shadow of its former self (which of couse I didn't appreciate until I didn't have it anymore) but I'm more content with it and I'm happy with my life and the choices that have brought me to this point. I don't think I can ask for much more than that.
I weigh more than I did ten years ago, but I am more in possession of my own character than I ever was. I work hard,play hard and am inlove with a man who makes me feel good about the way I look, no matter how I look. I am blessed with good health and a crazy,big, loving family!! I'm sticking with Sunsilk...unless the makers of Suave make that too...
like the others, i weigh more than i did 10 years ago. but i have way more confidence and i am much more sure of who i am as a person. somedays, ok, well, most days i don't wear makeup, but i do shower and wear clean clothes. my husband could care less if i wear makeup or not. i do enjoy looking good, but looking good for my two kids or just to go to the park isn't always worth it. the actual time i take to do hair and makeup is only about 15 minutes, so i COULD do it every day, i just choose not to.
Uh, no... thank for pointing out the fallacy in that advertisment! I couldn't agree more... very obnoxious!
Let myself go?
Yes.
I have let myself go and do as I need to, and as I please.
I have let go of the need to compare myself to others (it sometimes happens anyway, oh, the bane of being human!) and I have let go of holding myself to an impossibly and imaginary standard.
I'm not as healthy as I should be--and I'm overweight. But I quit beating myself up over it, do what I can, and don't worry about the rest.
Do I find it obnoxious when advertisers say such things? No, I find it sad and pathetic. I find it more sad that many many women will fall into this trap--feeling that they are less worthy (or that they need to buy certain products in order to be worthy) because they've had children and no longer have the body of a 20 year old.
I'm not 20, and realistically, there's no reason I should expect to look like one.
I loved Mumple's comment.
I don't think I have let myself go at all.
Thanks for the tag. I'll try to get it up in a day or so. Happy Valentine's Day!
Well....my toenails are not painted, my eyebrows are not waxed, my hair needs a cut....I have stains on my clothes that will not come out.....does that count?
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