They say you are your own worst critic, which is completely true in my case. I’m pretty sure that I think things about myself that even my worst enemies would think were a little bit harsh. A lot of this criticism has to do with my appearance.
So what happens a lot is that I’ll feel really bad about my looks and then weeks or months or years later, I’ll look back on pictures and wonder why I was so hard on myself. I’ll have a Baz Luhrmann moment of enlightenment when I realize that I am not as fat as I imagine. But I’m pretty sure that’s only so that I can beat myself up in the current moment and remind myself of how much better I used to be. How much skinnier I used to be, how much more I liked my hair then (even though I’m sure I didn’t), how much cuter my clothes were, etc. Sigh. It’s an endless cycle.
Anyway, I had a moment like this the other day when I was looking back at pictures from early in my pregnancy. I remember feeling from very early on that my stomach was huge, that everyone could tell I was pregnant WAY too early, and that surely something was wrong with me. I seriously stressed about it (and to be honest, still do). But now looking at the pictures again, I feel completely silly. In these pictures where I thought I looked so huge, you can hardly see a bump! And any bump that was there was pretty much just my regular stomach pooch as opposed to baby bumpage. See?
So you would think this would serve as a reminder not to be so hard on myself all the time. But if the past is any indicator of the future, I’m pretty sure it won’t. I’m pretty sure that in a few weeks when my belly has grown even more, I’ll look back at this week’s pictures and think I was crazy for thinking I was so big. I can still try though.


this baby makes you look pregnant. i can’t believe you thought you were fat!
Maybe not overall fat, but definitely need some work in specific areas! But I agree with you: the baby is really making me look pregnant these days!
i think you look beautiful and full of babyness!
and definitely not fat! i totally sympathize with what you’re talking about though. i constantly find things to critique too.
See and I think you have nothing to critique! You’re gorgeous… no ifs, ands or buts about it:) But it just goes to show that we ALL have our insecurities.
If it makes you feel better I look like I’m slightly pregnant but I’m not. I just have a fat stomach.
I’m so thin and the ONLY place I ever put on weight is my stomach, so when I went back to the US last year I gained like 5 pounds and every bit went straight to my stomach.
I’ve always gained my weight in my stomach too. Now add in a baby and the stomach is out of control!
Well, if we’re going to lament about our looks … I’m also pretty skinny, yet no matter how “in shape” I am, I still have cellulite all over the backs of my thighs. And YOU, Adrianne, are so silly to think you look fat when you only look pregnant – which is an awesome look! Try not to be too hard on yourself. You are definitely your toughest critic :^)
Funny you mention that because I was just talking to a coworker about that yesterday. I’m not in shape, so I expect to have some cellulite, but my coworker is tall and really thin and she was complaining that no matter what, it’s always there!
P.S. I’ve been swimming with you and never spotted any cellulite! Not that I was looking for it, but you know what I mean;)
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