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Something that everyone talks about is how hormonal you are during pregnancy. Its such a trite joke to make fun of how neurotic pregnant women supposedly are. I wasn't too bad. I won't say I didn't have some moments. But for the most part, it wasn't any worse than PMS and I was still rational the whole time.

Something no one talks about is how hormonal you are after the kid's born. Its not baby blues either. Its just normal, cry-real-hard-over-nothing. As in, I'm not sad but am crying. Or I'm set off slightly by something and am crying real hard. And feel like I could cry all day. A cleansing cry, you know? Not a sad cry. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life.

One day I just got too tired and started bawling. One day I have no idea what set me off. One day Rob and I were talking and it was very slightly heated. I mean, very slightly. Not even elevated to the level of actual conflict. Bawling.

But then one day, I found a diet book. A you-just-had-a-kid-and-now-you're-not-pregnant-you're-just-fat diet book.

I know I'm fat now. I'm sure it'll work out. I've never been fat in my life. I weighed about 145 before baby. That sounds like a lot, but I'm 5'8" and a lotta muscle. My body mass index before baby was 21. That's the ideal healthy BMI. I'm not a fat girl.

Except, right now. I'm a fat girl.

And I have flub. That's what I refer to the belly as. Its shrunken significantly, but its flub.

So I found the fat girl diet book. And I knew the only person who could have brought it into the house was Rob. And I just started bawling. But this time, it lasted. I cried when I saw him and asked about it. He disregarded it, saying it was no big deal. It had come into the thrift store and someone gave it to him to give to me. Fuck that person, but whatever. No big deal. He clearly thought I was overreacting. I'm sure I was. I know he loves me and isn't worried about weight gain. But it just got me. Bawling.

It felt horrible. There's only so fast you can lose 76 lbs. I'd lost 35 at 2 weeks and found the book. I'm gonna need more than 2 weeks to drop this kinda weight. And I know I will. The things I can't wait to do: ski, run, ride my bike, do yoga. I'm sure the weight will come off just fine.

Rob's not the kind of guy to care either.

Later that night I cried in bed and told him about how upset I'd been about the book. He held me close (both arms snug) and told me he loved me, that I wasn't fat (even though I am,) and that I'm beautiful and he loves me. And that's all anyone could ask for from a husband.

And now I'm crying again.

Comments

  1. Haha!! The "Baby Fat Diet"?? I got one on my desk, too. As did just about everyone in this office - not sure why. I know a big stack of them came to work as a donation from Borders. I also got "The Working Women's Guide to Breastfeeding", "Succulent Chocolate Flava II"and "How to find Love in your Loveless Marriage - Reuniting the Passion Between the Sheets". I'd venture to guess that that book wasn't left on rob's desk for you - I think it was left on everyone's desk that has a desk because they gave us 45 copies of the stupid thing.
    Anyway, let me know if you want to borrow "Succulent Chocolate Flava II" - it is filled with "27 tantalizing stories to read with your chocolate lova"...

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  2. oh man, no one told you about the crying? I take personal responsibility because I try to tell everyone about the crying. Way before the crying starts, like when you are in your last two weeks. Back when you'll be like "not me, I'm not a crier" but then your hormones all leave your body via your face and you have no idea what the hell is happening. Seriously? Why does that happen?

    My dad was the one to tell me about the crying. Which is what set off the crying.

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