Readers to Jillian Michaels: We Don't Want to Ruin Our Bodies With Pregnancy, Either

By The Pop Chorus Posted Apr 26th 2010 12:20PM

'Biggest Loser' trainer Jillian Michaels told Women's Health she would rather adopt than become pregnant, saying, "I can't handle doing that to my body." The body-conscious trainer, 36, carries 120 pounds on her tiny 5'2" frame, but says she was an overweight teen, topping out at 175 pounds.

We turned to our Pop Chorus -- to women who know where Michaels is comin' from, specifically -- to hear from three other ladies concerned that bodily changes might make pregnancy just not worth it.

Wendy Gould from Indianapolis, Indiana, says:
"I'm a married 24-year-old woman with no plans to have children. Part of that decision stems from personal choice, but one of the main reasons is, I don't want to go through those physical changes. I like my body the way it is, and I've heard a plethora of horror stories associated with pregnancy and giving birth -- increased breast size, getting heavier, stretch marks ... even the possibility of increased feet size!

Family and friends chastise me, saying it's a selfish move I'll regret later, but I beg to differ. There are many children in the world waiting to be adopted. Yes, I have that natural motherly instinct and ticking maternal clock tempting me, as well as a curiosity to see what my child would look like. Regardless, I will likely never have children."

Jaimee Jackson from La Junta, Colorado, says:
"Weight is always on the minds of women, especially women considering pregnancy. I'm 28 years old, and have been with my husband for almost seven years. He is ready to have a baby and is pushing the issue pretty aggressively. Although I would love nothing more than to have a child, I am extremely worried about gaining (and then losing) all the weight.

I have always been a thin person. I love my figure and am very proud of it. However, the older I get, the harder it is to keep the weight off, no matter how hard I try. I fear becoming pregnant would ruin my figure and, in turn, my self esteem. I've been successful so far in coming up with every excuse for why I'm not ready to get pregnant, but I don't know how much longer I can keep it up without my husband finding out the truth..."

Michelle Basile from Hazelwood, Missouri, says:
"I am 43 years old and have two children. I ruined my figure with the birth of my children. I became grossly overweight.

If I had the choice to do it over, I would definitely choose adoption over carrying a child myself. I was very sick during my pregnancies and put my body through a tremendous amount of turmoil. I now have a terrible problem with my weight, which I have let spiral out of control through no fault but my own.

I now face the possibility of not being there for my children due to my obesity. Therefore, I highly recommend that if a woman has the opportunity to make the choice to give a child a much-needed home and family over having biological children of her own, I say go for it! A child is a child. Biological or not -- it makes no difference. Save your figure and possibly your health. Adopt."

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Tags: Jillian Michaels, Pop Chorus, pregnancy, The Biggest Loser

Comments

(122)

Monday 26 April

By Christine

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If everyone adopts, there will be nobody having children to adopt!

By me

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That's a GREAT thing! Join VHEMT - the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. We've done enough damage to this world, why create more? Humanity was a nice idea, but an experiment gone very wrong. We have not earned our right to be here, so I say everybody live long and DIE OUT!

By Val

As if.........that is not going to happen and silly of you to try going there.

By Kris

there will ALWAYS be those brainless teenagers..

By Patty

I think these women have lost their minds. I have had four children and my figure is fine. You must eat right and exercise. I am the same size I was when I was a teenager. Besides we all grow old and everything will sag then. Please, give me a break. If you dont want children because you dont have time for them then ok. But, just to keep your figure. Your ego is out of control.

By Star

Who cares about ruining your figure....I ruined mine and would do it again b/c my children are so worth it! But like everyone else was saying if you eat right and work out you will be fine!

By carolyn

I tried to have children for most of my adult life, but I guess it was never meant to be. I would give everything I have, to have been able to be a mom. Adoption is wonderful. But to opt not to give birth because you might "ruin your body"? To me, that seems very shallow and selfish.

This whole world is much too wrapped up in appearances. Be skinny, be blonde, be young, have plastic surgery and botox so you never look old. I don't know about everyone else out there, but looks can, and will, fade. It is what is inside of a person that counts. So you have a couple stretch marks. I guarantee you that you won't care when you have your child. And just to feel life growing inside of you.

And if you do, then you are putting way too much value on your body, and not the life you gave to someone.

By MandiP

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Carolyn, what you said is what THESE type of weight things has always been about -s hallow and selfishness, not health and life.

By elke

I agree with you 100%. I too am the mother of four and am in about the same shape I was previous to having my children. It isn't easy but it is not impossible if you are willing to put the work in. Jillian needs to get over herself.

By Melissa

I don't think they are out of their minds. I think you are for saying it. Because having children does eff up the body and their is no guarntee that you will survive it. So if they rather adopt than put them through that hell more power to them. And I did go through pregnancy and it was hell and no way in hell I will do that again.

Tuesday 27 April

By Jane

I totally agree, I am a mother of 2 adopted girls and I adopted because I couldn't have children of my own. Back then I would have given anything to have my own children. I was lucky I had the opportunity to adopt, I love my girls. I'm glad these women are not having children and when the agency hear their reasons, you can bet they won't be allowed to adopt either. If your so concerned about your body eat healthy, exercise and make good choices in life.(drugs and alcohol). I respect people who choice not to have children for (whatever reason)rether then have children for the wrong reasons, like they women.

By Emily

I agree with star--having my three children was the best thing I've ever done, and now is the happiest time of my life. It's kind of nice that these selfish women don't want to "ruin their bodies" to have a child. Some people just *aren't* parent material. There are enough of us fertile myrtles around that these women can continue with their perfect lives and leave all the fun stuff to us. :)

And for the record, I've had three children in 6 years and I'm actually 10 pounds underweight.

By parksthom1

That is not at all true about ruining your figure after having a baby. The question is: do you exercise consistently and watch your diet before getting pregnant, continue doing that while your are pregnant and stay with it after you are pregnant? I worked out before I was pregnant, while I was pregnant (at age 32) and after my son was born. I am in the best shape of my life (5'6", 131 pounds, 19% body fat) at 39 years old. Kids don't make you fat: you make yourself fat.

By becca

Very true ~ it's all about how you take care of yourself. I did the same as you with working out prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and after and I ended up a smaller size than before I even got pregnant. Children are a blessing ~ and I willingly accept any and all body changes because of them!
And I have a sister-in-law that should have taken that shallow stance of no kids cause it will ruin a body ~ she has two young beautful daughters that she's always ditching on someone else so she can workout.

By Catherine

Unfortunately, just because you do everything right during your pregnancy does not mean that you will reap the benefits. I am 26 and have been through two pregnancies.... I was ALL BELLY with my pregnancies (which is probably the ONLY reason I was able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and shape fairly easily). Had I carried my pregnancy weight anywhere else, it would have been THAT MUCH more difficult to get back in shape. Anyway, all my life, I have eaten EXTREMELY healthy, and I work out 5 times a week. Everyone told me I looked great while I was pregnant, and everyone is so shocked that I am back to my tiny size so quickly after giving birth. Problem is... they haven't seen my stomach!

During my pregnancies, I took showers with an exfoliating seaweed soap and also used a Collagen-Elastin body wash. In addition, I used 3 different creams EVERY DAY on my belly to prevent stretch marks (Palmer's, an elastin cream, and pure shea butter)... and I STILL got stretch marks!!!! My cousin, on the other hand, did NOTHING and has NO stretch marks. So it really doesn't matter WHAT you do. Now, because of the stretch marks, the skin on my belly is now saggy and wrinkly. I used to do swimsuit modeling before I had children, and now, unless I do a tummy tuck (which probably still won't get rid of the stretch marks), I can never do that again. And I obviously had NO control over that.

I didn't even get stretch marks until I was 37 weeks pregnant! And it turned out that I had a condition where I had an excess of amniotic fluid, which made my stomach HUGE... if I had not had that condition, I might not have even gotten the stretch marks.

So, I really don't think it's as simple to just say "Work out and eat right and you'll be fine".... Just because it worked out that way for YOU doesn't mean it will be the same for everybody. I worked out and ate right (as I have my entire life), and I am left with a saggy, wrinkly, droopy belly full of stretch marks. My cousin, on the other hand, (who doesn't even usually eat that healthy) looks EXACTLY the same as she did before she had kids. Her stomach looks the same and everything!

So... it depends on the individual. NOT on what you do. All the healthy eating, exercising, and stretch mark creams in the world didn't stop my stomach from looking the way it does now.

By Maegan

I agree with Patty 100%. I have three children and I may have one more.

By Joey

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I applaud these brave women for their decision not to ruin their bodies by having children. Far too many women (snd their men) don't consider the awful toll that child bearing takes on a woman's body. I have seen far too many formerly attractive women that are never able to return to their pre-baby condition. It has negative effects on both their self-esteem and their marriages.

By Angela

If your marriage can't withstand changes to your body from pregnancy then it wasn't a good relationship to begin with. People get older and change anyway. If it matters that much to you I'd worry about any relationship you may have. We are all worth so much more than our appearence.

By MJ

Spoken like a true male.
Get over it, folks! People age, changes are inevitable, and you only live life once. To never have children for fear of "ruining" one's body? Please! Ladies, take care of yourselves during and after pregnancy.
And men, if you have a problem with women's bodies and the changes they undergo, perhaps you'd like to take the next tour of pregnancy for your lady and see what you think.

By terrix2000

Every person has a choice. My belly became a roadmap to nowhere after having two kids. I think I actually shocked my daughters and their friends the consequences of childbirth by showing my belly at a sleepover once. So far, my kids are 24,25 and neither of them have kids, and none of the girls at that sleepover have kids. I love my kids dearly, I eventually had a tummy tuck, which only helped a little because my case of stretch marks was severe. Weight gain was never an issue with me, just poor genetics. Having the kids has never been a regret, I just wish I had the tummy tuck in my mid-late twenties rather than my late thirties. I also respect my body and it's shape, so I basically hid behind clothes.

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