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 Content

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Amazing to me how shallow some thought processes are.
My wife turned 54 yesterday,bore 5 wonderful children and is a size 6,up from the 4 she was in her 20's.

She gets more beautiful to me everyday. Self confidence,style and grace exude from her.

As a woman,she is way past the crisis of a stretch mark.

Just saying...

By momof4

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE...What a lucky woman your wife is. My husband tells me the same, he says each stretch mark tells a story and whenever he looks at my tummy he cannot believe that his 4 gifts came from there..so even though it looks like a road map..it is a map to our history

By Jennifer

This is so wrong, having your own child is beautiful. It is also inspiring I am a 34 yr. old mother of two and my youngest is 11 months. I have been with my husband for 10 years. I look better now than I ever have and weigh less than high school. I am pushed to be healthy for my kids, to teach them healthy habits and to be healthy enought to see my grandkids. If you take care of yourself it does not ruin your body and the physical change is only temporary.

By June

Fine, each of these women has a choice to make. Yet, they seem to indicate a very immature sense of their discipline (in being able to be healthy and fit after pregnancy) and their idea of beauty. If I was a kid, I wouldn't want my mom to be one of these ladies. I want a mom who is relaxed about her looks and believes in feeling good and being a good person over having the perfect body. If these ladies are sooo upset about gaining weight and having stretch marks, think how damaging their attitude would be on a little child (especially a little girl). My mom eats what she likes but in moderation and lets me know that my curves and scars are beautiful. One day these ladies will get old and have wrinkles and liver spots. Will they shoot themselves at this point? Better to get your mind right and then think about having kids. Please ladies, don't adopt any child until you think about these things a bit more.

By amy

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AMEN!

By Wendy

If these womens self-esteem rests soley on the way they look, they have some serious issues to work out and probably shouldn't have children at all. What are they going to teach their children, that looks are everything? If your reason for adopting is really to help a child given up, I aplaud you, I was an adopted child. However if you reason for not having a child is vanity, you're not fit to be a mother.

By Debbie

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This world is getting worse and worse and for people to say they don't want kids is ok to hear. Why bring a child into such a mess? Whatever their reasons for not wanting kids that's their own business and more power to them.

By Sharon

I LOVE Jillian, but I would NEVER blame how my body looks on giving birth to my children!!!! Michelle, if your figure was "ruined" it is most likely because you didn't take care of it during pregnancy. For the women who chose not to have children, that is your decision, but to base it only on the fear of ruining your figure is ridiculous. Giving birth to my children was the best thing I have ever done. My husband and I created these two beautiful little people and everyday they amaze me. I can't imagine life without them.

By Judy

Everyone has a different metabolism. For some it's easy to lose weight, for others its a lifetime struggle. Adoption is always a good idea for the sake of the children. It's personal decision.

By Kate

I've made the decision to not have children, simply because I am way too focused on my career and wouldn't have to time to be as nurturing as I would like to. That said, if a woman wants to not have children because she's worried about her appearance, that's totally bogus! Many of my friends have kids and have been able to fit into their "pre-prego" clothes, mostly through taking a pro-active role during their pregnancies and NOT eating everything in sight because they were "eating for two".

As for me... I love being the favorite aunt and the awesome stepmom.

By abrn90

Michelle, the lady in the article, I hope your kids dont have internet access, because I am sure knowing if you had it to do over they wouldn't exist would really be good for the self esteem. Hard to believe your extra pounds are from no fault of yours own?? I have 3 kids, 1 with special needs, and they are my world and to hear a mom say if she could do it over they wouldn't exist it blows my mind!! The extra pounds I have to lose are my fault not my kids!! Sounds like someone needs to learn to take responsibilty for her actions! The best part of being a Mom is your kids love you unconditionally, start loving yourself and if you want to be around for your kids do something about it, diet and exercise, only YOU can change you.

By Amanda

I couldn't agree more! I sure hope they don't find out that mom wouldn't have had them if she'd had it to do over again...JUST because she didn't want to ruin her body.

agreed!

By hmmm...

"The best part of being a Mom is your kids love you unconditionally"
Interesting statement.
Narcissistic parents have children to be loved unconditionally, normal parents do it TO love their children unconditionally. Parents should be there for their children, not other way around.
I am sure that you are a great mother, though, I agree with the rest of your post, well said and your children are blessed with you as a mother.

By stef

WOW....i think it is selfish to say you don't want to have a baby because your body will change. I had a baby 3 years ago and I am smaller and more in shape now than i was before I had her! I wouldn't trade being a Mommy for anything!!

By Tim

Some women still have amazing figures after childbirth. Demi Moore, Victoria Beckham and Sarah Jessica Parker all have amazing bodies and each has had at least one baby. All three are in better shape and slimmer than Jillian Michaels!

By Jess

Yes and each of these women were thin to begin with and are rich enough to afford personal trainers and dieticians

Tuesday 27 April

By j

you are SSSOOOOOOOO wrong ...about Demi Moore, Victoria Beckham and Sarah Jessica Parker ... First of all Sarah Jessica Parker is anorexic, where is the health in that. Demi Moore isn't afraid to go under the knife... and Victoria ... well she's got to be a robot or something, she has a great body and seems to be healthy. Jillian is 5'2" 120 lbs and ALL MUSCLE... I could only hope that she does adopt and can teach a little girl confidence and how to build muscle!!!! Just because someone is thin does NOT mean they are healthy...

By sacrifice

one word: selfish

By mike

How nuturing

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