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 Michelle Liedl

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You vain and selfish women! Jeez! There is more to life than looking perfect. I am in my second pregnancy and am embracing the changes it brings because I am a stronger woman for it!

By anonymous

I can't believe this. How selffish can you people be? I don't have any kids nor I am not pregnant. But I would love to experiece the joy of carrying and having my OWN child. It is yours. It came from you. Something both you and your husband can cherish forever! I never heard of anything like this. This is so greedy. There are so many people than can not have children that would love to. My cousin is pregnant with her third child and she looks great! She runs and stays active. There is no one to blame but yourself for laziness. Ridiculous!

By Sharpestthing

What a bunch of shallow women.
Go ahead and miss the greatest thing this life has to offer. The ability to create a life within you.

By jilia

She's right. It does change you! And if you are not ready to change you shouldn't have children. Children have changed me inside and out. The outside not too much I am 41 yrs old 5'9" and 135 pds and I have 4 children. I where the same clothes and do the same activities...well more b/c I am busier. I am more proud of my post body than pre babies!!!!

By exoticdoc2

Pregnancy need not ruin a woman's body, but you must be willing to do the work to get back in shape afterward, from what I have been told.

Tuesday 27 April

By nancy

Gee, Michelle's kids must feel so great knowing that if she had it to do over again, she would not have had them. They must feel so loved.

By Wolven

If you are shallow enough to worry this much about your appearance, then you are too selfish to have children anyway.

By Kelly

I find that not wanting children on the sheer fact that you do not want to gain a few pounds is an extremely vain decision. If having the joy of life growing inside of you means gaining weight and stretch marks, bring on the fat. Some of us are less fortunate in our ability to have children and adoption is our only choice. I have had the honor of being pregnant but I lost it when I was 4 and a half months pregnant. For those of you women who are so terrified of gaining weight or getting stretch marks, or whatever it is you fear, guess what?? Beauty is first off found from the inside and all beauty external is going to get old, winkle, sag, let out, get loose, flake, dry up, and eventually die. Would you rather people remember you for the time that you looked hot or for the way you made them feel when you were around them?

Wednesday 28 April

By sarah

i would never have kids. you can't be anorexic and have kids, and i would rather be anorexic. ppl who have kids LOOK like they had kids. they have HUGE hips, saggy deflated boobs, and they foot bones stretch out from all that weight. and once you gain that much weight, it's nearly impossible to loose it all. call it selfish, but what is the point of having kids, besides your own selfish motives to "enjoy" raising them, caring for them, getting to know them, treating them like pets, and showing them off to your friends? People have kids because society expects them to, not necessarily because they are dying to pop a child out of their groin.

By Tonya

When I read this article I was appalled. The ability to have children is a gift and to thumb your nose at that gift because you don't want to get fat is ridiculous and is the most selfish, seft-centered, arrogant and vain thing i've ever heard. Of all the reasons that exist for not bringing a child into this world, that's the best you can do? If that's how you REALLY feel then you're right not to have any AND please do a big favor for any child that you would consider adopting and leave them to be adopted by someone capable of loving someone other than themselves. It will save them years of unhappiness and therapy.

By Momof7

Maybe it's better off these Woman don't have children can you imagine these selfish woman with a child? Trust me that doesn't go away because you adopt a child or give birth to one.
I think adoption is a great thing and there are many children who do need homes. But if you are that selfish to not want to ruin your body to give birth to a baby, adoption isn't going to make any difference to your selfishness. You need a selfless heart to except a child from adoption to treat that child as if you gave birth to that child yourself. I would know I was adopted and was given the best mother I could have ever asked for. I have seven children myself and would never feel that I don't want to ruin my body to be given the greatest gift and miracle god has ever given.

By kh11

Are these women serious? Maybe none of them should or should have had babies. I have 2 beautiful boys one of which is 2 months old. Sure it's hard to lose the weight but if you exercise and eat right, you will. I bet the last woman would have ended up obese either way. Seems to me like she just wants someone or something to blame. It's so sad to see how our society now makes women afraid of having a child. I'm proud of the changes my body has gone through to carry and deliver my healthy boys so suck it Jillian!

By brian

Glad my mother, who bore 5 of us, wasnt so vain as to not disrupt her perfect figure.
The really sad part is, one day you vain twits will die and there will no one to thank God you were unselfish. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Just sayin....much much more to life than perfect abs.

By Jan

I don't think shallow people should reproduce at all. Those are not characteristics we want prevalent in society.

What jerks!

By Donna

I get that it's everyone's choice weather to adopt or have a baby or whatever., but, I am sitting here and reading this article about 'oh I don't want a baby because of what it would do to my body.' I can't wait to be pregnant, I'm 24 and have been dealing with infertility since as long as I can remember.
I will give everything, for a doctor tell me that I'm pregnant, to see my body swell and grow with a child inside of me! bring on the stretch marks, larger breasts, and weight gain!

By strawberry23

This is an selfish, selfserving, self absorb attitude. Jillian is now believing her own press...

By Dark Upquark

Vanity, thy name is WOMAN

By ashes

This is such BS... I gained 23 lbs with each of my children. Which according to my Dr. was way too much! With my first I was back into my size 2 jeans with in a week. With my second one week. It's called self control. There is no reason to gain 40 to 80 lbs to carry an infant of 2.5 - 13Lbs. Please grow up and with your mentality...please don't have any self conscious children.

By rkhbit

Wendy,
you sound like your entire generation. Quick and easy, now efort on my part, without any work and I can have everything I want because I want it. I am curious, if your adopted child doesn't turn out like you envision, or god forbid you gain weight after you adopt, will you return the child and demand another?

By jackie elbanna

She's so concerned about her body. What about that face

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