once the weight is gone, what about the stretch marks?

[krites]

Eight months into being a mommy, and I'm ready to really focus on losing weight. I don't like what I'm seeing in the mirror, so I'm taking action. But does anyone know how to reduce the visibility of stretch marks? I can't imagine I will feel confident with my tummy, no matter the size, if my stretch marks stay so prominent. My fellow new mothers have been losing weight like crazy, not me yet, but have not said anything about stretch marks... The lotions I've been using haven't done anything to reduce the appearance... Please help!

[Barb135]

While you're on this journey for better eating, more exercise, this is a perfect time to teach your children healthy eating and have them stay active with you, so they will grow up with healthy attitude toward food, weight, activity.  It's much harder to learn to eat well after we've become adults than if we're taught it at a young age.  

Congratulations to all of you with little ones....... yes, those stretch marks are badges of honor...... my 2 kids are grown and I've got grandkids.

[Bri_1985]

Totally agree khaki :) Ive got 4 myself - 8, 5, 2, and 3wks. You could say 5 if you counted my step-son, who is seventeen I think... sorta awkward but hubby and I never get to see him because his biological mom is... to be nice, difficult.

[khaki33]

I'd use the cocoa butter, but don't count on them going away, they will get lighter. I felt the same 7years ago with my first baby, but I eventually told myself "hey, these marks are from the best thing I've ever done, there beautiful, I'm a proud mama! "But getting fit again does boost your self confidence a lot, I just lost myself after my third baby almost 4 yrs ago and figured I'm a mom its fine I'm a little fat, but now I'm almost 33 and I'm feeling like a twenty something yr old again and getting into all kinds of exercise and introducing myself to healthy eating which is hard with three kids *4,5,& 7)! But I am totally commited this time , I quit my smoking back in Nov and put on way to much weight.anyways, my point is when you enjoy being a mom you lose yourself in it and forget about why you hated those stretch marks and they will become a natural tattoo earned from doing the hardest thing in the world, I wish you lots of luck with your baby and yourself! :)

[Bri_1985]

Have you tried Palmer's Cocoa Butter? Krnak is right - they wont go away - but Palmer's generally lightens them so they dont show as bad

[Krnak]

They will be less prominent over time but never go away. You are born with "x" amount of elastin/collagen fibers that have a certain stretch (in a nutshell). When weight is gained quickly such as a pregnancy or past the "x" amount of stretch in the skin--stretch marks appear. Your mother may not have had any stretch marks but your grandmother may have had an abundant. More importantly, you should be proud of them and embrace them! You earned those from the most important job in the world---becoming a mother. They are a badge of honor to wear very proudly. Congratulations!