At what point should women re-set their expectations for their ideal/achievable weight? Fifteen years after University? Thirty?

I have been saying I need to lose 10 lbs for several months, fixated on a number I’m meant to reach and more importantly maintain.

A friend and I had a conversation about weight and like most women we have a pre-pregnancy weight (target) and a post-baby weight (reality) that taunt each other from opposite ends of the scale.

At what point do we drop the “I just had a baby” as our go-to excuse, accepting that some of us have children who are ten years old.

Wouldn’t life be wonderful if nobody felt they needed to lose that last five or ten pounds and instead just said, “I’m the weight I’m supposed to be” and enjoyed who they are in the moment?

“Hey you look great!”

“Thanks for noticing. It’s because I’m perfectly content with my current weight.”

I’ve never met a woman who was content with their current body weight. It’s as if the Dove campaign for real beauty never happened. When the first goal is met, a second (usually unattainable) is quickly set and action is taken to chase the impossible dream.

Have you ever looked at pictures of your former-self and thought, wow, I looked thin but at the time, I felt terrible about my body image? Wouldn’t you give anything to go back and slide into that skin again and give your twenty-something head a shake?

Go easy on yourselves ladies. Coming out of hibernation is a sensitive time of year.