Something I notice all the time is how quickly people jump to the idea that once you’ve had kids, of course you’re going to gain a bunch of weight and stay that way forever. It’s treated as a given, almost like gravity.
But why? Having children doesn’t mean your metabolism suddenly stops working. Sure, your schedule changes, your sleep is disrupted, and life gets more stressful — but those are challenges, not destiny. Plenty of people balance kids, careers, and still manage to stay active and take care of themselves.
What really bugs me is how society talks about this like it’s just part of “middle age.” Where are the conversations about people who stay fit, confident, and attractive into their 40s and beyond? It’s like the idea of a “sexy middle-aged person” is treated as rare or even impossible, when the reality is just that it takes consistency and effort — the same as it always has.
So here’s my question: why is long-term weight gain after children normalized and excused, but maintaining health and attractiveness seen as unrealistic? Is this just cultural laziness, or is there something deeper at play?