Man, your belly button looks freakin’ AWESOME. Cameron turned mine INSIDE OUT while he was in there and it has just plain never recovered.

You look fantastic!!!

Your self-setting should be “terrific”!!

Dude, I am so with you on this. Fuck Belly Shame. (Wouldn’t that be an awesome name for a rock band, by the way?) Seriously, don’t let yourself get too freaked out — you are obviously aware that nobody is perfect. My belly is flatter now than it was three years ago, but now my legs are stumpier somehow, my ass is more dimpled, and hey, my face has broken out! So, yeah, there will always be something to remind us that we are normal human beings. Embrace it, because the day every person in the world is happy with their body is the day that the corner store will be sold out of all the good junk food, and oh, what a sad day that will be.

I see muscle!! You go, girl! I didn’t think your belly was bad before, especially considering you bore a child. But I can certainly see a change since you posted that photo last July. I think you look great. I second, Emily, though. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

I think you just inspired me to try harder than I have been.

You DO look strong! Like you could kick some serious ass, girl!

Wow, you go girl! I remember thinking your belly looked good when you originally posted the after-Riley-photo, but now with the current picture, I can see just how hard you’ve been working out! I’d be proud of a belly like yours, and I haven’t had any kids yet!

I agree with Yams, Linda. You look fantastic. Also, I’m loving your hair and the color. Rock on.

Oh, Sundry.
You are so brave. Your belly looks wonderful. But the thing is: you are beautiful and you won’t see it the way the rest of the world sees it. Still, I admire the example you set in the world of the fuck you.
Thank you.

Everybody struggles with their own self image. It’s probably never going to change. I think deep down everybody wants to be great. They want everyone to see how great they are and acknowlege the fact. On the one hand I don’t really care what people think about me. I’m not an average guy. I tend to stand out from even my own crowd. I don’t have popular opinions. I don’t have common taste. I don’t process information through my brain sack like very many other people. I am ok with that, and like who I am, but somewhere inside me is that shy guy from the past who just want to be liked and fit in. I see him pop out sometimes when I’m in social settings with girls I’m attracted to, or new people I like, but am not yet comfortable with.

The same goes for my body image. I am young and strong and in some ways handsome, but I often find myself constantly going over my flaws. I have a little beer gut that threatens to become a large one if I don’t take care of it. I have virtually no tan. My ass is covered with strech marks. And my own personal back-monkey, my terrible skin. I’ve had pretty bad acne since I was thirteen, and hoped it would go away as I got older. But as I passed my twenty year mark, and it didn’t slow down I realized this is something I’m probably going to have to deal with my whole life. At this point I have bad scars from it covering my back, so even if it did go away, it would leave behind that gang land grafitti to remind everyone that it was there. I still to this day have a very hard time going to the beach or the pool because I know I’ll get the looks from strangers, the sneers from the girls, and the endless fucking questions from the kids who just don’t know any better.

So I feel you on the self image. It’s a real bitch to let go of your pride. But, I’d like you to know that after being inspired by your valliant exercise regiment and your great results I finally mustered my will power and purchased a salad. That’s right, with vegetables. For lunch! And to my utter suprise I did not spend the rest of the day in a carb induced stupor counting the seconds until I could drive home and lay down. If I keep this up and add some sort of aerobic exercise, I might even turn my love pooch into some lust-board abs. (yeah right)

Anyway, try to keep in mind that you already have a man, a kid has tried his hardest to pop you, rip you open, and suck you dry, not to mention keep you sleep deprived for however many years old he is now, (I measure kids differently. Riley looks to be about 2’6” old) and you will have to not take offense, but you are past your prime years. It’s all downhill. Relax and enjoy the ride, cause I believe I speak for the whole internet when I say that you look great. Besides, cool guys dig chicks with scars.

Honestly? My stomach never has (and probably never will) look that good, and I haven’t had a child. You keep up whatever it is that you’re doing, because you look fabulous, you crazy lady. :)

I think I have finally accepted that my belly is always going to be my belly, and my scar is always going to be my scar, because that’s where the baby was and that’s how she came out and not to get all fucking Pollyanna about it but it was totally worth it. My ass now, that’s a whole different story.

And your belly is hot, I would totally make out with you.

Westin sheets, baby. That ain’t no Motel Six sheet set, darling, that’s a belly of WESTIN SHEETS.

I’ll take that “imperfect” little belly of yours any day!!!

You are beautiful!

So I wandered on by again, which I usually don’t do, and I was reading the comments, and I wondered, is it creepy having a million people tell you anonymously that you have a nice middle, or is it flattering? Or both? Cause you don’t really know who most of us are, I would asume. Not even your regular readers/commenters.

At least when I’m on YouTube and I get comments on my videos, I can go look up their page and see what they are like, probably even watch some footage of them. They might even have a link to their myspace or facebook or whatever website they have. But here you just get these disembodied comments from e-lurkering strangers.

That’s sort of creepy in a way. And plus you add in a photo of your thigh-to-ribs area (nice spandex by the way, Lance Armstrong called, well … you know) and these random strangers who peer into your life and family are all telling you how awesome your abs are and shit. Which they are, but it still seems like it might weird me out. But I guess not really cause I do the same thing elsewhere online. I was just wondering if you ever thought about that.

Okay, this is me kicking you in the butt over the Internet. Girl, what standard are you holding yourself up to that you think that belly is anything to be ashamed of? So maybe it isn’t Maxim perfect but it’s still a damn nice belly. Plus, you’ve got Maxim hooters.

I second everything that everyone else said! You look strong and toned. I admire you so much for chronicling your whole fitness experience. Most of us wouldn’t have the courage. And even though your belly looks fab (seriously), that’s what makes you the most beautiful.

I hope that didn’t sound weird or anything, but a lot of times I feel like the anonymity that the internet provides us makes it a lot easier to connect with people because you don’t have to deal with the formalities when you meet people in reality. Seriously, meeting people freaks me out. And I look up to you for putting yourself out there like that. I sincerely hope these goofy little comments brighten your day a bit, because reading your blog does that for me. Just…thanks.

Way to go with the belly-busting fitness regime. Seriously. I am really inspired by this journey you’re on. I have major issues with body image. And I can’t even *imagine* posting a photo of my thighs/butt (MY most hated part) on the internet. I feel though, that maybe I should. Maybe that’s my first step in releasing the demons and letting it all go–all the childhood taunts and pain and crap I hold onto in my mind that I know aren’t real and don’t matter at all. Because now that I’ve had a baby (20 months ago, but still…), now I know what really matters. My body is awesome because it could do that.

Anyway, thanks. I’ll keep reading and being inspired if you promise to keep writing.

wow. i don’t think i’ve seen a better-looking, more inspiring post-baby belly as yours. seriously. the only ones i’ve seen looking more cut have totally been photoshopped and/or majorly tummy-tucked.

that said, i still totally understand the occasional irresistible compulsion to perfect oneself. i think this quality (basically, the tireless inner critic) is what drives us to excel. the hard part is turning it down to a low roar.

Linda I know you on the internet and off and I can honestly say that you look even better in person than these photo’s portray. I have obviously never seen your belly IRL seeing as you don’t wander around in half shirts, but you look amazing and I have noticed a significant change since we first met. You are rocking that bod! Time to be proud of it, you have earned it.

Good for you. Thank you. And you’re gorgeous. More importantly, you’re a good mom.

And I’ve always thought you look very much like Mira Sorvino.

I’ll never understand how so many pretty women can feel self-conscious about their bodies.

Do all of you see something different in the mirror than the men see? Do you have a higher bar for your appearance than the people who’re admiring you? Or is it that you’ve got all these other feelings that determine your self-image even more than your actual physical appearance?

Personally, I couldn’t care less about the changes birth has wrought on my wife’s body. She bemoans her stretched skin and flabby belly and vericose veins and grey hairs just like all of you, and meanwhile all I’m thinking about is how gorgeous she is and about getting her sexy body back into bed with me.

Seriously, you all have no idea how great you look.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your body. The scars that we all have a signs that we have lived life and have given life – something that not everyone can do. Rejoice in your body and then check out: http://theshapeofamother.com/home.php

I was totally going to link theshapeofamother.com, too!! That is a good site to look at, to see how differently pregnancy affects everyone.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really wish my belly looked like yours, and I have never had kids. I even have a couple (new) red stretch marks on my belly. I still try to love it even as I’m trying to shrink it, though. Being ashamed of our bodies is never good, so I try to fight that feeling as often as possible. Especially since if I have a daughter one day, there are enough messages in society screaming at women to feel ashamed of ourselves, that it’s the least I can do to feel good about myself so that this future hypothetical kid of mine can have a good example of how to do that herself.

Feel proud! You rock!

Hey, beautiful.

OH, honey, that belly looks awesome. Your exercise program is really an incentive for me. I just posted today about going bald from menopause – life just keeps on gettin’ better for us wimmen folk.

People have already said how good you look, so I’ll mention something else: the scar? It will go away. Really! My c/s baby is about to turn three and I can barely see the scar anymore. I think I will always have an indented line there, but the line itself…it will be the same color as the rest of your skin at some point.

You are smokin’ hot!

Definitely a rockin’ bod… Seriously, you look awesome and amazing. JB must be so proud!

You look like you have been kicking some ass! :)

And screw belly shame!

wheeee!

Wow! You really hit the nail on the head for me. I, too, am looking for that magical top that will transform my almost-40-still-squishy flab into the torso of a 20-year old. One day I’ll be brave enough (good enough?) to post a pic of my belly on the internet. Well, I could do it now if I really thought the world wanted to see my muffin top and you can pretty much see those everytime you shop at Walmart. Kudos to you; I wish I had your work-out ethic. If making excuses to not work out was a work out in itself I’d look like an Olympic athlete.

Honestly, that belly looks much better than a lot of ‘non-mother’ bellies I have seen. And that’s not to diminish the fact that your stomach just looks great, period. And wow, the difference from last July’s picture is obvious…you look leaner and stronger.

I know you didn’t post this for the river of adoration that would surely follow, but I hope you know that nobody is blowing smoke up your (toned, taut) ass when we tell you that your body looks great.

I see Fred!

Okay, being totally honest here because, honestly… you asked for it. Your belly is not a washboard, six pack (i think women with rippling stomach muscles look weird) but there are no little rolls, no overhang, and the best part NO visible stretch marks. It looks really good, Linda. Give yourself a break. I have yet to regain my size tiny waistline and my daughter is 9. BUT I can walk/run/skip around the zoo all day with only a minimum of out of breath dear god can’t we rest for a freaking minute already moments. I can do soccer tournaments all weekend long and not die from it. I can jump on the trampoline with the kid, play chase, and walk to the park and play with her. I think if more moms would measure what their bodies CAN do, instead of what their bodies don’t look like, then we’d all be Much, much Happier. On that note, have a wonderful Mother’s Day! Now go chase Riley around the backyard. :-)

It amazes me what we see in ourselves but not others. First, that is an amazing belly if you ask me. Picture it as someone else’s and not your own, and the flaws all go away. I sure don’t see any.

And I love Michael’s comment. How true. My husband shares the same sentiments and I’ve been trying to actually hear it and process it and make it sink in.

Your belly is BEAUTIFUL!! I understand where you are coming from though, when I look in the mirror I only see flaws, I don’t see the now size 8 body that gave birth to two children. I want my hair to be shinier, less wrinkles to appear on my face. I shudder to think what I have spent in skincare, haircare and jeans all in the pursuit of some beauty ideal. Perhaps I’m chasing the ideal and not looking back on how far I’ve truly come.

What I do know is I keep striving to find that inner self confidence, to find the strong woman that I know is deep inside me.

You are a strong, beautiful woman and mother!!!

Fred looks great! And no muffin-toppery, which many women (including me) struggle with.

And I love your FU belly shame attitude by posting this! I don’t think there’s 1 woman out there who’s 100% happy with her body, but no one should feel shame! Especially since your post-pregnancy bod looks better than some of us had pre-baby! I actually weigh less 1 year after my son’s birth than I did before I got pregnant, but I’m still disgusted with my midsection. You’d think all that sucking in would add to my sit-ups & make myself a Fred, but to no avail. Oh well, it’s an F U belly shame day!

Michael rocks! My husband says the same all the time, but it’s hard to make myself believe it!

Your stomach is absolutely awesome.

My setting for “good enough” is the knowledge that every single other woman out in the world who I might run into while worrying about my own imperfections is too busy worrying about her own imperfections to pay any attention to mine.

You are the fucking BRAVENESS. I wish I would be that brave!!! I might actually do this one day! And I remember the other belly photo which was beautiful as well but HELLO, I can see that you have been working out! :) YAY! You look great!

These comments make me sad :( Stretch marks are OK, little rolls are OK! Sundry, you definitely lookin hot lady, but that said, oy, it’s just sad and angering to me to see the beauty standards of huge man-run companies (make-up, fashion, reality TV) influencing the self-worth of accomplished adult women.

What will it take to free us all from some bizarre desire to look like a freshly waxed 12 year old boy with big ol titties?

END RANT :)

That is one hot belly that should have no belly shame. I know it doesn’t matter what we all say, it’s what you believe and see. Go you for saying FU to the belly shame. My belly is jealous.

OMG You DO look like Mira Sorvino! I have thought that for years!

I’ll be honest with you: I’m 23, I’ve never had a baby, and you and I have about the same stomach-build; and I’ve got this weird mush/bubble that sits in the front making me look like I have a baby-bump. I know it’s hard not to be obsessed with it, but I don’t think you look bad at all. I’m jealous of your “hips”: my pants are loose around the mid-section and I still have a muffin-top!

you = rock

You are a beautiful mother, wife, and woman.

On your deathbed, will you think back and say, “I’m so glad I had firm thighs and a flat stomach?” No, you will be thinking, “My family and friends loved me and I loved them back.”

So, yes, fuck you, belly shame!

Well, damn. Your el flatto stomach effing rocks. And I definitely see Fred the Killer Ab Muscle.

This photo should be the new cover for the Turbo Jam DVD.

(Also, you are working the kickass thigh muscles. You could probably squeeze someone to death with those bad boys!)

I will trade my muffin-top for Fred!

Dude, I can totally relate. My belly is the one part of me that my husband is not allowed to touch when we’re…you know…- it’s my off switch (so to speak).