Shapewear for the Mummy Tummy
These are a few of my favorite things: egg-in-a-hole, creamy risotto, butternut squash ravioli, paella, pigs in a blanket, vegetable dumplings, and cubano sandwiches.
You get the picture: I LOVE to eat. Seriously, I love food. And not just carbs — I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables too. Before I had my son, I had spent five years on a low-carb regimen and had stayed happily fit. But the minute that pee stick registered a positive result, I had a date with my ol’ friends spaghetti and bread almost every day, and we rekindled our mutual love.
When the postpartum period rolled around, it was tough to lose that last 10 pounds of baby weight, but I was too busy freaking out about new motherhood to really care all that much. Soon No Carb Left Behind was my mantra.
The point of this is that I have come to terms with the fact that I love food more than I care about about losing those extra 10 pounds. Depriving myself of foods and culinary experiences I enjoy so much is just not worth it to me. But I also want my clothes to fit well, and sometimes my mummy tummy can be an issue.
Fortunately, I’ve found a solution.
Shapewear to the Rescue
Before 2002, when I got pregnant, shapewear was not ubiquitously embraced as it is today. Back then, the only way to stay slim was to skip the bread (and all the other delicious carbs). These days, my solution to balancing my need to feel good in my clothing and eat with pleasure is wearing shapewear. And it works!
First, though, a disclaimer: Good shapewear is not inexpensive. These are investment pieces, but they are well worth it if it will make you feel a bit more confident about how you look and feel in your clothes.
With that in mind, here are my three favorite shapewear options.
Spanx Slim Cognito Shaping Bodysuit
I love the Spanx Slim Cognito Shaping Mid-Thigh Bodysuit ($78) because it does several things for me.
1. Minimizes my mid-section.
2. Accentuates my waistline.
3. Lifts my derriere a bit.
This bodysuit comes with detachable straps that hook to your bra to keep the bodysuit in place. These are a pain in the neck when it’s time to go to the bathroom, so I use them only for tight-fitting tops where I need to ensure that the bodysuit stays put (which it does most of the time anyway).
Spanx has a similar (and slightly less expensive) model, the Shape My Day High Waisted Girl Short ($60), that does not have the bra strap. If you have this model, do us a favor and let us know what you think in the comments section. This is the one I’m buying next.
Miraclesuit High-Waist Brief
The Miraclesuit Extra Firm Control High-Waist Brief ($38) is a close second in my opinion. Here’s what it’s great at:
1. Shapes my rear nicely.
2. Holds in my mummy tummy.
3. Removes inches. Seriously, people. INCHES.
It also has something called “Wonderful Edge Leg,” which is a thin strip of silicone at the leg opening that prevents ride-up, so everything stays in place.
And! No panty lines.
ASSETS by Spanx Super Control Shaper
ASSETS by Spanx is a less expensive shapewear line available at Target stores nationwide. The High-Waist Mid-Thigh Shaper is $23, which is significantly less expensive than the Spanx-branded options and slightly less than the Miraclesuit.
However, while this option is good, it’s not great. Spanx is great. Miraclesuit is great. But for the price point, Assets is a decent everyday option. I would recommend that you try it on at Target before purchasing, though, to be sure it will work for you.
Do you have a favorite shapewear option? Share your recommendations in the comments!
