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Hi, Beach Body and Shakeology Coaches: Stop Targeting New Moms

In my two postpartum experiences, I have been absolutely blown away by the number of MLM coaches/representatives (I'm looking at YOU, Beach Body and Shakeology) who have come out of the woodwork, out from under bridges, and sometimes out of the blue to accost me via the social media or text message with all kinds of offers. 

I'll give you some actual verbiage, here:

"Hey, I've got some awesome meal replacement supplements that will really help you with breastfeeding and get rid of the baby weight. It would mean a lot if you would come to a sample night and support me." 

I got that gem when I was not even two weeks postpartum. (This was from a neighbor).

"Hey! I've been using a really great program and I'd love to share it with you. When you're ready to get back into shape and lose the baby weight, let me know! I'd love to help you."

Um, postpartum is a certain kind of shape. (This from another neighbor).

I'm not even going to start counting the number of inbox messages on Instagram from people I don't know pitching similar things.

Let me say it right now: 

MY NEWLY POSTPARTUM BODY, or ANYONE ELSE'S NEWLY POSTPARTUM BODY - IS NOT A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU. There are so many things wrong with seeking out new moms and announcing that you've got the ticket for fixing their bodies right back up.

I'm fortunate in that I've never really dealt with body image issues at any point in my life, regardless of if I've had extra weight (which I have currently and have had previously) or not. I've never been personally offended about my stretch marks or extra skin (which I've also got plenty of).

But do you have any ideas what messages like that do to new moms who ARE struggling to find peace in their new mommy bodies? There are actually women out there who feel terrible about what they relinquish in the growing and birthing of humans: tight abs, perky boobs, unmarred belly skin. The ability to sit down without throwing it into slo-mo and wincing. Like, terrible to the point of tears. When these women get assaulted with messages like the above, it just reaffirms to them that this new body full of visual evidence that they have grown and birthed an actual person is not worthy or perfect just the way it is.

In case anybody is unfamiliar with what the female body goes through during/immediately after said growing/birthing of human, let me know. I'll regale you with colorful tales of contracting for months on end, gaining and losing over 60 lbs, pitting edema, and stitches where the sun doesn't shine.

Also, are your supplements actually regulated and proven safe by the FDA for nursing mothers? I'll wait right here. Your assumption that we "need help" with that and the answer is in an expensive meal substitute is flawed on so many levels.

I don't know about anyone else, but my finances were already spoken for by the time my little one was born. Something about thousands of dollars in medical bills just to get them here. I assure you, a paid workout program has not been anywhere in the budget.

We haven't even begun to touch on the recovery period. I'm not just talking about simply stopping gushing blood (which typically lasts anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months). I'm talking about even being able to sit down without wincing. I'm talking about getting enough sleep to operate on a basic level without the extra energy expenditure of working out. I'm also talking about getting enough calories to produce enough milk for your baby, while working on healing a dinner-plate size wound on your insides. "Bouncing back" and "dropping the baby weight" do not need to, and honestly shouldn't be, a consideration for a generous length of time dependent on factors that you, Beach Body Coach, are not privy to.

So, in case you are reading this, my MLM friends, knock it off. You can do better. As a working mom, your argument that you are trying to help provide an income for your family is valid - I get that. But you've got to stop targeting new moms.

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