Pink Shares Post-Baby Weight In Powerful Instagram Post

Her message about the number on the scale is one we all need to hear

Pink is one of our favorite celebrity moms for a million reasons, but mostly, we love how honest and real she is. A total bad ass, she has zero time for mom shaming or breastfeeding shaming. And now, she has no time for nonsense “standards” about a woman’s weight.

You need to hear this today, trust us.

Pink took to Instagram yesterday to share a photo of herself in workout gear looking absolutely fantastic. The singer and mom to five-year-old Willow and little Jameson, born the day after Christmas, is at the gym. She’s muscular, fit, and strong — it’s hard to imagine she ever doubts herself, but like most women, she can’t help hearing the harmful messages about how much she “should” weigh for her height.

Her caption, which I love so much I might have it bronzed to display on my wall, reads, “Would you believe I’m 160 pounds and 5’3″? By ‘regular standards’ that makes me obese. I know I’m not at my goal or anywhere near it after Baby 2 but dammit I don’t feel obese. The only thing I’m feeling is myself. Stay off that scale ladies!”

Yes, we would believe it, because so many of us can say the same. But we don’t, because we’re so conditioned to think those numbers mean something bad, despite all evidence to the contrary. Look at this gorgeous, healthy, toned woman (who had a baby only three months ago). Who could look at her and give a single thought to the number on the scale?

A doctor, that’s who.

We have medical science and the Centers for Disease Control’s BMI calculator to thank for that shitty feeling so many of us get when the numbers suggest we’re overweight despite looking and feeling otherwise. It’s the standard Pink’s referring to when she talks about being “obese,” as her height and weight put her right between “overweight” and “obese.”

Look at those shoulders and tell us this woman isn’t in amazing shape. Give us a fucking break, science.

BMI doesn’t calculate muscle mass, which outweighs fat. A toned and fit person can weigh a lot more than the BMI would allow before declaring them obese, which is bullshit. I know because I’ve been this way my entire adult life.

Like Pink, I exercise. A lot. Over the course of five or six workouts a week, I lift weights, sprint and take kickboxing classes. I have good muscle definition and wear a clothing size I’m pleased with. When I look in the mirror, I don’t see fat. I see fit.

And then I plug my stats into the stupid BMI calculator and want to cry into my avocado toast.

That’s why Pink’s message is such an important one. In being honest about her weight, she’s helping women like me who might cringe at the scale reading, but grin at their pant size. Weight isn’t everything. Of course it matters, and we should all try to be as healthy as we can, but at the end of the day, there’s so much more to take into account.

Kudos to Pink for speaking out and making all of us “obese” women feel a little less alone.