PARENTING BODY AND... WEIGHT LOSS PREGNANCY

You Don’t Need To Be in a Hurry to Be “Bikini-Ready” After Having a Baby

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You Don’t Need To Be in a Hurry to Be “Bikini-Ready” After Having a Baby

Bikini season may be just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you need to stress about getting “bikini-ready.” After all, your body has just been through an incredible transformation. It’s important to give yourself time to recover and adjust to this new phase of life.

That said, there are a few things you can do to help get your body back into shape. First, make sure you’re getting enough rest. Sleep is essential for healing and repair, so aim for at least eight hours a night. Second, eat healthy foods and stay hydrated.

This will help your skin heal and give you the energy you need to care for your new baby. Finally, don’t forget to exercise. Taking a brisk walk or going for a swim are great ways to get some gentle activity while spending time with your little one. So take it easy on yourself this summer and enjoy the season with your beautiful new family.


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stress about getting bikini-ready

When you’ve spent nine months gestating for a baby, your body is going to change.

No matter how fit, healthy and active you’ve been during the pregnancy, chances are more likely than not you’re going to have a few extra kilos more at the end than you did at the start. Don’t kill yourself for not having a bikini-ready body, especially during summertime.

Seems really logical, right?

Unfortunately, it’s a story that is as old as the hills: society seems obsessed with mums getting their pre-baby, bikini-ready bodies back as if it is the biggest priority when you have a new screaming bundle to deal with. You usually see it through body shaming (often of celebrities who haven’t lost their baby weight within a few days/weeks of giving birth) but the rise of the fitspo thing on Instagram means it’s bloody everywhere these days.

If you don’t know what I’m on about, here’s a sample of recent headlines of celebrities having a bikini-ready body after the birth of their children:

“Silver screen siren! Teresa Palmer shows off her stunning post baby body in a slinky metallic gown at her very first Oscars after giving birth to son Forest TWO MONTHS ago.” (Daily Mail, 27th February 2017)

“Blac Chyna’s Post Baby-Weight Loss Is Epic” (Global Grind, 23rd February 2017)

“Katherine Heigl looks slim in white blouse and jeans two months after welcoming son Joshua Jr.” (Daily Mail, 16th February 2017)

“Stephanie Davis flaunts astonishing post-baby body 6 WEEKS after giving birth to Caben-Albi”  (OK! Magazine – 28th February 2017)

“Zoe Saldana Flaunts Insanely Toned Physique Just Days After Announcing Baby #3’s Arrival” (Hollywood Life – 24th February 2017)

You Don't Need to be in a Hurry to be "Bikini-Ready" After Having a Baby | Stay At Home Mum

I managed to be pregnant at the same time as Britney Spears both times she had a baby and saw the way she was paid out on in the women’s’ mags for her alleged struggles to get her pre-baby bod back. I’d sit there looking at all my own jiggly bits and back at the photos of Britney’s and would have been more than happy to have her post-baby body. And I felt angry for her – because, newsflash, even if you haven’t had a baby, when you’re in your 20s and 30s you’re probably not going to look like your 17-year-old self anymore.

In a decade things have become more absurd. You don’t need to be sitting in a doctor’s waiting room leafing through the old New Idea or NW to feel insecure and confused about your post-baby bod.

 

You Don't Need to be in a Hurry to be "Bikini-Ready" After Having a Baby | Stay At Home Mum
You just need to log on to Instagram at any time of the day or night to be bombarded with the never-ending stream of “fitspo” photos from one of the many almost waif-like Instagrammers showing off the abs of steel that they appear to have gotten within nanoseconds of popping out a sprog. If you miss it on Instagram, their amazing weight loss stories will show up in the mainstream media anyway.

 

It’s little wonder that some women do drastic things to try to keep their pregnancy weight-gain to a minimum. Even in this day and age some women will still smoke to have a lower birth-weight baby (I know someone who did this!). Or go on a diet while pregnant.
 

 

Gaining weight during pregnancy is completely normal and natural. Your body is growing a new human being (or beings if you’re having multiples!)  While most of the pregnancy weight you gain is the actual baby, the rest comes from the changes your body undergoes to support the pregnancy and having a newborn.
 
There’s some extra fat, which your body will use to prepare itself for breastfeeding and for storing nutrients. There are amniotic fluid, placenta and your enlarged uterus. Your breasts can increase in weight as well. And then there’s increased weight from more blood and body fluid. Some women gain more weight than others. Some women gain more weight in one pregnancy than they do in their others. Every woman and every pregnancy is different!

 

Tiger stripes | Stay at Home Mum
 

 

It can take around six months or more for a woman’s body to recover from childbirth, so hitting the gym and doing ultra-strenuous workouts is actually not really advised until you have the all-clear to do so. In fact many health professionals advise that women shouldn’t be trying to diet in the first six weeks or so after having a baby, not only to allow their bodies to recover from childbirth, but to help establish a good milk supply.  Any rapid weight loss can mess with your ability to produce a good breastmilk supply.

 

Supermodels, actresses and the like make their living from their appearance. The sad reality for them is that they have a lot of pressure on them to lose any pregnancy weight gain as soon as is humanly possible because their bodies are their livelihoods.
 

 

As a result they might be “flaunting their post pregnancy bods on the red carpet” or whatever within days or weeks of having a baby, but it doesn’t mean that it was healthy for for them, or for their new bundle of joy. But you’re never going to get their publicist to tell that story, are you?
 

 

Even though some celebs like Chrissy Tiegen, Pink and Blake Lively have been quite vocal about this issue lately and are pushing back on the expectations, they seem to be the exception to the rule if the headlines I mentioned above are anything to go by. It’s back to work, back to looking perfect as soon as possible for so many others.
You Don't Need to be in a Hurry to be "Bikini-Ready" After Having a Baby | Stay At Home Mum
 

 

So what does that mean for the average new mum, sitting on the couch in her tracksuit pants, covered in baby vomit and wondering if she’ll ever be able to take a shower today?

In a body-image obsessed society, many women have body-image issues for their whole lives, so pregnancy and new motherhood is not going to be any different. Pressure to lose weight in those first days, weeks and months of having a newborn where you exist in a fog of sleep deprivation, sore nipples, leaky boobs and for some women, stitched up hoo-haas, is extremely unwelcome.


Here are afterthoughts if you want to have an instant bikini-ready body after birth

Here are afterthoughts if you want to have an instant bikini-ready body after birth

There’s no denying that giving birth is an amazing accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. But if you’re looking to get back into shape and achieve a bikini-ready body, there are a few things you can do. First, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It takes time to recover from childbirth, both physically and emotionally.

Second, focus on nutrition. Eating healthy foods will help your body heal and give you the energy you need to exercise. Finally, make sure to get plenty of rest. Getting enough sleep will help your bikini-ready body repair itself and give you the energy you need to stay active. By following these simple tips, you’ll be on your way to getting back into your bikini-ready body.

You don’t need to be in a hurry to be bikini-ready after having a baby

If you’re like most new moms, you’re probably feeling a little bit anxious about getting back into your bikini-ready shape. After all, post natal season can be a stressful time for anyone, let alone someone who is still recovering from childbirth.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be in a hurry to get “bikini-ready.” Your body has just been through an incredible ordeal, and it needs time to recover. So instead of putting pressure on yourself to reach an arbitrary goal, focus on taking care of yourself and your baby.

Not bikini-ready? You’re still beautiful, no matter what your body looks like

Bikini-Ready. It’s a phrase that’s thrown around for a sexier bod. For some, it’s a reminder to hit the gym a little harder in the next few weeks. For others, it’s a source of dread and anxiety. But here’s the thing: no matter what your body looks like, you’re still beautiful.

Bikini-ready or not, you deserve to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. So go ahead and rock that swimsuit with pride. Because you’re still beautiful, no matter what your body looks like.

There’s no shame in taking your time to get back into shape

You’re probably feeling a little bit anxious about getting back into shape. After all, there’s nothing worse than showing up only to find that you’re not quite as bikini-ready as you’d like to be. But here’s the thing: there’s no shame in taking your time to get back into shape.

In fact, rushing to slim down can often do more harm than good. If you try to lose weight too quickly, you may end up sacrificing muscle tissue, which can slow down your metabolism and make it harder to keep the weight off in the long run.

And even worse, crash dieting can lead to feelings of deprivation, which can sabotage your efforts to stick with a healthy lifestyle. So instead of putting yourself under undue pressure of the bikini-ready image, focus on making small changes that you can sustain over time.

Exercise and eat healthy when you’re ready, not because you feel pressured to have a bikini-ready body. Embrace your new body – it carried and nourished your child for nine months! Eat a little bit healthier, move a little bit more, and give yourself permission to ease into things.

The important thing is that you’re taking steps in the right direction. And before you know it, you’ll be bikini-ready – no apologies necessary.

The post-birth body can be a bummer. If you’re like most new moms, you’re probably wondering how on earth you’re going to get your body bikini-ready. The good news is that it is possible to get your post-baby body into bikini-ready shape – it just takes a little bit of effort and perseverance. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

First, start by gradually adding some cardio to your routine. A moderate amount of cardio will help to tone your muscles and burn calories, without putting too much strain on your body. Walking, swimming, and light jogging are all great options.

Next, focus on strength training exercises that will help to build muscle and improve your overall figure. Pilates and yoga are two great options that can be done at home with minimal equipment. You can also sign up for a gym membership or take some exercise classes if you want more of a workout.

Finally, make sure that you’re eating healthy foods that will help boost your metabolism and give you the energy you need to work out. Lean protein, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables should all be staples in your diet. Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods, as they will only sabotage your body weight.

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About Author

Caroline Duncan

Caroline Duncan is a freelance journalist and photographer with almost 20 years' media experience in radio, magazines and online. She is also a mother...Read More of three daughters, and when she's not writing or taking pictures, she's extremely busy operating a taxi service running them around to various activities. She can't sew and hates housework. Read Less

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