All new moms know that sometimes, it’s hard to feel good about our bodies after giving birth. It’s no secret that our bellies don’t always bounce right back after we have a human in there for nine long months.
Baby bellies don’t always go away right after the baby is born.
Not only does your belly look different, but your body overall just feels and interacts with the world differently. Many moms feel down on themselves if their body doesn’t bounce back right away.
Studies show that mothers who experience postpartum depression often times have issues with body image after pregnancy.
A vast majority of women who undergo depression and anxiety after pregnancy also have body image issues and feel uncomfortable in their new skin.
Knowing that many mothers go through this struggle, one Instagram momma wanted to make a bold statement about body image after birth.
U.K.-based mother and influencer, Mia Redworth, frequently talks about post-pregnancy body image on her Instagram page.
She is always showing before and after photos of her body and how far she has come.
Mia is a fitness momma who showcases her workouts, food plans, and posts inspirational videos and captions all over her Instagram page.
Recently, she posted a photo trying on a skirt from before her pregnancy, making an important point.
In the post, she writes: “Trying on my pre baby clothes. I used to be a 4-6 (UK size) before having a baby and around 8st. I was obsessed with my weight and hated my body. After I had my 9lb baby at 42+weeks and could go back to the gym after recovering from a c section, I was 10-11st. It got me so down even though I thought I looked amazing for the time so I vowed to never weigh myself again.”
She’s focusing on her health.
“F**k the scales. My fitness goals have never been to get back to my body before a baby because I had no booty and no muscle and with weight lighting I’m going to be bigger, I’m building muscle and THATS OKAY! I tried on a old skirt for fun a few months ago and I couldn’t get close to closing it but yesterday I could do up almost every button!”
It’s an important reminder that size isn’t everything.
“I love keeping track of progress like this. Clothing size isn’t everything and although this shows my waist is getting small, because of building my bum+thighs theyre always going to make me go up a few sizes just look at how short this skirt is now
She wants others to focus on loving themselves.
“Focus more on loving yourself for you, getting rid of the negativity and challenge yourself on why a clothing size is so important to you. Fitness becomes much more enjoyable if you aren’t constantly putting yourself down. Reward even the smallest victories!”
Many followers felt like Mia was setting forth a positive message when it comes to post-pregnancy weight loss.
Instead of posting unhealthy weight loss products, Mia shows workout routines, protein shakes, and even easy to do quick cardio routines using her son.
Mia also shares videos of routines moms can do in the comfort of their own homes.
It’s about focusing on health and fitness — not what you look like.
She even posts videos targeted to specific workouts for different areas of your body.
I love that!
The best part about her routines is that they’re easy to do and you don’t have to join a gym to do them.
Every mom can try these at home!
Some of her videos even feature her son, which is pretty relatable for moms everywhere!
I know a lot of moms who do small workouts throughout that day while their kids are playing.
And, some videos feature partner workout routines.
Invite your mom friends over for a quick workout!
For women who aren’t completely comfortable with working out, Mia showcases how to do them pretty well.
Perfect for beginners!
Plus, her Instagram page is full of proof that these routines pay off.
Mia is always sharing her side-by-side progress photos for followers to truly understand that they are in control of how they want to look and feel.
Mia also shares diet and food tips for moms trying to stay healthy.
From recipe ideas to products that are all-natural and healthy for moms and kids, Mia is constantly sharing things she uses at home.
She even explains how the snacks and recipes help her work out.
Some of her pre- and post-workout snacks help muscles gain protein, instead of fat, and help to stimulate a healthy, active body and lifestyle.
She’s helping other moms get inspired.
Her post-pregnancy journey has inspired many others online to eat clean, work out more, and take care of their bodies.
And being body-positive helps our children, too.
At the end of the day, we are raising our children and we want to set a good example for them always. That means being proud of our bodies, no matter what.
