fitness

What if the key to postpartum fitness isn’t bouncing back, but being kind to yourself first?

Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer who gained over 50 pounds during her pregnancy, shared a refreshing perspective in her recent story published by Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-trainer-pregnancy-weight-postpartum-fitness-strength-easier-2025-7). Instead of rushing to ‘bounce back’ after giving birth, Emily embraced the process of being a beginner again and showed us why self-compassion might just be the missing piece in postpartum wellness.

The Pressure to “Bounce Back” — Why It’s Harmful

Many new mothers face societal pressure to quickly return to their pre-pregnancy bodies. This “bounce back” culture ignores the physical and emotional upheaval childbirth brings. The reality? Pregnancy transforms your body in profound ways, and expecting instant recovery is not only unrealistic but damaging to mental health.

Emily’s story reveals an alternative approach. By reframing her postpartum journey as a fresh start rather than a race against time, she allowed herself to move at her own pace. This mindset shifted her motivation from external expectations to internal wellness.

The Beginner’s Mindset: Why Starting Over Helps

Feeling like a beginner again isn’t a setback—it’s empowering. It creates space for learning, patience, and growth. Emily’s journey highlights how embracing this phase can:

• Reduce frustration and burnout by setting realistic goals.
• Encourage mindfulness through focusing on small victories.
• Build sustainable habits rooted in self-respect rather than obligation.

This perspective doesn't only apply to fitness but also influences mental health positively. When you’re kind to yourself, stress decreases and motivation improves.

Connecting the Dots to Fertility and Family Planning

For many, the road to pregnancy and parenthood involves more than just physical readiness; it requires mental toughness and kindness, especially when navigating challenges like infertility or at-home conception. This is where understanding and supporting your body and mind become crucial.

Organizations like MakeAMom, which specialize in at-home insemination kits, embody this ethos by offering accessible, private, and compassionate fertility solutions. Their products—ranging from the CryoBaby kit for frozen sperm to the BabyMaker kit designed for sensitivities like vaginismus—empower individuals and couples to take control of their fertility journeys in comfortable, familiar settings. This approach aligns with the broader message Emily’s story imparts: honoring your unique path and circumstances with patience and care.

Tips to Cultivate Kindness Toward Your Postpartum Body

So, how can new and expecting mothers integrate this mindset into their own lives? Here are some actionable strategies:

• Set achievable goals: Focus on progress, not perfection.
• Celebrate small wins: Every step forward is meaningful.
• Practice self-compassion daily: Speak kindly to yourself as you would to a close friend.
• Seek support: Join communities or forums where you can share experiences without judgment.
• Listen to your body: Rest when needed and gradually increase activity.

Beyond Physical Fitness: Nurturing Mental Health

Postpartum mental health is often overlooked but is equally vital. Emily’s experience underscores that kindness to yourself is a foundation for emotional resilience. Whether it's coping with anxiety, loneliness, or unexpected setbacks during pregnancy or fertility treatments, embracing self-compassion can be transformative.

Final Thoughts: Redefining Success After Pregnancy

Emily Ricketts’ story invites all of us—whether new moms, those on fertility journeys, or supporters—to redefine what success means postpartum. It’s not about speed or numbers on a scale; it’s about respect, patience, and holistic well-being.

If you’re navigating conception or postpartum challenges, remember there are innovative, empathetic resources available to support you. Check out MakeAMom’s range of at-home insemination kits designed to provide discreet, effective help tailored to your needs. Like Emily’s journey, the path is uniquely yours—embrace it with kindness.

What’s your biggest takeaway from Emily’s approach to postpartum fitness? Have you experienced pressure to ‘bounce back’? Share your thoughts and stories below—we’d love to hear from you!

Have you ever felt pressured to 'bounce back' after pregnancy? You’re not alone. So many new parents hear this phrase thrown around like a badge of honor. But what if the real power lies not in rushing to get back to 'normal,' but in embracing the beautiful beginner stage that postpartum brings?

Recently, Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer, shared an inspiring story about gaining over 50 pounds during pregnancy—and how being kind to herself changed everything about her journey back to fitness. Instead of succumbing to societal pressures to instantly shed weight, she leaned into feeling like a beginner again, and it made the process not only easier but deeply empowering. You can read her full story here: I'm a personal trainer who gained over 50 pounds while pregnant. Being kind to myself made getting fit again much easier.

Why is this important? Because this mindset shift can revolutionize how we approach at-home fertility and postpartum wellness. Many aspiring parents face challenges not only during conception but throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Whether you’re trying to conceive or navigating the early days of parenthood, embracing self-compassion is crucial.

The Pressure to 'Bounce Back' Is Real—and It’s Tough

We live in a culture obsessed with quick fixes and instant results. After pregnancy, there’s often a barrage of advice, some helpful but many unrealistic—‘lose the baby weight fast,’ ‘get your pre-pregnancy body back,’ ‘don’t stop exercising.’ These well-meaning but pressure-filled phrases can leave new parents feeling like failures if progress isn’t rapid.

But what if we flipped the script? What if instead of rushing, we recognized the postpartum period as a time to heal, learn, and grow—both physically and mentally?

Feeling Like a Beginner: A Gift, Not a Setback

Emily’s story highlights something so simple, yet profound: allowing yourself to be a beginner. In fitness, being a beginner means starting fresh, building strength gradually, and celebrating small milestones. In fertility and conception, it means giving your body the time and nurturing it deserves without judgment.

This approach fosters patience and resilience—not just traits that help with postpartum fitness but with the entire journey of conception and early parenthood.

How This Relates to At-Home Fertility Solutions

At-home conception technologies, like the kits from MakeAMom, empower individuals and couples to take control of their fertility journey on their own terms—a kind of beginner’s step into parenthood that’s private, comfortable, and encouraging.

MakeAMom offers tailored insemination kits that work with different needs, such as the CryoBaby for frozen sperm or the BabyMaker for users with sensitivities. Their reusable kits provide an affordable, discreet way to explore conception at home—honoring each user’s unique pace and story.

Self-Compassion as Fertility Fuel

When you’re kind to yourself, stress levels drop, and overall wellness improves. This isn’t just feel-good advice; scientific studies link lower stress to better fertility outcomes. It’s the perfect harmony of mind and body working together.

So instead of rushing or stressing over timelines and pressures, try these:

• Celebrate the small wins. Every step toward your goal—whether it’s starting a new workout routine or using your insemination kit—is progress.
• Listen to your body. Postpartum recovery and fertility journeys are unique. Honor what you feel and rest when needed.
• Engage with supportive communities. Sharing your story and hearing others’ experiences can be incredibly motivating.

Your Journey is Your Own—and That’s Beautiful

There’s no set timeline or 'perfect' way to navigate postpartum fitness or fertility. Like Emily Ricketts discovered, kindness to yourself makes all the difference. When you treat yourself as a learner instead of a failure, you open the door to lasting strength, health, and joy.

Are you ready to embrace your beginner’s mindset? To nurture your body with compassion and patience? Whether you’re getting fit postpartum, exploring fertility options, or both, remember: the path you walk is uniquely yours, and every step forward is a victory.

We’d love to hear your story—what’s one way you practice kindness to yourself on your journey to parenthood? Share in the comments below!

And if you’re curious about gentle, effective at-home insemination options, explore how MakeAMom's innovative kits can support your path toward conception with confidence and care.

Your journey deserves patience, hope, and unwavering kindness. Let’s walk that path together.

Ever felt the pressure to ‘bounce back’ right after pregnancy? You’re not alone. Society loves tossing around this phrase like it’s some golden rule for new moms, but honestly? It sets a trap that can weigh heavy on your heart and mind.

I recently came across an incredibly relatable article on Business Insider where Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer, opened up about gaining 50 pounds during pregnancy and how embracing kindness toward herself was the real game-changer in getting fit again. (You can check out her story here).

Emily’s story hit me hard because it flips the script on what so many of us believe about postpartum fitness. Instead of rushing to shed “baby weight,” she embraced the idea of being a beginner again. Imagine that — letting go of the expectation to perform perfectly and instead celebrating the small wins, the tiny strengths regained day by day.

So why is being kind to yourself after pregnancy SO important?

• Your body just created life. That’s a huge, miraculous process. It deserves patience, not pressure.
• Mental health matters. Stressing over quick weight loss can increase anxiety and even impact your overall recovery.
• Fitness isn’t a race. Approaching postpartum fitness as a gentle journey means you’re more likely to stick with it and feel good doing it.

If you’re on a fertility journey or have recently welcomed a little one, these ideas might feel revolutionary or even comforting.

But what if you’re still trying to conceive? Does this mindset still apply? Absolutely.

Trying to get pregnant can come with its own emotional rollercoaster, and sometimes it involves medical or at-home interventions. This is where innovations like the MakeAMom home insemination kits come in — designed to support people on their unique paths to parenthood.

MakeAMom offers reusable, cost-effective systems that empower individuals and couples to take control of their fertility journey in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Knowing that your path to starting a family can be gentle, supportive, and tailored to your needs might just be the kindness you need to offer yourself during this time.

Here’s a quick reality check:

• Postpartum and fertility journeys are deeply personal and non-linear.
• Embracing your body and its process is key to long-term wellness.
• Tools that respect your privacy and comfort, like MakeAMom’s discreet kits, can make all the difference.

And while we often hear about pushing ourselves to “bounce back,” Emily’s story encourages us instead to start fresh, with compassion.

Whether you’re navigating the incredible shifts of postpartum or exploring fertility options, the real secret isn’t about rushing — it’s about honoring where you are right now.

So, what if the best thing you can do for your body and mind is to be gentle, patient, and open to new beginnings? How might that change your experience?

I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories about kindness during fertility and postpartum in the comments. Let’s support each other in rewriting these narratives together.

Let’s get real: Pregnancy changes everything. And if you’re staring down postpartum fitness with a mental image of ‘bouncing back’ like a superhero, it’s time for a mindset makeover.

I recently dove into an eye-opening piece from Business Insider titled ‘I’m a personal trainer who gained over 50 pounds while pregnant. Being kind to myself made getting fit again much easier.’ This story isn’t just inspiring — it’s a game-changer for how we think about postpartum fitness and self-compassion.

Spoiler alert: The magic isn’t in rushing back to old routines or punishing your body for temporary changes. It’s in being kind to yourself and embracing the new beginner's mindset that pregnancy forces upon us.

The Toxic ‘Bounce Back’ Pressure

Let’s face it. Everywhere you look, social media and culture scream, “Get your pre-baby body back NOW!” But reality? That pressure often leads to burnout, guilt, and worse mental health. The Business Insider piece spotlights Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer who gained over 50 pounds during pregnancy and found peace not by rushing back, but by accepting she was starting fresh.

Imagine unlocking a mindset that says: “It’s okay to be a beginner again.” Sounds refreshing, right?

Why Being a Beginner Postpartum Is a Superpower

In her story, Emily reframed postpartum fitness as a new journey — not a race against time. This shift helped her mentally and physically rebuild her strength and allowed her to approach workouts with patience and respect for her body’s needs.

Here’s why this matters:

• You rebuild from a new baseline: Your body has undergone incredible changes, so expecting the same performance immediately is unrealistic.
• Mental kindness fuels physical progress: Stress and self-criticism can sabotage your efforts faster than skipping leg day.
• Progress over perfection: Small, steady wins beat crash diets and unrealistic goals every time.

How Can You Apply This to Your Fertility and Postpartum Journey?

If you’re exploring conception technologies or navigating pregnancy and postpartum transitions, understanding the importance of kindness and realistic goals is critical. Whether you’re managing fertility challenges or preparing for parenthood, patience is your best friend.

At-home insemination options, like those from MakeAMom’s BabyMaker kit, offer flexibility and control—similar to how approaching your postpartum fitness with kindness empowers you to move at your own pace. It’s about creating a supportive environment, whether for your mental health or physical wellness.

Tips to Embrace Your Postpartum Beginner’s Mindset

• Ditch the comparison game. Your journey is uniquely yours.
• Celebrate micro wins. Managed a 5-minute walk today? That’s progress!
• Seek out positive communities. Whether online or in person, support changes everything.
• Set curiosity over judgment. Explore new workouts or nutrition without demanding perfection.
• Be flexible with goals. Your body’s needs will change day to day.

The Bigger Picture: Mental Health is Fertility Health

We often silo physical health from mental wellness, but stories like Emily’s remind us these threads are tightly woven. Being kind to yourself during fertility and postpartum journeys reduces stress and can improve outcomes, too.

Programs and products designed with sensitivity—like MakeAMom’s reusable kits tailored for unique needs such as sensitivities or specific sperm conditions—embody this compassionate approach. They offer practical solutions that meet people where they are, not where society says they should be.

In Conclusion: Be Your Own MVP

The takeaway? The postpartum and fertility journey isn’t about a quick comeback or meeting arbitrary standards. It’s about honoring your body’s story, being patient, and approaching every step with kindness.

If you’re considering at-home insemination or just starting your postpartum fitness journey, remember that the real ‘bounce back’ comes from self-love and realistic goals. So, what if you gave yourself permission to be a beginner again?

We want to hear from you! What’s one way you’ve embraced kindness in your fertility or postpartum journey? Drop your story in the comments and let’s build a community that celebrates progress, not perfection.