Ever felt like the world expects you to ‘bounce back’ after pregnancy as if you were a rubber ball? Yeah, that pressure to snap right back into your pre-pregnancy jeans or fitness routine is real, relentless, and frankly, exhausting. But what if we told you that being gentle with yourself might actually be the secret sauce to postpartum fitness success? Let’s dive into the surprising story of Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer who gained over 50 pounds during pregnancy and found a refreshing, kinder way to reclaim her strength. (You can check out her full story here.)