Why Embracing Your Postpartum Body Could Be the Secret to Long-Term Fitness Success

What if the key to postpartum fitness isn’t about bouncing back, but about starting fresh with kindness?

For many new parents, the pressure to “bounce back” after pregnancy is overwhelming. Society often pushes the narrative that women need to shed pregnancy weight immediately, got back to their pre-pregnancy physique, and do it quickly. But what if that pressure does more harm than good?

Emily Ricketts, a personal trainer who candidly shared her experience of gaining over 50 pounds during pregnancy, offers an inspiring perspective that turns this pressure on its head. Instead of rushing to lose weight and regain fitness, Emily embraced the idea of feeling like a beginner again and being kind to herself. This emotional shift didn't just make her postpartum fitness journey easier, it transformed it into a sustainable, empowering process. Read more about her story in this insightful article from Business Insider.

The Pressure to

Author

Alicia Nguyen

Hi, I’m Alicia, a women’s health advocate and science communicator with a background in biomedical engineering. My own winding path to parenthood inspired me to help others cut through jargon and find trustworthy fertility information. Outside of writing, I love trail running and experimenting with new plant-based recipes.