In this crazy, crazy world that we're living in, body image is everything. With the rise of Instagram, the scrutiny of bodies, particularly those that belong to women, has intensified. Whether it's body positivity bloggers talking about loving your curves, or fitness fanatics preaching the 'strong not skinny' movement, we are obsessed with our bodies and what they should/shouldn't look like.
One woman who knows exactly what this pressure can feel like is Katherine Heigl. The actress, who gave birth to her son Joshua Jr on December 20, 2016, has posted an honest and frank set of images onto her Instagram account in which she explains the extensive and arduous nature of reclaiming your "post-baby body." In the post, Heigl, who had previously adopted two daughters, reminds us that baby recovery takes a long time and that it's more about how you feel, rather than how you look.
As I'm sure you're aware, pregnancy takes a huge toll on women's bodies and it can take over a year for them to completely recover. Despite this, we are constantly exposed to how quickly celebrities are able to create their 'post-baby body', something which does more harm than good. In order to change this discourse and fight the pressure put on to new mothers, Heigl admitted it took her 14 months to feel strong and healthy again.
"It’s been almost 14 months since Joshua Jr was born and it has taken me about that long to really get back in shape," she said.
"The first pic was taken one month after he was born. The second pic was taken almost a full year later and the last pic was taken this weekend.
"I wish I had a few from in between the first and second so you could really see how slow my progress was but alas...I was busy covering it all up those months, not posing in my unders!
"Anyway, I have a beach vacation coming up, a new job I start filming in April and my deep desire to feel fit, strong and sexy propelling me forward the last two months to finally loose the last of my baby weight and do a deep dive search for the ab muscles I knew were buried under that belly somewhere!"
Heigl goes on to explain that she was inspired by the influencer Rachel Parcell, who documented her post-baby weight loss through Instagram.
"I was wholly and totally inspired by Miss @rachparcell and the before and after pics she shared after taking the #bbg challenge. I had never heard of it but she looked so damn great (she had her baby just a few months before me) that I had to check it out. I found a fantastic app called #sweat that features several different #bbg programs you can choose from and makes it incredibly easy to do anywhere, which for me means in my bedroom at home!"
"I won’t lie, the workouts are real ass kickers but the progress I’ve made in only 5 short weeks has kept me motivated and inspired to keep going! I am so grateful I’ve had a full year to find those ab muscles and get my butt back up where it belongs and wasn’t forced by work to snap back into shape but it is time to make the strength, fitness and overall health of my body a priority and I am so grateful that @rachparcell shared her story and got this mama motivated!"
Fair play to Heigl for being open and honest regarding the arduous and lengthy process that is losing your baby weight. Sadly, all too often moms are told they should be bouncing back within a matter of months, if not weeks - which is far too much pressure on someone who is already under immense stress.
