(And learning to love it along the way) 🥹
When you’ve just become a mum, you’re suddenly adjusting to a whole new life — the sleepless nights, the endless feeds, the whirlwind of emotions and tiredness…
And then, somewhere in the back of your mind, there’s that thought:
“Will I ever get my body back?”😢
I felt it too.
After giving birth, I’d lost a lot of weight almost instantly — mostly water retention and the pressure from labour. I remember leaving the hospital feeling lighter… but when I looked in the mirror, the toned, firm body I’d had before pregnancy had been replaced by something softer, looser. And honestly? I didn’t recognise it and I didn’t really like it.
At first, I didn’t even have the energy to care. I was too exhausted, too consumed by the beautiful chaos of motherhood to think about workouts or meal plans.
But around 3–4 weeks postpartum, something shifted. I started to feel more ready to do something for myself. I began doing 30-minute home workouts from YouTube which were focused on postpartum training, three days a week. But between broken sleep, breastfeeding, and figuring out life with a newborn… my motivation disappeared fast. I didn’t see quick results, and honestly, I was running on too low energy to care.
The truth? That first year was pure survival mode.
And on top of that, we’d just moved to Portugal, started new jobs, and were building our new home. It was a lot. So I gave myself grace and let it go for a while.
What I realised during that time was this: before I could change my body, I had to take care of my mind. I needed a better emotional and mental space — and for me at that time it meant, better sleep and moving into our new house.
Before we moved into our new home, the nearest gym was a 20-minute drive — too far with a baby. But once we settled in our new home which had a gym just around the corner, everything changed.
I started going regularly, lifting weights, and slowly finding my old routine again. My sleep improved. My mood improved. My eating habits naturally got better.
By the time my little one was about 18 months old, I was finally starting to feel like me again. A year and a half later, I can honestly say I’m close to my pre-pregnancy shape. Yes, I’m a bit bulkier now — but I love it. I feel strong, capable, and proud.
It took longer than I thought it would, but I got there. And I’m still working on it.
If you’re reading this as a new mum, here’s what I want you to know: 🌺
- Yes, you can get your body back — or even build a new body you love.
- It’s okay if it takes months… or years.
- Your body just created an entire human being. That’s incredible.
- Respect the journey it’s been on, even if you’re not where you want to be yet.
Because the truth is — this isn’t just about “getting your body back.”
It’s about finding yourself again. 💛