The Disturbing Truth about Celeb Post-Baby Bodies
As if giving birth weren’t miracle enough, some new moms, especially the ones in the spotlight, are out to make another miracle happen: They want to lose the baby weight and reveal a slimmer, fitter new physique, seemingly overnight. But some are taking the challenge of carving out post-pregnancy abs a little too far, sending the wrong message—and one very unhealthy and dangerous—to real-world moms everywhere.
Seeing already-slender stars like Beyoncé, Jessica Alba, and Miranda Kerr bounce back from having a baby in what seems like days can mess with anyone’s head, whether you’re expecting or not. But what’s more distressing is when celebs slim down to a fraction of their former selves after they plunge into mama-hood.
True Blood star Anna Paquin, who delivered twins Charlie and Poppy nine months ago, went from cute and curvy to borderline bony. Former The Hills star Kristin Cavallari, who had son Camden last August, also went from fabulously fit to scary skinny. And then there’s Tori Spelling, who’s tinier than ever at 40 after popping out her fourth kid, Finn, 11 months ago.
With their elite peers dropping the baby bulge like it’s a heavy Burberry bag, it’s no wonder Hollywood’s newest members of club mom like Jessica Simpson and Kim Kardashian—who both introduced their little ones (Ace and North, respectively) in June—are feeling the pressureto do the same.
So what’s a new mom to do? We spoke to leading experts to offer some perspective and advice for staying healthy and sane as you slim down after baby.
1. Take celebrity gossip mags with a grain of salt. Seeing images of these super slim celebs and their adorable, always-smiling babies in their toned arms every time they turn on the TV or see a magazine cover only makes things worse for new moms, who are already at risk for postpartum depression and super stress, says Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D., an L.A.-based licensed clinical psychologist and author of the new book You Are Why You Eat. “This is just cruel and downright dangerous.”
2. Take time to get your body back. “It took you nine months to put on the weight, it’s gonna take you at least nine months to take it off, so be kind to yourself,” Durvasula says. As a general rule of thumb, new moms should wait until they have had their six-week postnatal checkup with their doctor and been given the green light to start easing back into a fitness routine, says Joanne Helcké, Ph.D., a pregnancy and postnatal fitness expert. If you had a C-section, you should wait at least eight to 10 weeks and use your best judgement (i.e., if the scar hasn’t healed properly and is still painful, don’t start exercising). Once you start working out again, make sure it’s low impact, which means no running, jogging, or jumping for the first six months. “Water-based exercises are an excellent choice if you’ve just had a baby,” Helcké says.
3. Eat right to keep your breast milk healthy. Now is not the time to try a new diet trend, especially if you’re breastfeeding.You need an extra 500 calories a day if you’re breastfeeding, says Lindsay Brin, an exercise science expert and the creator of the Moms into Fitness DVD series. “Milk production requires about 800 additional calories a day. Three hundred of those calories come from your stored body fat, meaning this is the only time that your body is burning body fat while you are simply feeding your child,” says Brin, who recommends that your nutritious food plan focus on protein and carbohydrates, especially if you are exercising.
4. You don’t have to do it alone—ask for help. It’s inevitable that new moms will feel exhausted and stressed at first, so try to ask friends and family for help in the beginning, and keep healthy snacks nearby. Most importantly, if a new mom is feeling really down, out of control, and frustrated with the way she looks, she must speak to someone, whether it’s her spouse, a trusted friend, or a healthcare professional, Durvasula adds.
