Let's Talk About What It Means To "Get Your Body Back"

We know that postpartum fitness and the idea of "getting your body back" comes with... mixed responses. We get it; it warrants it. It's a divisive saying and to be honest, we're ready for something different, and we want your help in doing that.

But before we go further, we want to you to think about how that saying makes you feel...For some women, the notion of "getting your body back" can seem motivating and like positive encouragement.

After growing, carrying, and birthing a baby over 9 or so months, we understand if you're ready to feel like your old self again. It's 100% OK (and normal) to miss your pre-baby body and want to feel (or look) like that again. Shame on anyone who makes you feel selfish for feeling that way.

But for other women, it can feel triggering, judgmental, and dismissive to the incredible thing your body has done. Your body was there through all of it: conception, pregnancy, labor. And after experiencing childbirth, it's very clear that your body is capable of the coolest sh** ever.

So we also understand if you get upset when you hear it's 'time to get your body back', because you are (and should be) insanely proud of what it's just done. So, similarly: shame on anyone who makes you feel differently.

Now, where does that leave us? 

Well, it's important to remember this: the postpartum period is a recovery period. Your body is meant to return to a recovered, stronger, healthier state. It's part of the process. However, we believe there's a better, more supportive way of talking about 'getting your body back', and we want to drive a positive shift in that narrative. If you're willing to listen, we’d like to share our thoughts on the topic and start a conversation together.

Here's what we think: 

Getting your body back is not about going back to who you were or what you looked like before baby. It's about:

• Getting your uterus back in shape and ready for another baby (should you choose to have one);

• Getting your strength back and rebuilding (naturally lost) muscle tone so you can keep up with an increasingly busy baby;

• Getting your energy back and re-establishing routines so you can sleep better, recover faster, and stay healthier;

• Regaining your foundational core strength to help reduce back pain and improve posture (because your back deserves some TLC after pregnancy!)

It's about restoring and maintaining whatever is important to you so that you can feel your very best and get ready for what's next.

For some women, it is about losing baby weight to fit back into their favorite jeans. For others, it's about regaining muscle tone so they feel strong in their workouts again. For others, it's about regaining pelvic floor strength to help with incontinence.  And for some, it's about getting their body healthy and ready for another baby in the future.

Getting back to whatever "it" is, is different for every woman. As it should be.

As we said, your postpartum period is meant to be a recovery period. You're meant to heal, you're meant to move forward, and it's an incredible opportunity to get ready for whatever you want next. But you get to choose what that looks like and what drives you.

Whatever you want to get back to or get ready for, we're here to help.

Our motives in helping women get back into shape after birth will never be focused on weight loss or promoting a specific body type. It will always be about helping moms get ready for what's next, supporting them to be their healthiest selves, and encouraging them to love their post-baby body in the process. Because it's a lot easier to be the mom you want to be when you feel the way you want to feel.

We want you to be a part of changing the 'get your body back' narrative with us. Don't you think it's time for something new? It's not about getting your body back. It's about getting healthy for what's next and reinforcing the strength you've always had.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Join the discussion in the comments below or follow us on Instagram at @baby2bodyofficial to be a part of the conversation!