She laughs about it now, but it rattled the usually hyper-fit, energetic personal trainer. After years of saying hell, yes!, her body simply said yeah, nah. And it wasnt the first time Kaylas athletic body had surprised her since falling pregnant with Arna, whos now an adorably chubby-cheeked seven-month-old. Pregnancy had been a wild ride of morning sickness, headaches and extreme lethargy. Recovery from the caesarean a major surgery required bed rest. And now she was back to square one in the gym, too.
It was a real confidence shock, Kayla admits. Being a trainer for 10 years and then you walk into the gym and you feel like a complete beginner because youve never given birth before and youve never had this type of surgery before youre apprehensive and you just dont know! Its the unknown.
Were only 12 minutes into our phone call when Kayla shares this story, making me feel like Im catching up with a mate, not the Kayla Itsines, creator of the viral BBG ebooks, multimillionaire co-founder (with fianc Tobi Pearce) of fitness app Sweat and arguably the worlds most influential PT. Shetalks rapid-fire fast and I get the impression that Kayla time is similar to Beyonc time that is, shes the kind of efficient high achiever who manages to squeeze more out of 24 hours than the rest of us. But, having a baby has forced her to take her sneaker off the pedal. After that anti-climactic treadmill workout, she committed to taking her fitness reboot slow and steady, working with aphysio to ensure she eased back in safely.
I waswilling to wait and that was probably mysuperpower, Kaylasays, because I was able to recover really, really well and healreally well.
It shows or rather, it doesnt. A couple of weeks before I call her in Adelaide, Kayla had raced to Sydney for our photoshoot, her first since having Arna (and her first heart-wrenching trip away from bub). She didnt even know I was gone, Kayla groans. Posing on a windswept beach, the 28-year-old looks her regular strong, toned self if you didnt know shed recently been pregnant, youd never guess.
Cue outrage: when Kayla posted one of her signature mirror selfies in a crop top and bike shorts on Instagram a couple of months after giving birth, the backlash was swift.
These kind of pictures are exactly the kind that makes women hate their bodies, one commenter sniped. Yes, thats right, Kayla was shamed for bouncing back too quickly ironic, given her slow approach.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, she says diplomatically, then laughs. I loved [how] the articles that came out after that were like, Youve got to remember, Kaylas a trainer and, you know, this is her job. Whatyou start withisa bit of muscle memory, which is myjob, because this is my life andmy body.
But like so many posts on Instagram, that one selfie didnt tell the whole story, she explains.
I was back into training after six weeks and there was a journey. I'd put on 14, 15 kilos, so it wasnt like I put on nothing! she adds, a littleexasperated. I put on the weight and I am working hard... I have worked really hard.
Read more of our chat with Kayla including how motherhood has changed her for the better in the December issue of Women's Health,on sale now.
Original post:
Kayla Itsines On Her Postpartum Weight Loss Process - Women's Health
