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Rowena Wood, 26, from Uckfield in East Sussex, saw her weight fluctuate by five stone, leaving her with a mum-tum.
Now, after overcoming post-natal depression, following the twins birth in July 2014, and thanks to her unique baby work-outs, Rowena, has lost four stone and gained thousands of Instagram followers, after posting about her progress. She has shared her story at the same time as one man who was dumped for being too fat - but now has the body of his dreams.
The former care worker said: Max and Millie are two-years-old now and doing really well.
Theyve helped me to lose my baby weight and kept me going. On days when I cant go to the gym, I still get a work out by taking them to the park.
Now I look back at myself and I dont know who I was. Ive come such a long way.
She continued: I feel so body confident now. I didnt when I had the twins. I would never have bought a bikini and now Im thinking about getting one. Its a great feeling.
Rowena met the twins dad on Facebook when she was just 19 and they soon started trying for a baby. They were married two years later, but still she hadnt fallen pregnant.
After two years of trying, they went for fertility tests and were advised that IVF would give them the best chance of having a family.
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Just two months later, Rowena who has since separated from her husband, due to the strain this all put on their marriage had a positive pregnancy test.
I tested four days early in December 2013, she said. Id been told testing too early could give a false reading, but I couldnt wait!
I saw the positive symbol and I phoned my then-husband straight away. We told everyone that evening and started to cry.
Two months later, they were even more delighted when learned they were expecting twins, discovering soon after that they were having a boy and a girl.
But pregnancy wasnt easy for Rowena, who suffered terrible morning sickness and lost 7lbs in the first 16 weeks, dropping down to 8st 3lbs.
I couldnt eat or keep anything down, she said. The thought of food made me sick.
Fortunately, her babies remained healthy and, as her sickness subsided four months into her pregnancy, Rowena was able to start eating again.
Now in her second trimester, she was eating for three binging on burgers every morning and gaining a shocking five stone by the time she was due.
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On July 24 2014 Rowena gave birth to Max, weighing 5lbs 13oz, and Millie, weighing 6lbs 3ozs via caesarean section at Pembury Hospital.
I felt overwhelmed, but also felt love for them instantly, Rowena said, recalling the first time she held them.
Although they were doing well, Rowena and her babies were kept in overnight to recover.
But, early the next morning, she started to feel dizzy and realised something was wrong.
She explained: I stood up and said to the nurse, I think Im going to pass out. Everything went black. Its a blur but I thought I was going to die.
When Rowena woke up, she was told shed lost 1.5 litres of blood.
At the time, doctors suggested it could be that they cut through her placenta, but they couldnt be sure. Rowena has not spoken to doctors again about this.
Fortunately, she soon recovered from the episode, but it left her shaken.
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I wanted to be left alone, she said. I suddenly felt anxious.
When she returned home five days later, she was still feeling out of sorts.
I didnt want to leave the house. Something wasnt right, she said.
My husband stayed home from work for six weeks, to share the responsibility, but when he went back, I felt like I couldnt do it. I told my mum I couldnt cope, because I didnt think I was a good mum.
I felt guilty. Id wanted kids so much, and now I didnt know what to do.
Her husband and the couples mums drew up a rota, so someone was always there to help Rowena with the twins.
And weeks after they were born, she was diagnosed with post-natal depression and anxiety.
Desperate to regain control, she started to limit what she was eating and her weight plummeted to just eight stone.
I had cellulite, a kangaroo pouch. Id gone from skinny to massive. I was ashamed of how I looked
Rowena Wood
I gave my food to our dogs, she said. My doctor was concerned though, that it was becoming anorexia, and said, eat anything.
Rowena was prescribed antidepressants, which helped to balance her mood, but also caused food cravings and within four months she piled weight on again.
She said: It took a while for them to kick in, but then I didnt care what I ate.
I think the medication caused me to over-eat. I ate sandwiches and cakes. I was never full. I just ate and ate.
I think getting bigger, and how I felt about myself, made me comfort eat too.
In four months, she gained just over five stone and went from a size 6/8 to a size 16/18.
Her fluctuating weight left her with saggy skin around her stomach, rolls of fat and cellulite.
I hated looking in the mirror, she said. I had cellulite, a kangaroo pouch. Id gone from skinny to massive. I was ashamed of how I looked. I remember thinking, oh my god, look at the state of me, this is it now.
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But early last year, she bumped in to a neighbour Amanda, who went to a local gym and encouraged Rowena to join her. With some gentle encouragement, she started exercising with Amanda three times a week.
Now she goes to the gym five times a week and eats healthily, too, opting for porridge for breakfast, yoghurt, and salmon or chicken, vegetables and rice for dinner.
And she incorporates her twin workouts into her daily exercise plan. It took Rowena a year to lose about four stone and to look and feel better.
She explained: Soon I felt strong and happier. Going to the gym was an instant pick-me-up. I kept active every day, by doing press ups with the twins on my back, or doing lunges pushing their pram.
Last May Rowena posted a photo on her Instagram page: x_miss_fitness_mummy_rolo_x, of how she looked during her pregnancy, beside one taken after months of working out and was amazed by the response.
She said: I had women messaging me, such beautiful messages, saying, I wish I could be like you, youre such an inspiration.
These were women whod had babies and post-natal depression and didnt know how to admit it. I said to Mum, Can you believe it?
Now I give advice to women, saying start light at the gym and do what feels comfortable. Maybe even work out with your babies, like I do.
Excerpt from:
Weight loss - mum dropped five dress sizes doing THIS simple exercise at home - Express.co.uk
