CrossFit Mama Gets Real About Why Her Post-Baby Body Is 'Amazing'

"Look at what you created!"

A new mom has opened up about the many stages she went through while realizing her post-baby body is "amazing," from being self-conscious to admiring her body's abilities.

Last month, Revie Jane Schulz shared a side-by-side photo on Instagram. The photo on the left showed her while pregnant, and the photo on the right showed her after welcoming her daughter, Lexington, in April. In the caption, the CrossFit Babes owner described her daughter as her "biggest blessing in life" and noted that she wanted to discuss a topic she felt was "important to speak out about." She then wrote to her more than 112,000 Instagram followers that after having Lexington, she became self-conscious about her body.

"I’ve found myself several times looking down at my belly," she wrote. "I caught myself feeling sad when clutching the loose skin that was once tight, unmarked and toned."

It's been 6 weeks since I had my little Lexington and without contest, it has been my biggest blessing in life. Being her mother is and will be my greatest accomplishment. I post on the daily about how much I adore her and how happy I am, but there are other sides to becoming a mother that I think are really important to speak out about. I’ve found myself several times looking down at my belly. I caught myself feeling sad when clutching the loose skin that was once tight, unmarked and toned. I tried to embrace and remind myself what it was all for but am left feeling so self conscious. I kept telling myself “you knew it wouldn’t be back to normal straight away, give it time,” but it was still a shock and I do get upset about it. And that is perfectly okay. Being in my profession, I used to live in a sports bras and shorts, I wondered ‘Will I ever have the confidence to do that again? I was confused because I felt like I was being ungrateful and vein. But how is suppressing feelings of sadness and insecurity going to work out for me? Trying to undermine those feelings can cause big problems in the future. When speaking to other Mum friends about it, they agreed that they felt like they were the only ones because its not often talked about. So, yes I have never been happier and yes I have a healthy, beautiful baby but that shouldn't mean I bottle up these feelings. I can honestly say, each week, it does get better. I remember thinking ‘Is this forever?’ I have seen so many changes already and am starting to feel content again! Will my body ever be the same? No it probably won’t be and I’ve learnt it will be better in other ways. If you have been following me, you would know I am totally in a love fest over my darling girl, but we gotta look after ourselves too. We’ve all made our sacrifices and each of us are entitled to feel. The best bit of advice. Look. Look at what you created! At any moment, I look at Lexi and happiness washes over me. My body is amazing. So is yours xo For my top tips on positive body image post bub I posted them on my Facebook Page (link in bio) x #postpartumbody #bodyimage

A photo posted by Revie Jane Schulz (@reviejane) on

Schulz wrote that as a CrossFit coach, she was used to wearing sports bras and shorts and thought that she was being "ungrateful" for choosing not to wear them now. Then, she realized that some of her fellow moms felt the same about their bodies, which encouraged her to be vocal about hers.

"Yes, I have never been happier and yes, I have a healthy, beautiful baby but that shouldn't mean I bottle up these feelings," she wrote.

The CrossFit trainer mentioned that every week she sees changes in her body and is learning to accept it more. She knows her body might not ever be like it was before becoming a mother, but she's perfectly OK with that because "it will be better in other ways."

Most importantly, Schulz reminded herself that she should always admire what her body has done more than worry about what it looks like. She wants her fellow mamas to remember that, too.

"Look at what you created! At any moment, I look at Lexi and happiness washes over me," she wrote. "My body is amazing. So is yours."

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