Let’s talk about the absolute mindfuck that is postpartum weight loss.
Because, honestly, no one prepares you for this part. People warn you about sleepless nights, about the crying (yours and the baby’s), about the mental load of motherhood—but what about the body that’s left behind after pregnancy? What about the way you feel trapped in this unfamiliar skin, staring at a reflection that doesn’t look like you anymore?
Before I even left the hospital, the comments started. “You’ll drop so much weight just from breastfeeding!” “Give it a few weeks, and you’ll be back to normal.” Oh? A few weeks? That’s cute. Because here I am, months later, still wondering when this “bouncing back” thing is supposed to kick in.
At first, I tried to be patient with myself. I told myself I had just grown a human—that my body deserved grace, that it was okay to take time to heal. And I truly believed that. But then, real life happened. I’d catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and instead of admiration for what my body had done, I’d feel frustration. I’d go to put on my old jeans, only to find they wouldn’t even make it past my thighs. I’d step on the scale, hoping to see some progress, only to feel defeated by the number staring back at me.
And then came the pressure. Social media, friends, random people with their unsolicited advice—“Have you tried this diet? This workout? This supplement?” Meanwhile, I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to function, let alone start some fitness journey.
Here’s the brutal truth no one tells you: losing weight after having a baby is hard. It’s not as simple as “eating healthy” or “getting some exercise.” Because guess what? When you’re running on two hours of sleep, when your body still feels broken, when your hormones are all over the place, the last thing you care about is counting calories or hitting the gym.
Some days, I had every intention of eating “clean.” But then the baby wouldn’t stop crying, and suddenly I was inhaling a granola bar with one hand while rocking a screaming newborn with the other. Some days, I promised myself I’d go for a walk, but by the time I had a free moment, I was so physically exhausted that all I wanted to do was sit. And don’t even get me started on the mental toll. Because when your body already doesn’t feel like your own, the idea of putting on workout clothes and moving around in front of other people? Absolutely not.
And the guilt. Oh, the guilt. Feeling guilty for not “trying hard enough.” Feeling guilty for still carrying extra weight. Feeling guilty for even caring about your weight when you’re supposed to be focused on your baby. It’s this never-ending cycle of self-doubt, exhaustion, and frustration.
Then there’s the people who hit you with the “You just had a baby!” pep talk anytime you mention your struggle, like that magically erases the feelings of not recognizing yourself anymore. Yes, I know I just had a baby, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to feel good in my own skin again.
So, where does that leave us? Somewhere between wanting to accept our bodies as they are and wanting to feel strong, healthy, and ourselves again.
The truth is, postpartum weight loss isn’t a race. It isn’t about bouncing back—it’s about moving forward in a way that works for you. Some people lose the weight quickly. Some people don’t. Some bodies change permanently, and no amount of dieting or exercise will bring them back to what they once were. And that’s okay.
What I’ve learned is that this body—this stretched, soft, different body—deserves grace. It deserves patience. It deserves love, not just for what it was, but for what it is now.
So if you’re struggling with postpartum weight loss, just know you’re not alone. It’s hard. It’s frustrating. And it’s okay to feel all of that. Just remember: your worth is not measured by how fast you lose the baby weight. Your value isn’t tied to a number on a scale. And you? You’re still incredible, no matter what size you are today.
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