New Mum Kayla Itsines Divides Fans By Posting A Pic Of Her Post-Birth Body

Kayla Itsines Baby

Australian fitness blogger / extremely successful person Kayla Itsines became a mum last week after giving birth to daughter Arna Leia Pearce. After sharing some cute-as baby pics with the birth announcement last Tuesday, today Kayla has shared a pic of herself — and more specifically her post-baby body.

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Sharing the side-by-side image of herself just before giving birth and one week after, Kayla reflected on her body’s “journey” during the nine months she carried Arna around.

She says: “If I am honest, it is with great trepidation that I share with you this very personal image. Every woman’s journey through life but especially pregnancy, birth and healing post-birth is unique.”

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At the end of her post, she urges her followers to remember that: “No matter what journey you have been on with your body, the ways in which it heals, supports, strengthens and adapts to take us through life is truly incredible.”

Obviously being a fitness blogger and personal trainer, Kayla’s body is different from the average Joe’s, so it’s interesting to see how pregnancy affects someone as super-fit as she is. Some followers thanked Kayla for her honesty,  including one follower who said:

You don’t even know how thrilled this image makes me. Just the other day I was so very bothered to see so many negative comments about Meghan Markhel [sic] looking pregnant after having given birth. This is something important more people should be aware of, and to have a hot-shot personal trainer like yourself use her very big platform to show us this reality is a huge step forward. Thank you!

Another fan weighed in with: “Thank you for posting this. I did honours research on the negative impact of #fitspo on mothers’ body image and mood. It’s refreshing to see someone so inspirational be so real.”

But other followers felt that Kayla’s post-birth pic was putting pressure on other mums who might be scrolling past. One fan said: “[I] understand what you are trying to do but setting unreal expectations on everyday mum’s [sic] who are not personal trainers. Sorry but had to put that out there.”

Another person said the post made them stop wanting to follow the trainer:

Had to unfollow. I love Instagram that everyone is comfortable and in love with their bodies. I can’t help but feel a pressure now looking at this image as to how women should look after a week and I fear the images will only continue as will the pressure. My honest opinion. I wish you well in your journey but am choosing to no longer follow it with you.

While the majority comments on the post seem to be positive, the pic has clearly divided some of the fitness lord’s fans. But as she points out, everyone’s post-birth experience, whether you’re a personal trainer or not, is different and it’s important to remember that.

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