Pregnant Models

Pregnant Models Make it Look Easy

To some extent, all pregnant women worry about what having a baby will do to their figure. However, pregnant celebs are in a class by themselves when it comes to this common problem.

• She gained 70 pounds before giving birth to her twins in 1995, but Nikki Taylor didn’t let a little thing like baby weight slow her down. Working with a nutritionist, she learned to eat five or six small meals a day to help shed the pounds and get back in shape. Even though she is curvier now than before she gave birth, her newest look still earns rave reviews from her fans.
• In a flash of marketing genius, Cindy Crawford turned her efforts to get back into shape after giving birth in 2000 into a bestselling workout video called Cindy Crawford: A New Dimension.
• Victoria’s Secret supermodel Heidi Klum is the kind of person who makes pregnant women green with envy. Just two months after giving birth to her second child in 2005, Heidi was strutting her stuff down the runway wearing nothing but a skimpy thong! Now, even with three young children at home, Heidi looks better than ever.

For a detailed look at what it’s like to be a pregnant model, check out Runway Moms. This interesting and informative show from Discovery Health chronicles the activity inside Expecting Models, the world's only agency devoted to representing models during their pregnancies.

A Reality Check

Seeing images of pregnant models who look even more radiant after they’ve given birth is enough to make even the most confident woman feel a bit insecure. But, it’s important to keep in mind that models are not the best representation of reality.

• Models entered their profession because they’ve been blessed with amazing genes. Just as your genes play a role in whether or not you get stretch marks during your pregnancy, genetics is a factor in how fast you’ll shed your baby weight.
• Models have access to expert nutritionists and personal trainers. As an ordinary new mother, it’s going to be much harder for you to get back into shape with no professional assistance. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done, however. It simply means you need to give yourself a more manageable timeframe for reaching your fitness and weight loss goals.
• It’s fairly common for models to have nannies to help care for their infants. When you don’t have to get up with a screaming infant in the middle of the night, it’s easier to look refreshed and well-rested the next day.
• A model’s job is to look pretty. If you knew your professional livelihood depended on your ability to slim down to your pre-baby weight as fast as possible, you’d be dieting like your life depended on it.
• Nearly all of the photos you’ve seen in magazines have been airbrushed and Photoshopped to eliminate traces of imperfection. If you had a computer whiz giving you a boost, chances are you’d look a bit different as well!

Getting Back into Shape the Safe and Healthy Way

Instead of following a dangerous crash diet to try to look as good as the pregnant models in the media, keep in mind these simple tips to get back into shape the safe and healthy way:

• Plan ahead as much as possible. If you get a chance, freeze several healthy meals to use during the first weeks after you give birth. When you’re too busy to cook, this will help reduce the temptation to grab unhealthy snacks.
• Consider breastfeeding. In addition to offering great nutritional benefits for your newborn, breastfeeding is a great way to drop pregnancy pounds.
• Invest in a jogging stroller or a “Mommy and Me” workout DVD so you can squeeze in a workout while spending time with your baby.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Being a new mom is a tough job. If someone offers to watch your baby, take advantage of this opportunity.

Additional LoveToKnow Resources

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