You only hear the horror stories - that after a baby, you never get your body back - but it's not true; it depends on your life beforehand.
I remember my mom saying that after you have a baby you get really thin. So you gain all that weight and then you just lose it and keep losing it.
My saddlebags are why Spanx exist! Now that I have a baby I also have a muffin top.
From your first kid, your body still kind of looks the same once you get back in shape.
You don't even want to look in the mirror after you've had a baby, because your stomach is just hanging there like a Shar-Pei.
I was more active pregnant than I ever was not pregnant. I was doing Body By Simone five days a week. That definitely helped me shed the weight after giving birth. But it's all smoke and mirrors, too. People on Instagram forget that you're showing them what you want them to see. We have filters.
I started training again four months after giving birth, and it was strange not to be fully in control - I'm so used to my body performing at a certain level, but it wasn't. I was like, 'Oh, man, can we go back to where we were, please?'
I wish new moms wouldn't be burdened with the pressure to get back into pre-baby shape so quickly.
I gave birth to my first son in April 1986. I thought it would be a good goal to get back in shape after having a baby if I ran the New York City Marathon. I ran in it November 1986. I had just shot the 'Sports Illustrated' swimsuit issue, so I was in great shape.
It's a huge change for your body. You don't even want to look in the mirror after you've had a baby, because your stomach is just hanging there like a Shar-Pei.
I tried to kickbox once right after I had my first baby, and I was so miserable; it was so hard. And I went home, and I passed out for three hours because it's so hard.
Women always ask me how to get back in shape after having a baby. I always say, 'Know when's the right time for your workout and commit to doing it.'
With both kids, I started working out again at 16 days postpartum, but I treated myself with kindness, doing mild workouts, because my fitness level was lower.
I think I forget every time - you give birth, and you want your stomach to be flat again. It does take a lot of work, but I usually start slowly by going on walks with the baby.
I thought I'd have the baby, and get super fit and strong straight away.
If you were fit before your pregnancy, a Pilates program will quickly help restore your figure and your energy.
