Fitness blogger posts photo to prove that even the flattest stomachs can bloat

Publish Date
Wednesday, 30 November 2016, 11:17AM
Photo: Instagram

Photo: Instagram

Sometimes Instagram is a bit TOO perfect. Abs on Instagram don't bloat ever.

Favourite part of the day!! LISS and Netflix haha 😁😁 www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A photo posted by Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) on

But certified personal trainer Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) swears it’s a big misconception — one that ends up making everyone feel worse about their bodies.

“I have received more than a few questions lately such as ‘how do you never look bloated?’” she recently wrote on Instagram. “I definitely do get bloated... I think it’s important for everyone to realize that these things are totally normal! And nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.”

It’s why she posted a photo of her distended stomach a few days after Thanksgiving:

Remember those extra treats I mentioned?😂 I try to indulge in moderation, but let's be honest I'm human and I love food and that doesn't always happen.😬 // I wanted to post this because I have received more than a few questions lately such as "how do you never look bloated?", "how do you never get zits?", and "how do you not have stretch marks?", ect. First, I definitely do get bloated (☝🏼), I definitely have occasional breakouts (hello hormones), and I actually do have stretch marks (though they have faded). I could give you tips and tricks on how to fight bloating and zits and stretch marks, but I think it's more important for everyone to realize that these things are totally normal! And nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Instagram is often a highlight reel of sorts, and there is nothing wrong with focusing on the positive! But it's so important to keep it real and remember that most the images you see while scrolling (including mine) are people's "best foot forward". Of course I want to take photos in good lighting and show my best angles, but I never want that to be misconstrued as saying I don't have bad ones or never look bloated. EVERYONE is human. Everyone is beautiful. The key is to spend less time picking ourselves apart and more time seeing how beautiful, amazing, and miraculous our bodies are -- bloating, zits, stretch marks, and all.❤️ . . . . #bbgmoms #bbgmums #bbgcommunity #bbg #bbglife #fit #fitchick #fitmom #fitness #fitlife #keepitreal #happy #healthy #bloated #selflove #workout #fitspo #fitspiration #realtalk #fitnessmotivation #motivationmonday

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

“Instagram is often a highlight reel of sorts,” she admits in the caption. “And there is nothing wrong with focusing on the positive! But it’s so important to keep it real and remember that most of the images you see while scrolling (including mine) are people’s ‘best foot forward,’” she continued.

It’s true that Kelsey’s typical posts involve super-flattering selfies taken while wearing nothing more than a sports bra and leggings, to showcase her lean and seemingly flawless build.

HEYY WHASSUP BABES!! // TIP: if you didn't know, natural side lighting is the best lighting to see your muscle definition! Exhibit A, today's #BBG #arms post #workout #selfie👆🏼. // It's no secret that arms are my least fave to train, but I swear that makes the post workout high that much sweeter.💪🏼🤗 You might hate every single second of your sweat sesh -- In fact I HATTTTEEEDDD working out probably for the first three solid months hahaha. BUT remember your goals, remember your WHY, and most importantly remember you CAN. Then suck it up and push through and be SO DAMN PROUD after you do.👊🏼💦NOW LET'S GET THAT WEDNESDAY SLAY!!💃🏼 #getoutandsweat . . . . #motivation #fitspiration #fitspo #fitchick #fitness #fit #fitmom #fitfam #happy #healthy #sweat #thesweatlife #mysweatlife #sweatwithkayla #bbgbabes #bbgcommunity #bbggirls #bbgmoms #bbgmums

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try jut one more time." -- Thomas Edison you genius!⚡️I'm gonna be honest, I had the WORST eating weekend the last three days that I have had probably since I can remember.😬😷 I did not exercise moderation and I most definitely spent all day sick yesterday because of it. I wasn't going to bring this up, because you all already know I am far from perfect, and also because I typically try to dwell on the positive. But ya know what? Sometimes we make mistakes. And I'm not just talking about the "oops that was a total accident" kind, but the conscious "I know I shouldn't eat this but here I go anyway" kind.😂 And as far as health and fitness go, THATS OK. Overall, this weekend was a great reminder to me of why I live a healthy lifestyle in the first place. My body deserves better. And I tell you there is NOTHING like being sick to make you appreciate your body and usual health.🙏🏼 It is crazzzzy how much of an effect maintaining a healthy lifestyle has on me mentally and emotionally as well as physically though. My confidence was low and negative self talk was constantly creeping into my mind the last couple of days. My "setback" however doesn't make me feel guilty like would have not too long ago. Instead, I am choosing to take accountability, brush it off, and move forward. This week ESP being acutely aware of how far I have come and how much my body relies on proper care and nutrition. // There is absolutely no reason you can't be healthy and active this week, regardless of what last week looked like. Start now. // It's Monday you guys. Time to try just ONE more time. // 👊🏼💛 . . . . . #healthy #selflove #happy #sweat #mysweatlife #sweatwithkayla #getoutandsweat #bbg #bbgbabes #bbgmoms #bbgmums #bbgsisters #bbglife #bbgcommunity #fit #fitness #fitspo #fitspiration #fitmom #fitfam #fitchick #mombod #athleisure #fall #fallfashion #adanola

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

But Kelsey has been open about her body image issues. There have been times when she was underweight, pregnant, overweight, skinny fat, and (now) super fit.

Reposting this for those who messaged me asking what post I was referring to, and because I feel SO strongly about this.❤️ // GUYS. PLEASEEEEEE STOP GETTING HUNG UP ON THE NUMBER ON THE STUPUD SCALE! PLEASE STOP THINKING YOUR WEIGHT EQUALS YOUR PROGRESS AND FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING PLEASE STOP LETTING YOR WEIGHT HAVE ANY AFFECT WHATSOEVER ON YOUR SELF ESTEEM, like I used to. To any of you who are where I once was, please listen to me. I am 5' 7" and weigh 140 lbs. When I first started #bbg I was 8 weeks post partum and 145 lbs. I weighed 130 before getting pregnant, so based on nothing besides my own warped perception, I decided my "goal weight" should be 122 and to fit into my skinniest jeans. Well after a few months of BBG and breastfeeding, I HIT IT and I fit into those size 0 jeans. Well guess what? I HAVE GAINED 18 POUNDS SINCE THEN. EIGHT FREAKING TEEN. Also, I have gone up two pant sizes and as a matter of fact I ripped those skinny jeans wide open just the other week trying to pull them up over my knees.😂 My point?? According to my old self and flawed standards, I would be failing miserably. THANK GOODNESS I finally learned to start measuring my progress by things that matter -- strength, ability, endurance, health, and HAPPINESS. Take progress photos and videos. Record how many push-ups you can do, ect. And if you can, your BFP -- there is only a 5 lb difference between my starting and current weight, but my body composition has changed COMPLETELY. I have never had more muscle and less body fat than I do now. I have never been healthier than I am now. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin than I am now. And if I didn't say #screwthescale long ago, I would have gave up on my journey. So to the little teeny tiny voice in the back of my head that still said "😳wtf is this- not 140!?😭😩" last week when I stepped on the scale, I say SCREW. YOU. And I think you should probably say the same to your scale too. #byefelicia 👋🏼🚫⚖ . . #bbgprogress #transformationtuesday #fit #fitness #workout #fitmom #fitchick #fitfam #fitnesstransformation #beforeandafter #sweat #mysweatlife #girlswithmuscle #girlgains #strongnotskinny

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

It took me a long time to figure out how to love my body. How to be thankful for all it does instead of beating her up for all she's not. For the girl in the first three photos, the moments of confidence were the exception, not the rule. In the photo on the far left, though I was unhealthily underweight, I still genuinely thought I could lose a couple pounds😔. I couldn't see myself clearly. Up until I began @kayla_itsines #bbg program I believed self-confidence would come from looking a certain way or being a certain weight or fitting into a certain size. The girl on the right knows that could not be farther from the truth. For those of you thinking "well that's easy for you to say now because you hit your goals" please listen when I say that my confidence grew far before my muscles and my self love developed from how I treated my body, not how it looked. // I used to absolutely hate the first three photos and looked at them with embarrassment. Now, I look at them with pride. This body of mine has been through a lot in my short "adulthood" -- through it all, and for the most part inspite of how I viewed and treated it, it has carried me through. It has healed and grown a tiny human and healed again. It has kept safe my beating heart and literally allowed me to LIVE. I can see now that THAT alone is nothing short of miraculous. This is why I always emphasize my mental and emotional #transformation and #BBGprogress is by far the greatest and most important. Why I talk a lot more about #selflove than how to "get abs". Because our bodies are amazing. YOUR BODY IS AMAZING. Right now, just how it is. It is time to STOP comparison and negativity and start nurturing confidence. Time to start telling yourself you're a ONE-OF-A-KIND FIERCELY BEAUTIFUL MF QUEEN -- then start treating your body as the miracle it is watch as you begin to actually believe it. // I love you guys. Let's love each other. Let's love ourselves.💛 . . #transformationtuesday #beforeandafter #fit #fitness #fitfam #fitchick #fitmom #girlswithmuscle #underweight #healthy #happy #bbgcommunity #bbgfam #bbgmoms #bbgmums #bbglife #sweat #mysweatlife #kelseywells #abs #mombod

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

In the first photo I was sucking in my stomach and flexing as hard as I could (which is why my belly button is raised) and in the second photo I am standing normal. It's crazy to look back, because day to day I couldn't see my body changing, and there were MANY days, esp in the beginning, I felt like it wasn't changing at all. @kayla_itsines #bbg program works guys!! But not unless you do. HARD, and CONSISTENTLY. Also, please remember physical results take time! So don't focus on those. Focus on one day, one workout at a time. You don't need to go crazy for three hours a day, but you do need to give it your all for 30 minutes a day. You don't need to never eat another treat again, but you do need to fill your body with the nourishing foods it deserves as well as the occasional treat. Celebrate your little victories (drinking your water, eating your veggies, doing just one more rep than last time) and most importantly remember to treat yourself kindly all along the way. CAUSE YOU'RE A ONE-OF-A-KIND QUEEN AND YOU GOT THIS BAE!👸🏻💁🏻👊🏼🤗 . . . #transformationtuesday #tuesday #bbgprogress #bbg #bbgmoms #bbgmums #bbgcommunity #bbggirls #bbglife #fit #fitness #fitspo #fitmom #fitfam #fitchick #fitbabe #fitnessmotivation #fitspiration #beforeandafter #workout #sweat #mysweatlife #kelseywells #happy #healthy #bopo #bodypositive #selflove

A photo posted by Kelsey Wells (@mysweatlife) on

Although Kelsey is in great shape now, she doesn't want her confidence to bring others down. “Of course I want to take photos in good lighting and show my best angles,” she wrote in her caption. “But I never want that to be misconstrued as saying I don't have bad ones or never look bloated. EVERYONE is human. Everyone is beautiful. The key is to spend less time picking ourselves apart and more time seeing how beautiful, amazing, and miraculous our bodies are — bloating, zits, stretch marks, and all.”

This is the kind of positivity we need around our bodies! 

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