Getting dream body BEFORE TTC

[user23]

I know there is emphasis on getting to a healthy weight before TTC.

But has anyone here decided to get their "perfect" toned body before TTC?

I'm fit and healthy but would love to be super toned with flat abs before TTC in order to make it easier to keep it up and get back into shape after pregnancy.

I know that a baby would be an absolute delight and miracle so I'd be nothing short of happy if I got pregnant before this happened.

Just wondering if anyone else did this or feels a similar way?

I totally understand your way of thinking. I feel like loads of people judge this and say it doesn't matter cause your body is carrying a baby ect. I don't think I will ever try to be super toned as I don't have that level of will power and determination but I do feel on the same path as you.

I want to loose the stone I've put on anyway, but I really want to get it off before conceiving as I think it will help me cope me with the changes in my body post partum. The slimmer, fitter athlete type ladies do tend to bounce back because they have the muscle and less body fat so I think its totally worth trying while your TTC. You never know how long its going to take so may as well try and carry on what you can health and fitness wise throughout the pregnancy.

@miamiamia869 Yeah there is definitely some judgement around this topic. I am under no illusion that a baby would be an absolute blessing. But fitness and health is a big part of my lifestyle, and I have suffered with bad body image in the past.

So I'd just like to be in the best shape possible as it will put me in a much better mental state during and after pregnancy.

I do hear that the stronger your abs are, the easier it is to get them back after pregnancy.

Like I say though, if I do get pregnant before I get that "dream body", I'd still be thrilled.

I think that instead of seeing it as getting a "perfect" body just because you're worried about losing it, I'd see it as looking after yourself as a general commitment for life. A healthy, fit body will help you through pregnancy, breastfeeding, having a small baby, running around after a toddler, keeping up with a primary aged child and years later, will help you when peri and menopausal and so on. So just accept that it's not about ideals and perfection but living for the moment you're in and looking after the body you have. Personally, the exercise helps my mental health as well.

I've always been fit but a very traumatic emcs and repeat emcs means I'll always have damage to my lower abdomen which can't be fixed. Is this imperfect? Well, yes. But it doesn't matter in the way that you might think. I can still carry my 10yr old on my shoulders and run a pretty decent 10k time.

The only time I've ever looked super toned with visible abs is when my body fat was 10% and I was a miserable cow to live with and severely dehydrated.

Work on your back, that will make a much bigger difference to your life with a baby.

I think it's a logical idea as toned healthy women will have an easier time with a pregnancy bump and are much more likely to have their stomach muscles 'go back'

However super toned and lean people aren't in the most 'natural' state for fertility. So I'd be aware of that and not take your fitness too far that it hinders the delicate balance of hormones. Hormones work better with fat on the body. Not too much and not too little.

And yes there are outliers of super ultra marathon runners who have ten kids but they are the exception to the rule