Ekaterina Bashlay developed a whole weight loss system and quickly got back into shape twice. After the first pregnancy, she lost 30 kg, after the second – by 20 kg, despite the caesarean in both cases.
Catherine after the first birth
After losing weight, she weighed 53-54 kilograms
– When I was expecting my first child, I added 17 kilograms. Before pregnancy, she also weighed a lot – 66 kg with a height of 159 cm. As a result, she arrived at the hospital with a weight of 83 kg. Probably, like for many expectant mothers, pregnancy has become a green light for me to eat everything. I am a terrible sweet tooth, and my husband often spoiled me with pastries, cakes. In addition, the pregnancy was difficult, I had almost bed rest. I urgently underwent a cesarean operation, after which I had to recover morally and physically. It would seem that such a happy moment in life, but I was in a terrible depression … Everything was changed by the case when my husband invited me to a bodybuilding competition. I looked at these beautiful men and women and … burst into tears! Because I wanted to be as fit and athletic and did not believe that I would ever be able to. Since that evening, I have completely changed my life. First I balanced my diet, then I went to work out in the gym, and then I learned to be a fitness trainer. Thanks to my husband, an athlete, who undertook to support me. But I want to emphasize that before starting training, I consulted with a doctor.
I made a diet to eat 5-6 times a day, and I eat like that all the time. For breakfast, always oatmeal, a few egg whites and some kind of fruit. For lunch and dinner I cook buckwheat, rice or durum wheat pasta, as well as meat or fish. I add some healthy fats in the form of olive or flaxseed oil, nuts, or avocados. During the day I have snacks in the form of cottage cheese, fruits, nuts, or a sports supplement (protein). At the same time, I always eat a lot of vegetables. 3-4 times a week I work out in the gym, where I work out each muscle group. During training, I drink vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and not get sick. Thanks to this regimen, six months later, when the first son was one year old, she lost 30 kg and began to weigh 53–54 kg.
Catherine after the birth of her second son
Literally three months later, I found out that I was back in position. My husband and I really wanted a second baby. The pregnancy was difficult again, and the doctor forbade training. At first I held on, ate properly, but then I relaxed and imperceptibly added 22 kg. Before giving birth, which, by the way, was also with the help of cesarean, I weighed 77 kg. I had to start all over again, but I already had the knowledge. I worked as a fitness trainer, and began to listen to my body. A week after the operation, I started taking walks around the football field with a stroller. I went to work out in the gym a month after the operation. But this does not mean that everyone should do this – only after consulting a doctor. I made the training plan myself, eliminating the load on the back and abs. She ate properly from the first day after giving birth. Now my second son is six months old and my weight is 57 kg. I feel comfortable, but my transformation is not over yet.
Many who have seen my photos after childbirth and now say that I did liposuction and, I quote, “cut off my hanging belly.” A toned figure is the result of proper nutrition and exercise. Yes, I still have stretch marks, but only a miracle will help get rid of them. To tighten my stomach, I do a special exercise every day – a vacuum. Caesarean is not a contraindication to it. This is the only thing that can be done to strengthen the abdominal muscles after childbirth.
My further goal is to compete in the fitness bikini category. If not for her husband Vadim, none of this would have happened. He opened the way for me to healthy eating and sports. Vadim, by the way, is an athlete himself, vice-champion of the Republic of Bashkortostan in bodybuilding in 2016. He is my main motivation and support. All this I do for him. I want him to be proud of me and admire me.
Nutritionist’s comment. Margarita Koroleva, Ph.D., head of the clinic, nutritionist
Ekaterina, congratulations on the fantastic results! I’m sure your story will inspire new mothers. During pregnancy, it is important and necessary to eat a balanced, healthy diet. Adjust the calorie intake, add light physical activity. And after stopping feeding the baby, you can begin to fight excess weight. When it comes to sports supplements, it doesn’t make sense to use them immediately after pregnancy. The required amount of protein comes from natural food sources. A quality sports supplement (protein isolate) or essential BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine) can be added when the load is significantly increased and the muscles are well trained. Special sets of exercises aimed at the rectus and oblique muscles will also help to tighten the abdominal muscles. And hardware techniques in clinics will help to tighten sagging skin and reduce stretch marks.