Gemma Atkinson has been no stranger to posting candid posts on her Instagram and documenting her first time experience as a mother. The former Strictly star gave birth to baby Mia back in July after a traumatic cesarean section which her partner Gorka Marquez described as a "scary birth". The 34-year-old has always been an avid gym bunny but admitted to her fans on her Instagram Stories that she couldn't see herself working out again, saying: "Before I had Mia I used to be able to do 45 minutes on that thing [the StairMaster], after Mia I struggled to get 10 minutes in - my scar ached, i was out of breath."
OTHER: See inside Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez's house in Manchester
Gemma continued to reassure mums that it does get easier, revealing she was able to nail 30 minutes on the exercise machine: "I've had messages from you saying that some of you have just had C-sections like I have, you're due a baby and worried about your body changing or you've had a baby and still don't feel like yourself…. But I just want to say to you all that you will get there."
The actress revealed that it had been a long and emotional journey for her and her body confidence, admitting: "If someone had said to me 12 weeks ago that I would be back on my StairMaster for half an hour, I would have literally burst into tears and said 'no I won't, those days are gone' 'cause that's genuinely how I felt at first."
Reassuring her followers that it was completely normal to feel insecure of your body after pregnancy, Gemma said: "Your hormones are everywhere and your body's changed, it's become stronger - because it's grown and birthed a human!"
"I started on that thing [the StairMaster] and could only do 10 minutes… I've just done 30 minutes and yes it was horrendous, it was awful but I've done it - so stick with and do not give up on yourself." We don't know about you but we're off the gym...
MORE: Gemma Atkinson reveals why she stopped breastfeeding Mia at 8 weeks old