Fitness guru Kayla Itsines shows her post-baby body three weeks after giving birth

Fitness guru Kayla Itsines. Photo / Instagram

Every woman's recovery is different after giving birth — it's a message fitness queen Kayla Itsines continues to remind her 11.5 million Instagram followers.

But the new mum, who recently gave birth to her baby girl, Arna, has copped flak online for showing her body at two weeks compared to three weeks post birth.

"I am all for supporting women but I don't think it's uplifting to post something that focuses on your thinness after two or three weeks after giving birth," one woman commented on her Instagram photo.

Another woman said it's great she has managed to spring back quickly but believes it puts pressure on "normal people in the world that they need to get back to their pre-baby weight fast".

In her previous post-baby snap, the renowned fitness blogger explained every woman's journey through life but especially pregnancy, birth and healing post-birth is unique.

"If I am honest, it is with great trepidation that I share with you this very personal image," Kayla said of her previous post.

She said regardless of how her body healed post-birth, she felt it was important to embrace, appreciate and celebrate her body.

"To be clear, I'm not posting these as 'transformations posts', nor am I concerned with my weight loss post pregnancy," she said of her comparison images. "I'm simply showing you my journey, which many of the #BBGcommunity have asked to see. I'm so excited to go on this journey."

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POST BIRTH RECOVERY PHOTO - WEEK 2 vs WEEK 3 ⁣ ⁣ Time honestly has FLOWN. Visible but minimal physical change for me week to week but mentally I am feeling so much better, AND Arna is just growing SO quickly. I can't even believe it. My focus over the last week has trying to getting back into my regular healthy eating routine. Not that I've been eating unhealthy foods but I'm now starting to re-introduce some of my favourite healthy foods which I was unable to eat or made me feel sick throughout my pregnancy. The main ones for me were RAW FISH and AVOCADO 🤢😂🍣🥑. I even ate Asian greens again this week haha! They were my favourite and then I got pregnant and HATED them haha 😆 #BBGMums, what foods were you excited to include back into your diet after giving birth!?! ⁣ ⁣ www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on May 22, 2019 at 4:07pm PDT

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POST BIRTH RECOVERY PHOTO - WEEK 1 vs WEEK 2.⁣ ⁣ I was not expecting much change AT ALL week to week as I have mostly just been resting... and staring at Arna until she wakes up 😂. The human body is honestly just incredible!!! ⁣ ⁣ To be clear, I’m not posting these as ‘transformations posts’, nor am I concerned with my weight loss post pregnancy. I’m simply showing you my journey, which many of the #BBGcommunity have asked to see. I’m so excited to go on this journey. ⁣ ⁣ #BBGmums what changes did you notice in your body during your post birth recovery time??? I'm so interested to hear about your experiences! Also, does anyone have any questions about my post pregnancy experiences? Comment below and I’ll try address them in future posts! ⁣ ⁣ www.kaylaitsines.com/app⁣

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on May 15, 2019 at 2:42pm PDT

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MY FIRST POST BIRTH RECOVERY PHOTO!!! (last photo before giving birth vs one week after birth). If I am honest, it is with great trepidation that I share with you this very personal image. Every woman's journey through life but especially pregnancy, birth and healing post-birth is unique. While each journey has a common thread that connects us as women, our personal experience, our relationship with ourselves and our body will always be our own. For me, regardless of how my body healed post-birth, I felt it was really important for me personally to embrace, appreciate and celebrate my body the same way that I tell all the women in this community to celebrate their body. For me right now, I celebrate my body for all it has been through and the absolute joy it has brought into my life with Arna. As a personal trainer, all I can hope for you ladies is that you feel encouraged to do the same regardless of whether you have just given birth or not, celebrate your body and the gift that it is. No matter what journey you have been on with your body, the ways in which it heals, supports, strengthens and adapts to take us through life is truly incredible. www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on May 8, 2019 at 4:23pm PDT

Many women agreed, saying they appreciate the "realness" of her recent posts.

"Hate how people jump on to throw shade. Yes! She looks this great because she worked dam hard for it in her pregnancy with healthy eating and exercise derrrr! Looking awesome Kayla," a fan commented.

"How do people not understand that when you eat right and workout daily before pregnancy and are fit and continue that through your pregnancy that you will more than likely bounce back pretty quickly," said another. "Being fit before and during has a bigggg role in your body after. Plus eating healthy is huge too!"

Another follower explained women need to be happy for one another and not be so quick to criticise.

"Why so much negativity? Come on girls! … She looks incredible! I have witnessed this same transformation in a friend who has always stayed in shape … that hard work pays off even during and after pregnancy," the woman said, adding "If it's not your thing then that's OK too! But don't criticise the hard work of others."

In her recent recovery photo, comparing photos of her at two weeks and three weeks, the creator of the Bikini Body Guide said while it is a visible but minimal physical change, she is feeling so much better mentally.

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#pregnant 20 weeks vs 35 weeks!!! What would you like to see over on my page over the next few weeks? Comment below 💛💪 www.kaylaitsines.com/app #notlongtogo #35weeks3days

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on Apr 7, 2019 at 4:53am PDT

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#38weekspregnant!!! Ladies, as I am now so late in my term, my health care professional and I have decided that I will be taking a temporary break from resistance training in the gym, from now until birth! My focus will now be on taking extra care to ensure the safe delivery of our baby muffin 😁I will still be posting content BUT just no more of my #activepregnancy content (for the short term)! The coming weeks will be all about COMMUNITY #BBGcommunity. I will stay active by going for short walks and general nesting (as you do haha). Once my little muffin is born, I will update you throughout my birth "recovery"! Thankyou for your support 💛 www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on Apr 24, 2019 at 4:02pm PDT

"My focus over the last week has trying to getting back into my regular healthy eating routine," Kayla said. "Not that I've been eating unhealthy foods, but I'm now starting to reintroduce some of my favourite healthy foods which I was unable to eat or made me feel sick throughout my pregnancy."

The 28-year-old also recently hit back at trolls over her pregnancy workouts after admitting she had seen multiple negative comments and concerns.

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[[ SWIPE BACK AND FORTH ]] #prepregnancy vs #pregnancyworkouts Same but different! I have simply altered one to suit pregnant women or beginners in fitness!! 10-12 reps per exercise for 3 rounds 👏👏 Save this video now and workout later! www.kaylaitsines.com/app #37weekspregnant

A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on Apr 22, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

"For the ladies who are writing things like 'you are not allowed to lift weights while pregnant?!', 'is that safe??'. I want to put this into perspective for you. The weights I'm lifting are rarely over 5kg per hand. I want to you keep that in mind as you read this story."

She then added working out safely while pregnant is a wonderful thing and so long as you have the all-clear from your doctor you can work out and you can use weights.

"Just because I'm standing in a gym with a crop top and shorts, doesn't make it any less safe to lift something," she wrote.

The Adelaide-based entrepreneur, who last year came fifth in the Financial Review's Young Rich List with an estimated net worth of $486 million (together with fiance Tobi Pearce), continues to remind her followers to celebrate their bodies.

"As a personal trainer, all I can hope for you ladies is that you feel encouraged to do the same regardless of whether you have just given birth or not, celebrate your body and the gift that it is."