In today’s episode of Unbothered, I’m talking directly to my fellow moms — especially those of us who have felt crushed under the pressure of “bouncing back” after having a baby. This episode is a real, raw conversation about the harm of bounce-back culture, the way it robs us of presence in the postpartum period, and how it completely dismisses what we’re actually going through — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I get fired up in this one, because I’ve lived it. I’ve felt the shame. I’ve obsessed over my pre-baby body. I’ve even convinced myself not to have more kids just to avoid gaining weight again. And I know I’m not alone in that. If you’ve ever struggled with your postpartum body or felt like you had to earn your worth by “snapping back,” this episode is for you.

What I cover in this episode:

• What “bounce-back culture” really is — and why it’s so toxic
• How media, social pressure, and old narratives fuel body shame after birth
• My personal experience with pregnancy, body image, and postpartum depression
• The internal battles I fought — trying to control weight gain during pregnancy
• How society sets us up to grieve our pre-baby bodies, but never supports us through it
• The emotional toll of trying to reclaim your “old self” in the middle of new motherhood
• Why we need to stop preying on new moms with weight loss messages and “Hey girl” DMs
• The deeper fear behind our obsession with looking the same — fear of rejection and abandonment
• What’s actually more supportive than trying to go back
• Why acceptance — not “body love” — is the first step toward healing

I know this stuff runs deep. I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and feel like a stranger in your own skin. And I also know that we deserve more than a culture that tells us our value lies in how fast we can erase the evidence of motherhood from our bodies. You are not alone in these feelings. You’re allowed to grieve, to be angry, and to not love your body every second. But you also deserve support, grace, and a whole lot of compassion.

Let’s challenge bounce-back culture together — for ourselves, for each other, and for every new mom who deserves more than pressure to shrink.

Are you ready to join the movement and become unbothered? Visit https://stan.store/theerikaz and subscribe to Unbothered and follow me on TikTok and on Facebook to stay connected. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message and let’s spread the revolution together.

Thank you for listening!