Woman’s Reason For Working Out After Pregnancy Is Not What Internet Expects

It’s common for health goals after pregnancy to revolve around returning to the shape you used to be, but one Australian mom has bucked the trend and surprised many social media users.
Nicola Barzen, 26, posted a short recording of her upper body workout in the gym and revealed that her reason for exercising goes beyond typical postpartum fitness goals: she’s preparing her body for another pregnancy.
Barzen told Newsweek that she felt inspired to make the video as she’s currently participating in the 75 soft challenge (a more flexible and manageable version of the viral 75 hard challenge that’s designed to make healthy habits stick over a 75-day period) in an effort to lose the weight she gained during her pregnancy.
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“When a friend—who also has a young baby—said she wants to drop weight so she can get pregnant again, I realized I was doing the same, so thought it would be a good idea for a video as [there] could possibly be people who relate to it,” the mom from Barossa Valley said.
Barzen’s mindset is all about preparing her body for what’s to come, and despite her baby only being 3 months old, she’s “already thinking about” having for another within the next two years.
“Because I gained 20 plus kilograms pregnant, if I didn’t lose that weight, became pregnant again and put on more weight, I think I would struggle a lot more with my body and that would be a long weight loss journey,” she told Newsweek.
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Since it was posted on August 15, Barzen’s TikTok video on her account @nicolarose444 has gained over 185,000 views and hundreds of comments from fellow moms who are also planning to expand their family.
“This was my goal but I accidentally fell pregnant again 10 months after my first… literally so much extra weight to lose after the close age gap,” one commenter wrote on TikTok.
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Another shared that they used Barzen’s tactic four times after their five kids.
“You’re a hustler,” Barzen replied in the comments.
Speaking about Barzen’s impressive workouts, another TikTok user commented that the gym is “so good” to help you postpartum.
But Barzen’s dedication isn’t anything new—she was committed to stay active throughout her pregnancy.
“I was still working out stroke lifting weights until 39 weeks pregnant,” she told Newsweek, and added that it helped with her mental health.
“I could only squat about 50 kilograms near the end but I kept it up for that little bit of strength so I wouldn’t feel like a total beginner postpartum,” she said.
The reaction to Barzen’s video came as a surprise to the mom from South Australia. She told Newsweek that she expected “a little bit more hate” but the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
One TikTok user shared that they were training so that their next birth is easier than the first.
“I feel like a beast,” they added.