Erica Mena, a star of "Love & Hip Hop," has captured attention with her remarkable weight loss journey after giving birth to her daughter Safire in February 2020. Fans were taken aback when Mena shared before and after photos on Instagram, showcasing her transformation and amazing results. In her post, Mena displayed several photos of her body from March, comparing it to her slimmed down and toned physique, including a noticeably smaller waistline.
The Pandemic Transformation
The past year has been beautiful for Erica Mena and Safaree Samuels, despite the pandemic. Not only did they tie the knot, have a child, and buy a house, but they also began a healthier lifestyle.
Mena shared, “Here is my real transformation and the program that helped me get right again. It was important to me once I got the pass from my doctor to document my whole fitness journey.” Several fans were surprised by her incredible weight loss and were convinced of the effectiveness of the program. However, some doubted Mena and implied that she had surgery done.
The Stunt Fit Program and Vegan Diet
According to the “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood” star, she subscribed to the Stunt Fit Mind & Body Fitness Program for months to achieve her desired weight and body shape. She accompanied the workouts with a vegan meal plan shared with her husband. The healthy couple revealed that their decision to go plant-based has done significant things to their overall wellbeing.
Mena has been living a vegan lifestyle since watching the food documentary “What the Health” in 2018. The film, which talked about the dairy, egg, and meat industry, has since changed her mind about food choices. “I love to cook, what made the transition fun for me was [the idea of] ‘now I’m going to learn how to make all these vegan dishes!’ I made it fun,” she shared. “I think that’s why I was able to last that long.”
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Working out has also been easy for the couple amid the pandemic, with their own home gym built in their newly purchased mansion which also boasts of an outdoor lap pool.
Documenting the Journey
Mena shared a photo on her Instagram page of her working out at home. Her workout ensemble consisted of a two-piece matching set and a black baseball cap. The model wrapped her hair in a ponytail and wore a red exercise band around her thighs.
Postpartum Body Positivity
The reality star’s weight loss came a few months after giving birth to her first child. The new parents immediately took to social media to announce the new addition to their family but initially kept their daughter’s face a secret.
A second fan commented, “We needed this! People think you have a baby and jump back into the old you. It doesn’t work that way for all of us. You’re working hard and it shows. Thank you for showing us what a real woman looks like after having a baby."
Other Celebrities and Their Postpartum Journeys
Erica Mena is not alone in sharing her postpartum journey. Other celebrities have also been open about their experiences, including:
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- Khloe Kardashian: Khloe Kardashian literally had Baby True 4 months ago but her waist is already snatched! Khloe wsa boo'd up with her baby daddy Tristan Thompson in Mexico showing off her flat tummy.
- Miracle Watts: The 'P-Valley' actress, who welcomed her first child with fellow actor Tyler Lepley in October, proudly showed off her postpartum body while enjoying a much-needed vacation.
- Ciara: Ciara has been very transparent about her weight loss journey since giving birth to her third child, Win, back in July. The R&B superstar recently shared a video to Instagram embracing her natural curves donning a black jumpsuit by Naked Wardrobe and sporting faux locs.
- Kelly Rowland: Five months postpartum, the “Coffee” songstress shared this sultry poolside photo showing off her incredible snapback.
- Cardi B: As the raptress perfomed a gospel rendition of her and Offset's track 'Clout', commenters on the video could not help but notice Cardi's rock hard abs just 9 months after giving birth to her baby, Kulture.
- Fantasia: Back in late July, Fantasia took to Instagram to show off her 15-minute cycling workout in her garage. “Yes I could go to the doctor and just do surgery but I’m the type I need a routine or all the weight will just come right back. I’m going to do this, I’m going to get this baby weight off (watch me work),” she captioned the video clip.
- Amara La Negra: We are glad the Amara and her baby girls are doing well. While stepping out for a date night with her husband Jeezy, the new mom proudly put her abs on display in a flirty two-piece look from her Macy’s collection.
- Milan Harris: Milan reveals that she's already lost 16 pounds afger giving birth to their on May 5th, 2020. "Mom body…16lbs down," The designer and CEO of Milano de Rouge wrote on Instagram.
- Zoe Saldana: After secretly giving birth to baby number three, the actress popped up at Victoria Beckham's Target Launch Event wearing an all-black ensemble.
These women, among others, demonstrate the diverse paths and timelines of postpartum transformations.
"Snapback" Culture and Body Positivity
Porsha Williams: "I'm not about that snapback life. I do appreciate you guys compliments but I am big on letting women know, don't put that pressure on yourself. With me being on TV and even some women who aren't on but watch women on televison are like you have to lose weight quick, and this and that.
The Importance of a Healthy Lifestyle
While some people under the stress of the pandemic packed on the pounds, there were some people who beared down and did the work to transform their bodies. They left the couch and Netflix, at least for a little while, and focused on making their health a priority. There were celebrities who changed their diets (one went full-on vegan and saw serious weight-loss results), stepped up their level of activity, and received the support of friends and family to be able to shed some pounds.
The beloved singer said she decided to slim down not only to support her mother during a health crisis by going vegan, but also because she felt it was time for her to lose a few pounds. “My goal was to support my mother through her battle with cancer by going vegan with her and, in turn, it helped me as well. And I feel really good,” she said. “I have a lot of things to work on in my journey and I’m not nearly the model for health and fitness…But I’m trying. And I’ll continue to do so with my momma! Bless y’all. Love y’all.
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