Mum goes from obesity to bikini model shifting the post pregnancy podge thanks to work outs with baby

A formerly-obese mum has shed her baby weight and become a bikini competitor - thanks to her exercise regime with her one-year-old son.

Shanna Kangas, 33, from New York, USA, was determined to beat her post-pregnancy podge and lost nearly four stone.

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After giving birth, she weighed over 11st giving the five-foot female 30.3 on the BMI scale – putting her into the obese category.
Fed up of the fatigue, mood swings and waist-line, Shanna started exercising at home with her son Gunnar.
Within 11 months she entered a bikini fitness competition having slimmed down to just over seven stone.

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The mum who proudly showed off her C-section scar and chiselled physique won second place and now she's encouraging other mums to tone-up too.
Sales ambassador Shanna said: "I think I look better now than I did before I had the baby.
"I had a C-section so the loose skin was pretty bad and I had lost a lot of muscle, so in the beginning I was quite discouraged, however I'm glad I didn't quit.

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"After giving birth to my son I had a lot of baby weight, I'm only 5ft, so being [just over 11st] was pretty heavy for me.
"Everything was more difficult I felt tired more quickly, my mood was effected, my energy levels were bad, I just couldn't enjoy things I wanted to.
"I started working out with Gunnar and it changed my life.
"Whenever he would sleep or nap, instead of resting myself, I would go and work out for half an hour.

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"I'd strap him into the baby wrap and we'd go for a walk or if I was outside I'd lay him on a blanket on the grass next to me.
"Then later, he'd be with me while I went from machine to machine, to lifting weights and doing cardio.

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"It was quite the journey and after entering the competition I was so proud of myself because it was a lot of hard work.
"While training for that, my diet was stricter, I wasn't eating out or having any treats, while sticking to my workout schedule.
"When I looked at myself in the mirror I couldn't believe it, 11 months earlier I'd just had a baby - it was great for my confidence, my health and my energy levels.

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"All I kept thinking about was my son and that I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't had been for him.
"He was my motivation, I wanted to break the mould of how a post-partum mum was supposed to look and to prove to myself that it could be done."
Within five months, Shanna hit her target weight loss of two stone (30lb) but continued to lose weight in preparation for her competition.
She turned flab to abs after drastically changing her diet and didn't hide the scarring caused by having a caesarean.

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Shanna added: "I accepted that I had a baby and that I shouldn't be ashamed of my scar or feel like I had to hide that.
"In the build-up to the competition I felt being a mum made things a little harder, because my abs and muscles were not as strong giving birth, but it was something I worked on.
"During the competition you could see the scar from my C-section in the bathing suit, but I saw it as something to be proud of."
Shanna was cheered on by partner Gerard, 36, at the bikini fitness competition in Atlantic and placed second.

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She credits one-year-old Gunnar for motivating her through her most difficult moments of training and believes other mums should try it too.
Shanna said: "It can work for anyone they just need to get creative with ways they work out at home - people don't need to go to the gym for a lot of exercise.
"I was able to get out so much more because of the exercise and could continue to bond with my son while we worked out together.
"Now, I'm still training and living a healthy life, next year I'm going to start competing again, but right now I'm enjoying the time with my family."