Casey: “I’m getting back in shape – & it’s all down to yoga”
Reality star Casey Batchelor tells Closer about life as a new mum plus her post-pregnancy fitness plan – and reveals her best pal Vicky Pattison is getting broody
She’s won praise for her S honest depiction of her postbaby body, posting numerous pictures online. But Casey Batchelor, 33, says she has started to get back into yoga, and has even been roping in four-month-old Florence.
“I’m loving getting into it again at home,” says Casey, who is a qualified yoga instructor. “It’s great for the mind and intense, fast yoga is good for shifting baby weight, too. It’s the only exercise I’m doing and I do it every day if I can. If Florence has a nap, I roll out my mat next to her. She’s gonna be my yoga buddy! It’s good because you can either do gentle moves, or really get a sweat on.”
Former model Casey, who has been dating her partner, businessman Dane Goodson, for two and a half years, put on 4st while she was pregnant and admits seeing her body change so rapidly was a shock.
She says, “I used to be a model and going from a size 8 to a 16 was tough. You’re getting cellulite, back fat, a double chin, and my boobs were humongous! But Dane would still say, ‘You look amazing, babe’.”
CRASH DIETS
Casey – who appeared on CBB in 2014 – hasn’t been in a hurry to shift the baby weight.
She says, “I didn’t want to go on a crash diet, I wanted to focus on Florence. She goes to bed at 7.30pm every night, so now I feel I can give myself a bit of TLC and that’s why I’ve taken up yoga – for my body and my mind. When you have a baby, it’s really important to protect your own sanity. At my heaviest in pregnancy, I was 13½st and I’m only 5ft 2! I’m not one to get on the scales, but I’ve lost some weight since having Florence. I’m not on a strict diet, but I’m being a bit more careful and not having desserts. I had blueberry muffins every day while pregnant!”
Has Florence’s arrival helped put things in perspective? “Definitely,” she says. “To go through that and have the most amazing beautiful baby, it makes you realise that the body stuff does not matter at all. That’s why
I posted those bikini pictures on Instagram, showing my postnatal body. I did it to give women body confidence. I was apprehensive, but I thought, you know what, my body’s done an amazing thing and I should be proud. I’m ready to get back in shape – but in my own time and with no pressure.”
During pregnancy, Casey refused to deny herself anything. She says, “Pregnancy is the only time you can eat what you want! But now I’ll have scrambled eggs on toast with avocado for breakfast, and tuna with rice and vegetables for lunch. Then chicken, rice and broccoli for dinner. I’m not getting much sleep, so good nutrition is key.”
UNDER THE KNIFE
Before she fell pregnant, Casey had her natural 32GG breasts reduced to a 32EE in 2014, but they grew again during pregnancy. She says, “They grew to a H-cup during pregnancy – it was a lot of pressure on my back. They’ve gone back down to an F now.” And Casey admits she wouldn’t stop Florence going under the knife one day if necessary. She reveals, “Big boobs run in my family – my mum and my nan had them too – so poor Florence! When you’re under 18, if they’re ridiculously big you can get them reduced on the NHS and I wish I had. So there’s that option, but to be honest, if she wanted them done I’d pay for it.” Florence’s arrival has made her romance with Dane stronger, too. “We definitely will get married, it’s just a matter of when,” she laughs. “Dane knows I’m waiting for a ring!” But for now, Florence is taking priority, with Casey’s friends clamouring to meet her, including ex Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison. “Vicky and I have arranged to meet up, she’s desperate to meet Florence,” says Casey. “She’s been getting broody. She wants to look amazing in her wedding dress, but then I’m sure babies might be on the cards.”
‘Dane knows I’m waiting for a ring!’