Maria Fowler: “Having a baby put my relationship to the test”
The former TOWIE star reveals the struggles and joys of being a first-time mother, why it’s affected her relationship with boyfriend Kelvin and how she regained her pre-baby body
It’s fair to say that former I glamour model Maria Fowler is completely smitten with her four-month-old daughter Evie. She tells us: “I look at her and think, ‘I can’t believe we’ve made you!’ It sounds really cheesy but it’s true.”
The 30-year-old admits motherhood hasn’t been plain sailing. She reveals: “We weren’t prepared for the strain it would put on our relationship for the first three months. No matter how much the baby stresses you out, and how little you’re sleeping, you’d never take it out on her because she’s just this perfect little thing, so you take it out on each other instead.”
SEPARATE ROOMS
Maria and her BMX rider boyfriend Kelvin Batey, 35 – whom she started dating in August 2015 – found themselves exhausted and bickering. She says: “We were both putting everything into Evie, and we neglected each other. We slept in separate rooms for seven weeks to get a bit of sleep, which made things difficult, too.”
But, luckily, as they got to grips with parenting, their perspective changed. She adds: “We realised that Evie was made from our love, so that shouldn’t change. We got into a routine and now it’s amazing. Kelvin is such a hands-on dad. It’s all about communication and respecting that we both need some ‘me time.’”
Maria is equally honest about the changes to her body during pregnancy. The star reveals: “I didn’t care that my body changed. I think it’s because I’m happy; I don’t feel like my body has to be perfect. I’m not that single girl in Marbella any more.”
Maria also says her boobs – which went from a 34B to a Dd-cup after she had a boob job in 2014 – have changed their shape.
“They’re softer and a better shape,” she says. “I definitely prefer them now. I thought about having them done again but I’m not bothered. Striving for perfection can end up going wrong.”
So would she ever go back to glamour modelling? “God no!” she exclaims. “I’ll leave that to the young ones.”
After giving birth last September, Maria – who’s back to her ideal weight of 9st after shedding 2∂st in three months – says she didn’t rush to slim down. “I didn’t have the energy,” she explains. “After six weeks, I knew I wanted to train for a couple of hours a day. But losing weight wasn’t about magazine deals or TV appearances, it was important to feel good in myself. I like being slim but I’m not obsessing over it.”
FEELING LOW
Maria’s exercise plan wasn’t all gruelling workouts, though. She explains: “I went swimming a lot and did squats. Kelvin and I also went on lots of long walks with Evie and our dog, David. Walking is good for mental health, too.” And having a healthy mind is a big focus for Maria, who has struggled with severe depression.
“I would have put money on me getting post-natal depression,” she says. “If I did have a down day I’d try not to over-analyse it. I was low, but that was because of Evie’s delivery. I had a difficult birth and had a blood transfusion too, so it took a while for me to feel OK again.
“I also tried to breastfeed but couldn’t. I felt a lot of pressure and I cried every night in hospital, but now we have a healthy, happy baby. When she wakes up in the morning and smiles I feel like crying, it’s so lovely!”
‘I’m not that single girl in Marbella any more’
CHANGING HER DIET
And while pregnancy saw the star go up to 11∂st, she admits that despite enjoying eating for two, she didn’t go too crazy. “I had a couple of Mcdonald’s and definitely ate more chocolate,” she says. “But I knew that whatever I was putting in my body I’d have to lose, and giving up drinking helped. “Now I have scrambled eggs with smoked salmon for breakfast, while lunch is salad or soup, and dinner is often fish with rice and vegetables. “My body’s not as toned as it was before, but it’s not about vanity. I’m proud of how I look.”
Maria is an ambassador for leading weight-loss firm Forza Supplements. She lost weight with Shake It Slim meal replacement drinks, available at Forzadiet.com and Holland & Barrett