Celeb Trainer’s Valuable Lesson: ‘Abs Are Cool, but There Is Still More to Me Than a Body’

Amy Capetta
Ashley Horner showing her abs
Fitness model Ashley Horner. (Photo: Instagram/Ashley Horner)

Yes, even those with the most toned physiques are critical of their bodies.

On a typical day, sponsored fitness model Ashley Horner posts inspirational pictures and messages to her nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram. However, her post that went live on Wednesday night skyrocketed faster than usual with more than 10,000 likes, probably due to its being so relatable.

The entrepreneur and mother of three boys was pictured seated on a floor with her rock-hard abs exposed. If you homed in on her belly, you might have noticed a slight crinkle near her bellybutton (maybe).

Let me tell you a little story about myself. Taking ya back a few years to my first pregnancy. While still having a massive and beautifully huge belly, I made a commitment to my very first figure competition- days later having a stomach covered in stretch marks and following a week later getting a c-section and starting my recovery thereafter. Before that moment, I had only picked up weights for sports. This time I picked up that iron to reclaim my body back and to get on stage for the first time ever. But to be honest, I was horrified and pretty much trained and was driven outa fear. I had never seen anyone ever in magazines, or in the industry in general with stretch marks or loose skin. 10 months later I stepped on stage deer in headlights and something inside me came alive. I LOVED IT- and the hard work was so rewarding at that moment. It wouldn't have mattered if I would have gotten 6th or no placement at all. I walked away with three 1st place trophies including the overall at show. A few months later, I got the nerves to contact one of the best photographers in the industry to inquire about a photo shoot together. As the call wrapped, he asked if I had any final questions. Yes, I said…and I mumbled on the other end- 'so, ya see, umm… well… I'm a mom and have a few stretch marks. So if that's gonna be an issue, I understand.' I remember there was silence and then straight up laughter… Followed by a loud 'ASHLEY!' There are so many girls I shoot that have stretch marks, it's quite alright- we just edit the ones that go for print.' I will never forget that moment. I was relieved but at the same time incredibly disappointed. For the past year while trying to adjust to all things new in my life with a little baby, I had literally cried & hated my body, thought it was ruined, thought 'what's the point' of training. I didn't have a single person I had found relatable. At that moment I wanted to be different in an industry that has selfishly painted a false picture of what perfect is/or should be. Abs are cool, but there is more to me than a body. Im still a hell of an athlete & have crushed the fitness modeling world???? whatever that is.

A post shared by Ashley Horner (@ashley.horner) on Apr 19, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

And so the story begins, where Horner recaptured the period where she felt deeply self-conscious about her post-baby body with “a stomach covered in stretch marks” after undergoing a cesarean section. It was the first time she had hit the gym with the sole intention of reclaiming her shape.

“But to be honest, I was horrified and pretty much trained and was driven outta fear,” she wrote. “I had never seen anyone ever in magazines, or in the industry in general with stretch marks or loose skin.”

Ten months later, the pro fitness competitor took home the top prize at an event, which left her feeling elated. Then a few months after her win, Horner scheduled a photo shoot with a top photographer, but she gave him the opportunity to bail out — because she didn’t think he’d be willing to photograph a woman who had stretch marks.

There was silence, followed by a huge roar of laughter. “’ASHLEY!’ There are so many girls I shoot that have stretch marks, it’s quite all right — we just edit the ones that go for print,’” she recalled.

Horner, who runs a training facility in Virginia Beach, Va., admitted to feeling both relieved and disappointed.

“For the past year while trying to adjust to all things new in my life with a little baby,
I had literally cried and hated my body, thought it was ruined, thought what’s the point’ of training,” said the triathlete. “I didn’t have a single person I had found relatable.”

While it’s understandable that someone who earns a living as a trainer would be concerned about her appearance, in reality, many new moms have the same insecurities as Horner. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System studied stretch marks because these line-shaped lesions on the abdomen “may compound the stress of new motherhood” for many females.

“Some women feel like their self-esteem, quality of life, and willingness to engage in certain activities are affected,” said study author Frank Wang, MD, an assistant professor and dermatologist, in a press release.

And even though social media can provide motivation and positive reinforcement, it could lead to self-comparison and confidence issues. In 2016, investigators from the United Kingdom discovered that pregnant women with a Facebook account had higher body-image dissatisfaction compared with those without one. Also, the more time a pregnant female spent on Facebook, the greater her body dissatisfaction.

Once Horner composed herself, she decided it was time to embrace the newness of her reality — her new look, her new role, and her newfound realization.

“At that moment I wanted to be different in an industry that has selfishly painted a false picture of what perfect is/or should be,” she wrote. “Abs are cool, but there is more to me than a body.”

And thank you, Ashley, for reminding us what real strength looks like.

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