Fitness Influencer Emily Skye Proves Bloating Is Totally Normal In Side-By-Side Photos
Fitness influencer Emily Skye just posted candid before-and-after photos on Instagram that compare her toned abs and bloated belly.
Skye shared the photo with her followers to emphasize that it’s “normal for your body to fluctuate like this” and was met with tons of praise in the comments.
A dietitian explains why random bloating may occur, why it’s common, and easy tips that may help if you’re struggling.
Bloating is an unfortunate side effect of life and it happens to the best of us—even to women with amazingly fit bodies, as fitness influencer Emily Skye just revealed in a candid Instagram post.
In the post, Skye shares side-by-side photos of herself at the gym, wearing a sports bra and the same pink leggings. In one photo, you can see her incredibly toned abs; in the other, her stomach is puffy and bloated.
“Only a couple of days apart!” Skye wrote in the caption. “How crazy is it how drastically your body can change from day to day!” Skye said she “deviated a little from what I normally eat” and this was the result. “I just wanted to share this as most of you know I like to show you me at my best & at my worst so you know it’s normal for your body to fluctuate like this!!” she wrote, before encouraging her followers to get checked out by a doctor if they constantly experience bloat like this.
A post shared by EMILY SKYE | Fitness + Health (@emilyskyefit) on Jul 22, 2019 at 6:33am PDT
Still, she said, “don’t stress about the occasional bloat—it is totally normal so try not to beat yourself up about it as most of us get bloated from time to time!”
Skye later revealed in the comments that she hadn’t even eaten anything before her workout in the bloated photo.
Skye got all kinds of praise in the comments for her candidness. “Thank you for normalizing this!” one person wrote. “I have this exact same problem. The struggle is so real,” another said. And then there was this comment: “I freaking LOVE YOU and everything you represent! Bless you @emilyskyefit you truly are an inspiration.”
Why can bloating like this just happen?
There can be several causes, but changes in your gut microflora, which is bacteria that lives in your intestine, is one of them, says Gina Keatley, a certified dietitian nutritionist practicing in New York City. “Even minor disturbances in gut microflora can lead to significant changes in gut function, including gas production,” she says.
There are other issues that can cause gas, like undigested food, swallowed air, and a variety of chemical reactions within your GI tract. “An increase or decrease in fiber is often the culprit,” Keatley says.
How can you get rid of intense bloating?
Keatley warns that there’s no “magic bullet” for beating bloat, but there are a few things you can try. Give these tips a go if you’re struggling:
Exercise. “It’s been shown to help move gas along,” Keatley says.
Decrease your sodium levels.
Increase the amount of fiber you eat slowly (like by 25 to 30 grams a day)
Increase the variety of foods you eat so that your gut isn’t “shocked” when you try something new.
Try to relax, if you can. “More than 50 percent of individuals who report bloating also report anxiety and depression,” Keatley says.
Again, occasional bloating is completely normal. But if you find that it comes along with nausea, vomiting, constipation, or multiple days of diarrhea, or you feel like it’s interfering with your quality of life, it’s time to see a doctor.
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