Teddi Mellencamp Just Got Real About Showing Her Stretch Marks In An Instagram Video

Korin Miller
·5 min read
Photo credit: Teddi Mellencamp / Instagram
Photo credit: Teddi Mellencamp / Instagram

From Women's Health

  • Teddi Mellencamp, 39, just got candid about her stretch marks and loose skin.

  • In an Instagram photo and video, the RHOBH star showed them off in a bikini.

  • She explained that it’s taken "years of work" for her to feel confident in a bikini while embracing her stretch marks.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp, 39, is all about being honest when it comes to body image. And, in a new Instagram video, she’s giving people an up-close look at her stretch marks.

"It’s easy to lose ourselves in comparison—how we perceive our bodies vs others," she captioned a post that features a pic of herself in a bikini and a video of her thighs. "We too often default to self-criticism and forget about the effort we’ve put in to get to here."

Teddi said it’s taken "years of work" for her to feel comfortable going to the beach and only thinking about the fun she’ll have with her family "rather than things not fully in my control."

"And even so, I can snap a pic feeling confident in my bikini but the reality is the stretch marks and loose skin are there," she continued in the caption. "I’ve learned to love and embrace them because they tell my story. So today, I am heading to the beach feeling good about myself because that’s the only way it should be. With lots of SPF and Truly’s of course!"

In the pic, Teddi works a two-toned bikini with a matching leopard-print hat. In the video that follows, she gets real about her body, pointing out that people always ask her how she doesn’t have stretch marks. "Oh, I got these bad boys," she says, showing off stretch marks on her inner and outer thighs. "I just embrace them," she continues. "Loose skin? Got it. I just wear my high-waisted 'kinis and embrace what’s going on."

View this post on Instagram

It’s easy to lose ourselves in comparison- how we perceive our bodies vs others. We too often default to self-criticism and forget about the effort we’ve put in to get to here. It’s taken years of work for me to feel comfy enough to head to a beach day and only think about the good times I’ll be having with the kiddos, rather than things not fully in my control. And even so, I can snap a pic feeling confident in my bikini but the reality is the stretch marks and loose skin are there. I’ve learned to love and embrace them because they tell my story. So today, I am heading to the beach feeling good about myself because that’s the only way it should be. With lots of SPF and Truly’s of course!

A post shared by Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave (@teddimellencamp) on Aug 15, 2020 at 10:52am PDT

Teddi had her third child, daughter Dove, in February, and she's been honest with fans about her postpartum health journey. A few weeks ago, Teddi said that she’s nine pounds heavier than she was before she had her baby, but pointed out that she’s okay with it. "I’m not making myself crazed to try and lose those 9lbs— rather focusing on non-scale victories like a PR on the Peloton, or a hilly walk with the kiddos that doesn’t require Mommy having to stop to breathe, or saying no to the 8th Aperol on Wednesday evenings when Twitter attacks," she said. "So if you’re postpartum or about to have a baby, just know that each journey is different."

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Many of you are asking for a postpartum update, but because every person’s journey is different, I have been hesitant as to not project expectations. Baby Dove has been drastically different than Slate and Cruz. At 4 months, she’s sleeping through the night and we are in a rhythm (after the first three months of highs and lows; phew were there some lows). Through it all, the one thing that has helped me is my commitment to taking care of my health and wellness. Having that consistency of clean-eating and daily activity gave me a routine that helped me manage my time and anxiety. I do not share my weight, but since it’s my most-asked question, I will say that I am 9lbs away from where I was before I had Baby Dove. But you know what, I’m not making myself crazed to try and lose those 9lbs— rather focusing on non-scale victories like a PR on the Peloton, or a hilly walk with the kiddos that doesn’t require Mommy having to stop to breathe, or saying no to the 8th Aperol on Wednesday evenings when Twitter attacks. So if you’re postpartum or about to have a baby, just know that each journey is different, and I only wish for mine to serve as an inspiration to you. And if you have any questions, please ask below and I’ll try my best to answer!

A post shared by Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave (@teddimellencamp) on Jun 23, 2020 at 10:41am PDT

FWIW: Teddi also likes to tear it up on the treadmill, do boxing sessions, go for hikes, and jump rope. And yeah, she still has stretch marks, TYVM.

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