Yanyah Milutinović, 34, has been involved in fitness and weightlifting for years. She set fitness objectives for herself to achieve after giving a baby and encourages women to recognize the incredible things their bodies are capable of.
A fitness addict and mum who loves bodybuilding say she ᴘᴜsʜᴇᴅ her 9lb baby out in one ᴘᴜsʜ – after a grueling seven hours of labor. Yanyah Milutinović, 34, from New York, gave birth to their youngest child Vuk in June last year – and exercised throughout the pregnancy to stay as fit as possible.
“I was in labor for a total of seven hours, but I ᴘᴜsʜᴇᴅ my 9lbs son out in one single ᴘᴜsʜ – and in less than 30 seconds. It’s absolutely remarkable! And I am so proud of myself, and my body.” She said.
After giving birth, Yanyah sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇᴅ to get off the sofa without help, but she was keen to start exercising again to ᴘᴜsʜ her body to even greater limits. To get herself moving again, the influencer started doing ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇxᴇʀᴄɪsᴇs and ᴘᴇʟᴠɪᴄ ꜰʟᴏᴏʀ workouts to get herself ready for the gym.
Two-and-a-half weeks postpartum, she was back to exercising and working on her strength. She said: “My focus was on ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ, and on my physical ᴘᴇʀꜰᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ and not so much on the ᴀᴇsᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄs in ᴘᴏsᴛᴘᴀʀᴛᴜᴍ. In these last four months, I have safely rebuilt my strength after giving birth. I have even sᴜʀᴘᴀssᴇᴅ my strength in many lifts, lifting a lot heavier than what I ever have in my life.”
Five weeks after giving birth, she was squatting with more than 100kg – and six months after giving birth, she’s now squatting nearly 200kg. Yanyah, who also lives with husband Risel Martinez, 31, and their older daughter Smiljana, three, has now beaten her pre-pregnancy record.
“From not being able to pick anything off the floor, I am now ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʟɪfᴛɪɴɢ 315lbs (142kg) for 10 repetitions with ease. My goal was to squat 225lbs, which I reached at five weeks postpartum. And my second goal was 315lbs, which I reached at nine weeks postpartum. Then at five months postpartum, I squatted 405lbs for one rep; and had my big total, which was sǫᴜᴀᴛ, ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟɪfᴛ and ᴄʜᴇsᴛ ᴘʀᴇss within 60 minutes, at 920lbs.”she said
In terms of diet, Yanyah doesn’t restrict any foods, but focuses on eating protein-rich meals to fuel her body for heavy lifting. For new mums, she encourages them not to ʀᴜsʜ to ʟᴏsᴇ weight after pregnancy.
she said.” Instead of focusing on weight ʟᴏss, be patient, and accepting of your current physique and ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs, focus on rebuilding your body, and on the overall bigger picture, get your functional strength back safely.”
Despite her incredibly physique and impressive fitness levels, Yanyah has still been the victim ᴏᴄʀᴜᴇʟ trolls after sharing her fitness journey on Instagram.
She said:” I think it’s important to remind yourself of how amazing your body is and what it has accomplished. Be kind to yourself, and try to fall in love with the journey rather than the goal. And just like that, you will always find happiness in the process of change!”