In what she described as a “vulnerable post,” author and former reality TV star Jinger Duggar Vuolo recently shared she has “let go of my expectations of what I ‘should’ look like.” The 31-year-old, who gave birth to her third child earlier this year, described going on a date night with husband Jeremy.
After dinner, the pair “did a little shopping together [because] I needed a few things that work for me in this postpartum season,” Vuolo wrote on Instagram Stories May 29.
The mother of three, who has been candid about overcoming body insecurity and disordered eating, continued:
For years, I struggled with body image and had a distorted view of my body. I believed that if I could just lose a few more pounds, I would finally feel confident and happy with how I looked. But by the grace of God, I found help through accountability during that season. It was truly transformative…though not always easy.
Vuolo has credited her mother, Michelle Duggar, with helping her improve her nutrition and “develop a healthy relationship with food.” Michelle previously disclosed that she struggled with bulimia as a teenager.
Jinger Duggar Vuolo Embraces ‘The Way God Created Me’
In her May 29 post, Vuolo wrote that although she still enjoys eating healthy and working out, her identity is “no longer tied to a number on the scale.” She called that “incredibly freeing,” saying when “old lies” reemerge, she chooses to “focus on truth and embrace the way God created me.”
In addition to their baby son, the Vuolos—who married in 2016—have two daughters.
“I remember how strange it felt during my first pregnancy to gain so much weight and actually be okay with it,” Vuolo reflected on Instagram. “I gained at least 45 pounds with each of my pregnancies, even while staying active and healthy. It was another opportunity to let go of my expectations of what I ‘should’ look like.”
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She concluded her post by writing, “God has given me so much joy in this season. I still have a soft tummy and lingering pounds, but I’m genuinely happy. I’m not worrying or stressing about it—instead, I’m embracing the gift and beauty of this moment in my life.”
