That Twin Mama’s Jess Wheller opens up about her body image issues and how motherhood fixed them

At a glance of her Instagram page, it’s clear that mother-of-two Jess Wheller, from Melbourne, is very confident in her own skin.

But it took a long time for her to feel this way. 

The inspiring mother of twins recently took to her blog, That Twin Mama, to open up about her body image struggles and how motherhood actually left her feeling more confident than ever.

‘I want to talk about body image,’ she wrote. 

‘I want to talk about body image’: Mother-of-two Jess Wheller (right), from Melbourne, has opened up about her body image struggles

‘So much has happened’: ‘I sure wouldn’t be posting a photo of myself like this if I wasn’t in a good place with my body image now,’ she captioned this photo 

‘I have loved seeing so many mamas proudly posting photos recently admitting their imperfections, because it’s real – no one is perfect, and any woman who has carried a baby (or more than one!) will probably have some lasting effects.

‘This is not why I’m writing this post though. I’m not a “fit mum”, so hearing me talk about my imperfections won’t mean much to you all.’

Ms Wheller said she wasn’t trying to inspire people to be ‘fit and healthy’ but to ‘be real’ and share her experience. 

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Ups and downs: She went on to explain that she has had a ‘very poor perception’ of her own body image most of her life and first experienced it in school 

Times have changed: By 14, Ms Wheller said she ‘absolutely hated’ her body and had no confidence in herself

She went on to explain that she has had a ‘very poor perception’ of her own body image most of her life and first experienced it in school after ‘a few too many trips to the canteen.’

‘I remember being at the playground with some friends and my brother said to them that I was fat (he was only six years old so he had no idea he was being hurtful),’ Ms Wheller recalled. 

‘I think that was the first time I felt bad about how I looked. From that point, I feel like I was always “the chubby girl”. 

By 14, she said she ‘absolutely hated’ her body and had no confidence in herself. 

‘I became bulimic’: And by 16, although she felt as though her confidence issues had decreased a little… they returned when she got her first boyfriend

And by 16, although she felt as though her confidence issues had decreased a little… they returned when she got her first boyfriend.

‘I think it was the thought of a boy seeing or touching my body #FREAKOUT. Not many people know this, but I became bulimic at this time – I was 16,’ she said. 

‘It seemed like the obvious solution – enjoy food, throw it up, lose weight. I was actually one of the lucky ones because I was forced to stop this before it got out of control. My boyfriend found out and rang my mum. 

‘I was definitely overweight’: Ms Wheller said she reached her biggest point by 20 after entering into the ‘comfort zone’ with another boyfriend

‘She obviously then watched me like a hawk and took me to the doctor for a stern talking to. Luckily, I listened. In my final year of studies at school I ended up slightly more chubby than my already chubby previous self, and was feeling pretty low.’

Ms Wheller said she reached her biggest point by 20 after entering into the ‘comfort zone’ with another boyfriend. 

‘I need to make it clear that I wasn’t obese – I don’t want anyone picturing a biggest loser style transformation – but I was definitely overweight and unhealthy,’ she said. 

This is when she realised there was no ‘quick fix’ and that she simply had to eat well and exercise rather than turn to ‘the lemon detox diet and Fatblaster.’

Times have changed: This is when she realised there was no ‘quick fix’ and that she simply had to eat well and exercise rather than turn to ‘the lemon detox diet and Fatblaster’

But despite losing 10 kilograms by eating well and exercising, Ms Wheller’s confidence dropped once again in the lead up to her wedding. 

‘I injured my back quite severely and couldn’t do any exercise bar pilates. Enter cray cray Jess. I took my healthy eating to the next level and by the wedding I was the skinniest I’ve ever been (I did not revert back to unhealthy habits of old at this time),’ she said. 

‘I’ll be honest, I loved it. But interestingly, my husband and close friends told me I was too skinny. I’d never thought there was such a thing as too skinny. I actually suspect perhaps I developed my PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) during this time. 

‘I’ll never know but maybe my body just wasn’t meant to be that small.’

‘I was the skinniest I’ve ever been’: Despite losing 10 kilograms by eating well and exercising, Ms Wheller’s confidence dropped once again in the lead up to her wedding (pictured)

Ms Wheller described her journey to a positive body image as being ‘almost as tumultuous’ as her journey into motherhood. 

But now, she feels very positive about her body. 

‘Of course, I could point out every one of my imperfections but I suspect most of you haven’t noticed any of them, because we all see every single flaw in ourselves and most of them are never noticeable to others,’ she said.  

‘But overall, I carried TWO BABIES and a year later I can go out and feel confident, in skintight pants and a crop top (this is a BIG DEAL for me as I have never, ever done this).

‘I’m no supermodel and no “fit mum”, but I’m doing pretty damn well I think.’

‘This is a BIG DEAL’: ‘But overall, I carried TWO BABIES and a year later I can go out and feel confident, in skintight pants and a crop top,’ she said

Ms Wheller said while she doesn’t always eat well or exercise consistently, it took all her ups and downs to help her realise that feeling good is what really matters. 

‘I want to teach my children to live a healthy lifestyle. I don’t want them to grow up worrying about their body image the way I did. In fact, it’s one of my biggest fears,’ she concluded. 

‘I want them both to be proud and feel good about themselves.

‘I want to set the right example and teach them that eating healthily (with a few treats every now and then) and exercising is good for the body, mind and soul, but it’s ok to have a few imperfections – because we are not all perfect.’ 

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Wheller said she wanted to share her story so other mothers knew that not everything is as it seems on social media. 

New frame of mind:  Ms Wheller said while she doesn’t always eat well or exercise consistently, it took all her ups and downs to help her realise that feeling good is what really matters

‘I want other mums who are experiencing or have experienced body image issues to know they’re not alone,’ she said. 

‘My body isn’t perfect but I’ve learned to love it more over the years and I hope by sharing my story other mums can do the same.’

Ms Wheller said it took her a long time to get over her body issues but that becoming a mother helped a lot. 

‘Since going through fertility treatment and a difficult pregnancy, and then having my twins Xavier and Grace, I definitely have a greater appreciation for what my body is capable of,’ Ms Wheller said. 

‘Don’t compare yourself to other mums you see on social media. Everyone’s situation is different, and everyone’s bodies are different. Just focus on what you need to do to feel good about yourself.’