New celebrity mums' body battles

With the likes of Victoria Beckham and more recently, Chris Hemsworth's wife, Elsa Pataky, stepping out looking pre-baby slender just days after giving birth, it's no wonder that women are being fed a terrifying myth about how easy it is to snap back into shape after having a child.

Opening up about her own battle to drop the pregnancy pounds super fast, new mum Beyonce has revealed she hit the treadmill five times a day and moved back to running as fast as she could.

But as Aishwarya Rai causes an outrage in her native India over recent snaps of her which showed she hasn't lost the baby weight six months after having her first child, baby girl Aradhya; pals say Jessica Simpson is revelling in her newfound food freedom and Hilary Duff is taking a softly-softly approach to regaining her shape, there's a new breed of A-list mums who are refusing to conform to Hollywood's (and Bollywood's) impossible post-baby body standards…

Aishwarya Rai

Facing a deluge of nasty comments online about her post-baby figure, Aishwarya Rai's refusal to conform to the A-list norm of being back in a pair of size-two jeans just days after having a baby, have seen the star blasted for not having shed the baby weight six months after giving birth.

Facing comments such as, "It is her duty to look good and fit," and, "She needs to learn from people like Victoria Beckham who are back to size zero weeks after their delivery," the 38-year-old actress, who hit the Cannes red carpet for L'Oreal this week, has been pilloried for not regaining her pre-baby figure, in a weight debate that has divided India and also reached across the world to the UK and US.

"Aishwarya is like a goddess. She is held up as the ideal of beauty and so there is an expectation on her to look perfect at all times," said New York Daily News columnist Shobhaa De, addressing the controversy, which has also seen a video montage of snaps of Ash post-baby posted online, accompanied by the sounds of elephants trumpeting in the background.

And with no new films lined up, Ash has cleared her schedule of any project that may have motivated her to lose the pounds fast, telling friends she just wants to "enjoy motherhood".

"Ash is in no hurry to lose the baby weight," said an insider. "She has spent long enough in both Bollywood and Hollywood to understand why stars slim down so dramatically after having a baby - and she's simply made the decision that that isn't for her." Adding, "She never has to work again if she doesn't want to. People need to realise, not getting skinny is her choice."

Jessica Simpson

Despite remaining adamant that she wanted to have a natural childbirth, insiders have revealed that Jessica Simpson opted for an elective Caesarean when she had baby daughter Maxwell Drew on May 1.

And the C-section operation has meant that Jessica will have to wait at least six weeks, as per doctor's orders, before she even begins to start with light exercise - something that's fine by the 31-year-old Texas native.

Having gained around 90lbs during her pregnancy, admitting she indulged in buttered Pop Tarts and bowls of mac'n'cheese, and enjoyed late-night snacking sessions, Jessica is now being told not to worry about rushing to lose the baby weight, by her fiancé, Eric Johnson, with one source spilling, "He's told her not to stress about her weight and to focus on regaining her strength and looking after Maxi." Adding, "Both Jess and Eric are so infatuated with baby Max that she's always in the arms of either her mommy or her daddy. She weighed 9lbs 13oz at birth and is like a little butterball turkey. Her chubby cheeks and roly-poly legs crack up Jess and Eric."

And despite signing a Dh7.2-million deal with Weight Watchers, to use their Points system to slim down, Jessica has told friends she'll only embark on a diet and exercise routine when she feels ready.

"Jessica is no stranger to having her weight scrutinised in the press," said a pal. "After the whole ‘mom jeans' debacle, she toughened up a lot and realised she has to get in shape for herself and no one else." Adding, "But right now, it's very low on her list of priorities."

Hilary Duff

‘Slow and steady' has been the former Disney star's mantra when it comes to losing the weight she put on during her recent pregnancy. And it's a process that appears to be working well for the star who has been spotted out and about in LA looking every inch a cool, calm and happy new mum.

"I want my body back, but I'm not freaked out or anything - just working out and trying to eat a little bit healthier," the 24-year-old told Us of her approach to losing weight. "I just started about a week ago at [spinning class] SoulCycle and I'm addicted to it. It's a great workout and it's perfect because it's only45 minutes - where else can you sweat like that in 45 minutes?" Adding of why she's back at the gym two months after having her son, Luca Cruz, "I'm working out because I honestly missed it during my pregnancy - getting in that good, hard workout. I need endorphins in my life to be a happy person."

And Hilary had revealed that she was the victim of online body bullying, revealing that she was left upset at comments about her post-pregnancy figure.
"I don't have a project waiting on me that I have to bust my butt to get into shape for, so it's more about how I feel. I like working out since it makes me feel more clear-headed and positive," said the Lizzie McGuire actress. "But then I read comments on my Twitter page about how I'm waddling into Pilates and I go, ‘Wow, that'sa really mean thing to say. I just had a baby three weeks ago!' There is a little bit of pressure but most of it comes from me."