Mom struggling with postpartum depression finds her way back through daily runs, becoming a ‘new person’

A woman started running 20 minutes daily to help overcome postpartum depression. Little did she know this routine would also help her lose weight!

Kitty Moana, a 28-year-old mother of two, has captured the hearts of 2.5 million TikTok followers with her incredible body transformation.

After struggling with postpartum depression and weight gain following the births of her children just a year apart, Moana turned to running as a lifeline.

Her journey has resonated with countless women, as postpartum depression affects one in seven American mothers.

“I started exercising as I needed to help myself, mentally, and physically,” she said. “This journey gave me the strength to stick up for myself, be there for myself, and become the best version I can be, not only for myself but for my little family too.”

After welcoming her first child, the mother of two weighed 218 pounds. Just a month later, she was pregnant again.

This time, she faced gestational diabetes, a condition that required strict diet control.

Following the birth of her second child, Moana’s weight fluctuated. By February of this year, she reached 165 pounds and decided to focus on her health.

Four months of daily runs, lasting 20 to 30 minutes each, helped Moana shed 33 pounds. She’s now kept her weight steady at 132 pounds.

She showcases her hard work and dedication to inspire others on her TikTok platform, @misskittymoana.

Melbourne resident Kitty says she feels completely transformed. Her physical and mental health has improved dramatically.

She’s particularly proud of her ability to run continuously for 20 to 30 minutes at a steady pace.

“At the start, I couldn’t run for longer than 30 seconds without getting out of breath,” she told Newsweek via email. “I had no motivation whatsoever and I was physically unfit.”

Moana admitted that she struggled with depression and anxiety, often turning to food for comfort.

However, her journey to wellness has included a transformation in her eating habits.

Now, she’s more mindful of what she consumes, and this healthier approach has become a crucial part of her overall health improvement.

Beyond her daily runs, Moana carefully monitored her calorie intake. She aimed to consume between 1,200 and 1,300 calories daily to create a calorie deficit.

She relied on meal prepping and lightweight training to stay on track with her diet and fitness goals.

In June, Moana’s TikTok video showcasing her body transformation went viral.

The montage featured her running on a treadmill as her body visibly changed. The video garnered over 119,000 likes and countless views.

Users praised Moana for her incredible progress, noting that her 20-minute runs were achievable for those not fond of running.

Is it okay if you keep running for 20 minutes daily?

While Kitty has seen impressive results from running daily, not everyone agrees it’s the best approach.

Luiz Silva, a 42-year-old personal trainer from Cholsey, England, offers a different perspective.

As the head of fitness and wellbeing at Castle Royle health club, Silva is well-versed in the pros and cons of daily running.

Luiz told Newsweek that regular exercise packs a powerful punch. It can boost your VO2 max, which measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen and increases your heart’s pumping power.

Plus, it can give you more energy to tackle your day. On top of that, exercise helps shed pounds, lower blood pressure, and reduce body fat.

And let’s not forget the feel-good factor: exercise releases endorphins, those natural mood boosters.

“But I wouldn’t recommend any activity or exercising to be done seven days a week,” he said.

He added that running every day can backfire. Overtraining can happen; without rest, your body might not reap the full benefits.

If you’re aiming for five workouts a week, mixing things up with activities like cycling or swimming is wiser.

This helps protect your joints, especially if you’ve carried extra weight after pregnancy.

Luiz suggests a balanced approach to exercise. Mixing intense workouts with less demanding ones can help you shed pounds.

It’s also crucial to include rest days. These breaks allow your body to repair and rebuild, and they help your body use fat for fuel.

While building muscle and replenishing energy stores, recovery plays a vital role.

And remember, even if running is your only option, it’s still better than doing nothing.

“A better recommendation is to mix up different cardio types: running, cycling, swimming etc. as the impact on the hip, knee and ankle joints will be less and reduce the chance of injury,” he said.

Luiz also explained that adding weight training to your routine helps preserve muscle and bone strength as you lose weight. This is especially important as a woman gets older.

Watch Kitty running 20 minutes daily and lose weight on her TikTok video:

@misskittymoana Running 20mins everyday for the last 4 months | my weight loss journey! #weightloss #weightlosstransformation #running #run #runner ♬ No Guidance (feat. Drake) – Chris Brown