Nikki Bella is keeping it real.
The Total Bellas star is just five weeks postpartum after giving birth to her first child with fiancé Artem Chigvintsev, but as she explained in a series of Instagram Stories on Monday night, she's already working toward getting her pre-baby body back.
Stripped down to her bra and underwear to show her followers "the raw and real me," Nikki candidly recounted her pregnancy journey after admitting that stepping in front of the camera was "really hard."
Ultimately though, she "felt like it was the right thing to do."
"Because I feel like sometimes on social media, with people in the spotlight, we truly don't showcase how hard postpartum can be, and the journey of getting your body back," Nikki explained. "So I want to bring you all along in the realest, rawest way possible. So here I am."
The mom to Matteo Chigvintsev revealed she's 18 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight, and that the "majority" of the weight gain came from "having a lot of fun."
"I want to blame, so bad, COVID and being in Arizona with a lot of heat that I didn't get to work out like I used to...But no. I indulged in pizza quite a bit, especially towards the end. And baked goods," Nikki recalled. "Especially when it got hotter and I was just sick of being locked up inside."
She then noted that she often used her pregnancy "as an excuse" to indulge, along with the fact that Artem "happens to be a gourmet chef."
"But I have to take full accountability," Nikki added before detailing her journey to lose 18 pounds, reassuring her followers that she'll do so "in the most healthiest way possible because I'm breastfeeding, obviously, and giving my son the most amazing nutrition is number one."
"So there's going to be no crash-diets," she continued. "There's gonna be no starving myself."
Nikki then gave a shout-out to her fellow moms—including twin sis Brie Bella, who recently welcomed her second child with husband Daniel Bryan—noting that "it isn't easy" dealing with all of the physical and mental changes that postpartum life brings.
Of course, "being a mom is the most rewarding thing ever," Nikki added.
"It's worth all the curves, all the changes, the hard work to get my body back in shape," she said. "Because I have the most amazing little boy ever."
Nikki wrapped up the vulnerable series of videos by doing a full turn and telling the camera, "Here's the real me!"
Hear more about Nikki's weight loss journey here.
Scroll down to see the cutest pics of baby Matteo so far!
Nikki commemorated the family's 2022 Thanksgiving trip to Lake Tahoe by posting several pics of Matteo playing in the snow and at an arcade on Instagram.
Artem and Matteo showed off their best duck lips pose with this fun selfie.
"Someone had a lot of fun baking with Mama yesterday lol," Nikki captioned this hilarious pic, adding, "It was a very chocolatey Sunday!"
Nikki snapped a pic with Matteo in front of the Eiffel Tower during her and Artem's Paris wedding trip in August.
The family of three celebrated Matteo's second birthday a day early at the pool on July 30.
Matteo enjoys a Fourth of July vacation with his parents at the lake.
Matteo visits Nikki's work in July 2022.
Artem honored Nikki in May 2022 with a collage of cute photos, writing, "Happy Mother's Day love, you are honestly the best momma in the whole entire world , your love your patience your care and thoughtfulness have no limits. Matteo and I are so so lucky to have you."
"We are messy and we love it," Artem shared in March 2022.
"Our attempt for a family photo," Nikki captioned this hilarious pic. "Matteo does not like the phone at all!"
Nikki and Matteo surprised Artem (aka Dada) during a stop on the 2022 DWTS Live Tour in March.
"Matteo didn't dig Santa this year but I think next year he will," Nikki captioned a 2021 Christmas Day post. "He did love the train he brought him!"
"Happy Thanksgiving from Chigvintsev's family," Artem captioned this Instagram pic in honor of Turkey Day.
"Happy first birthday Matteo," Artem captioned this sweet Instagram post in July 2021. "Mama and Dada loves you so so much."
In this June 2021 snap, Artem and Matteo took a closer look at some chickens.
The father and son duo enjoy a nature outing.
Artem and Matteo checked out a chicken coop during an outdoor outing.
Watch out for pecks, Matteo!
For Matteo's 10-month milestone, Artem wrote, "I can't believe Teo is 10 month today , time flies I wish I can slow it down and enjoy every second of it it's so so precious @thenikkibella you've have been a super mom. I love you #nevergrowup #son #family"
Artem, Nikki and Matteo were all smiles in this family outing pic.
Artem wrote, "Dada's back."
Matteo looked like a literal hair model in this picture from May 2021.
Nikki smiled as her son Matteo pulled a silly face in a new photo from Instagram.
Little Matteo had total bed head in this pic with dad Artem.
Matteo enjoyed some sweet potatoes in this May 2021 image.
Matteo clearly enjoyed those sweet potatoes.
Alongside a photo series, Nikki wrote, "Best 10 months of my life so far. These are from the last two days. Can't believe our baby is going to be 1 in two months!!!"
Nikki wrote alongside this May selfie, "Baby boy and me."
"I wish I was as cool as him," the Total Bellas star remarked.
"My love @theartemc sent me this yesterday! My heart melted," Nikki wrote in May 2021. "Our Teo is growing up so fast! A, you have been such an incredible Dada this past week as Mama has been off working. The best Daddy and fiancé! I just love you so much! And love my Matteo so much! Excited to get back to my boys!"