Moms are amazing.
The more I am one, the more I realize this. And I have so much more respect for my own mother too since I have become a mother.
I have had some people ask me what I am doing or have done in the past to lose pregnancy weight and what I do after having a baby to get back into shape.
So, in hopes that this might help some other momma's out there, I will share :)
I have always had a passion for health and fitness. I kind of got even more into working out when Pat and I first got married and were going to College and Pat was working graveyard shifts. So he slept a lot of the day and worked at night and we both had classes we went to throughout the day and I also worked. But on days when I didn't work I had a lot of time by myself for a bit so I started working out more than I previously had.
This lead to me getting my degree in Exercise Science which I loved! I also have taught a little a bit of group fitness, water aerobics and do some online health and fitness coaching. I love helping other momma's out there in their fitness journeys, it is my absolute favorite.
When I got pregnant with Brylianna I gained 36 pounds. This might not sound like a ton, but it was a lot for my 5'4'' frame. I could feel every extra pound on my knees, ( I have always kinda had bad knees but I also dislocated one knee and had problems a lot after that. )
Before I get too much into talking about weight loss. I want to say that I think the most important thing for a woman is to be healthy. Especially while pregnant and in her childbearing years of life, because it is not only your life that is effected, it is also your precious baby's and you contribute so much of that through your own health early on and your healthy habits in the years after that.
Also BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Don't obsess over getting back to your pre-baby weight as soon as possible. It took a long 9 months to gain weight and create a miracle life. Give yourself that much time to "get back" to where you would like to be.
You have a LOT going on with a new baby. Sleepless nights, caring for a newborn, figuring out a new life, finding time to spend with your spouse and other children if you have them. Enjoy this time with your newborn and all of those snuggles, even if your tummy is super squishy.
Also if you are nursing you are soooo Hungry. All. the. time! You need to eat to make milk for your precious baby so don't starve yourself! And some women don't loose all their weight until they are done nursing completely so just be a bit flexible. It is different for every woman and every pregnancy. But don't eat crap, make lots of healthy snacks and feed your body good food so you can recover and also get good nutrients to your baby if you are nursing. It's now important for not only your own health, but another little life to eat healthy.
Remember you have like no core. You just carried and birthed a baby. You need time for your strength to come back. Take it easy at first. Walking is a GREAT way to start.
Okay I was trying to make this short, but that is pretty much impossible. I could say soooo many things about this topic. But here are my top tips!
1. Workout during your pregnancy as long as you can. I truly feel like this has helped me SO much. I understand each pregnancy is different and some people get super sick. Just do what you can. It will give you more energy most of the time if you workout even if you feel like you have no energy to begin with a LOT of days. Why would you just sit on your butt and get weak for 9 months when you have to have a baby? It is called labor for a reason lol and it will help if you are strong mentally and physically and I think working out prepares a lot for that. ( Yes I had two babies without epidurals and I think this helped a lot.)
2. Take it easy. Just enjoy your baby those first 6 weeks especially. Wait until you are cleared by a DR to workout again. Listen to your body and don't push too much in the beginning. I LOVE going on walks the first little bit after having a baby. It is a total body workout and perfect for getting back into shape.
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| 10 days post partum. 1st double stroller walk! I love Brylianna's face in this picture |
3. I also personally do like to wear a belly wrap in the 6 weeks following having a baby. I DO NOT buy a ridiculously expensive one. I got a $5 one that is a sports one from Ross I think. I just like to wear them because I had a lot back pain after Corbin and I just feel like my core was really weak after both pregnancies. I felt like this helped a little bit. But it doesn't do much after the first 6 weeks and I don't do the waist training stuff. I would not wear it all day either I just wore it everyday for about an hour when I would think about it.
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| 3 weeks post partum |
4. Drink a lot of water! And then drink some more 🙂 Aim for half your body weight in ounces per day. If you are working out or nursing or both, drink more. Water has SO many benefits to your body and keeping you and your new baby healthy! I love the huge water jugs you get sent home with from the hospital. Use it!
6 months Postpartum after baby #1
5. Start slow and add more workouts per week and more intensity slowly. Some days you won't have much energy from lack of sleep. So days you will feel great. Listen to your body and just do what you can. I like to aim for half hour workouts a day most days of the week. Remember you won't be where you were before your baby. I used to be able to do 4 pull-ups and 40 pushups and squats and lunges with weights. Now I can barely do one pull-up and 15 pushups and lower weight for lunges etc. It takes time to build back up so don't push too hard and injure yourself. Also remember relaxin (the hormone released towards the end of pregnancy) is still present post partum for awhile so your joints are looser and more prone to injury. So be careful!
Take time for yourself, cuz it will ultimately make you a better momma! You need to take care of yourself and have a full bucket so that you have more to give to your loved ones!!
Like I said I could probably go on forever about this topic because it is near and dear to my heart but that is all I will say for now!
Did you find any of this helpful?
What would you add to the list?!
And what else would you like me to talk about?! I LOVE feedback! And I hope this helped a fellow momma out! ♥️♥️♥️
♥️/Heather
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| 5-6 months post partum |
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| Hiking with Pat, Brylianna, Corbin, and Paige and Jamie |
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| 2 months postpartum |
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| About a week Post partum |
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| 5 months post partum |
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| 3 months post partum |
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| 7 months post partum |
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| 7 months post partum |
